why sami booster club?

Note from SAMI Co-directors zach varnell and joni hall

We believe that every student has the right to unique learning experiences that activate their own passions and interests. SAMI students use the entire Point Defiance Park, Marina, and Zoo for their classroom and as many of our classes as possible get kids outside to experience nature. Over the past decade, we’ve worked tirelessly to create opportunities for students to experience Rock Climbing, Backpacking, outdoor education, advanced trail climbing, marine and mammal biology, and most recently we started a ski and snowboarding mini-term.

In each of these classes and experiences, we prioritize students who have never had these kinds of experiences before. Many of these experiences cost more than what is funded by traditional public education, and your support is essential to keep these programs thriving and available to any student, regardless of financial means.

Thank you for your help!

- Zach and Joni

about the sami booster club

The SAMI Booster Club is part of Elements of Education, a Tacoma-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching lives through creativity, inclusion, and the integration of art and science. Elements of Education emphasizes four pillars—Empathy, Community, Balance, and Thinking—and supports innovative school models like SAMI that blend academics with experiential learning.

The Booster Club is run by a small team of parent volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact us here.

All donations and memberships are tax deductible, and go directly the SAMI Outdoor Education Fund.