Thurston County offers many free workshops and presentations to fit the needs of our community. Our education team can present to groups of ten or more at one of our offices or your local community center, school, or park. To learn more about each workshop, check out the Thurston Healthy Homes & Yards Workshop List and then make a request through the online form.

Request a Healthy Homes & Yards Workshop 

Create a Healthier Home 

Learn simple, low-cost ways to prevent mold, improve the air you breathe, and create a healthy home for your kids, pets, and our community. We’ll share information on how common household products can lead to problems with asthma and allergies. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to choose safer household products, safely store products, and dispose of unwanted hazardous products for free. We offer a free Safer Cleaning Kit to program participants that pledge to take actions to reduce hazardous products in their home.  

Create a Healthier Home to Protect Kids from Toxics 

Children are extremely vulnerable to the hazards of common products found in our homes. We’ll provide information about how plastics, art supplies, and cleaning products can impact kids’ health and our community. Learn how to identify, store, and safely dispose of household hazardous materials, how to choose safer cleaning products, ways to improve indoor air quality, and how to prevent mold by reducing dust and moisture in the home. This presentation is great for childcare and early learning centers’ parent night programs, parent groups, or any group interested in learning more about protecting kids and our community. We offer a free Safer Cleaning Kit to program participants that pledge to take actions to reduce hazardous products in their home.  

Beyond Bleach: Protect Kids from Toxics Staff Training for Early Childhood Learning Centers 

On-site training for childcare and early learning center staff, where they can earn (1) STARS continuing education credit. We’ll share information about common toxics and how they impact kids’ health. Learn how to read cleaning product labels and choose the safest product for the job, safely dispose of unwanted household hazardous products, and use bleach safely to sanitize and disinfect surfaces. We’ll share information about safer alternatives to bleach. We offer a free Safer Cleaning Kit to program participants that pledge to take actions to reduce hazardous products in their childcare center / home. 

Waterfront and YOU 

This workshop is designed for folks who live near a lake, river, stream, or Puget Sound. We'll map the local watershed and provide specific information for your neighborhood on sources of local pollution. We'll cover how actions in and around your home and yard can impact the health of our water and share many ways to protect your legacy of clean and healthy waterways for future generations. We offer a free "Pesticide-Free Zone" yard sign to participants as part of this workshop for those who pledge to eliminate hazardous pest and weed control products in their yard care.

Healthy Yard & Garden 

This workshop focuses on guiding participants through the process of creating and maintaining a safe and healthy yard, no matter how large or small, for a healthier community. We'll provide specific ways to prevent pest and weed issues and help folks choose the safest products when problems arise. Includes information on choosing plants that thrive in local yards that are low-maintenance and adapted to our climate. We offer a free "Pesticide-Free Zone" yard sign to participants as part of this workshop for those who pledge to eliminate hazardous pest and weed control products in their yard care.

Septic Sense 

On-site septic systems can do a great job treating wastewater, but only if they are properly maintained. Care and maintenance are everyone's responsibility! Learn simple, low-cost ways to prolong the life of your septic system and protect the health of your family and our community's drinking water. Workshop participants will receive $10 coupon off their next septic pumping. 

Go Green Natural Yard Care Program (online, self-paced) 

This free, online training provides detailed information on how to create and care for a yard that’s safer for your family and pets, our community's drinking water, and local lakes, rivers, streams, and Puget Sound. Topics such as eco-lawns, native plants, preventing weeds and pests, along with safer bug and weed controls, are covered for every skill level and budget. Register for the Go Green Natural Yard Care Program.