The Goal Of Education Is The Advancement Of Knowledge

Youth Program In Federal Way - Shyan Selah Foundation

Nature as the Classroom. Community as the Legacy.

Youth Leadership Through Nature

We believe today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. Through guided outdoor activities and mentorship, students develop confidence, collaboration, and a sense of responsibility—all while engaging with the natural world. Our goal is to nurture resilient, inspired young people who carry the lessons of nature into every area of their lives.

Skills That Grow Futures

Connect to Nature provides real-world training in landscaping, horticulture, and environmental care. From garden design to project maintenance, students gain practical experience and workplace habits that prepare them for jobs in sustainability, green construction, and community planning. We’re cultivating more than gardens—we’re cultivating futures.

Rooted in Community, Powered by Purpose

Our work is about more than plants and parks—it’s about people. With projects like our campus beautification partnership at Federal Way Public Academy, we create spaces that are both beautiful and functional. By blending environmental education with local engagement, we help transform public spaces into places of pride.

Get Back To The Basics With The Connect To Nature Program

Join the The Shyan Selah Foundation to make the world a better place

The Connect to Nature program facilitates cultivating mentorship and life skills for young people, with a focus on youth of color or who come from marginalized backgrounds, and provide them an environment where such programming can take place in a natural or outdoor setting. We first launched this program in 2022 in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources to provide workshops, field trips, and other events that support the goal of improving the overall health and life-skills of youth and young adults interested in nature, environmental health and studies, wildlife, and outdoor recreation - all free of charge to qualifying participants.

Shyan Selah, CEO

For any inquiries Give Us A Call:

(253) 237-7783

We Plant Seeds. For a Better Tomorrow

The Shyan Selah Foundation is excited to work with key partners in South King County to educate and inspire youth in various outdoor settings, as well as provide ongoing training in gardening, landscaping and other skills- related
job positions throughout the school year. Activities will include extended field trips designed to educate participants about the natural environment such as nature retreats at Camp Waskowitz, outings to Mt. Rainier, hikes through Dash Point State Park, and numerous other outside activities at various parks throughout Western Washington.

Learn From Nature, Care For Nature, Grow From Nature

The Connect to Nature Program will both get back to basics as well as help set up
participants for the future. Activities will include after-school programs twice a week as well as weekend activities designed to forge community interaction and practical education in the outdoors.

Register Today

Thanks to our community partnerships, this program is FREE for most participants.

June 2025

July

28 Jun

10:00 am

Campus Clean-Up – Federal Way Public Academy – Summer SessionsWeekly

Here are some upcoming events.

Why Connect to Nature ?

“I have a very deep excitement about this particular program,” says organization founder, Shyan Selah. “It’s the kind of thing that can fundamentally change the mindset and personal attitude of any individual from any background. As a young African American male, I was fortunate to be able to not only participate in sports and arts as a youth, but probably the single most underrated experience I had as a youth was being introduced to the natural environment

The Shyan Selah Foundation is excited to join forces with Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources in creating a new program, “Connect to Nature” designed to offer overall environmental education and career development pathways with a focus on nature and environmental recreation for youth and young adults in South King County.

The Connect to Nature program will facilitate cultivating mentorship and life skills for young people of color and provide an environment where such programming can take place in a natural or outdoor setting.