We began in 1994 as the Chums of Maxwelton Salmon Adventure (MSA) when a group of teachers joined  community members to provide outdoor Environmental Education for elementary school students in the South Whidbey School District. A special parcel of land was donated in the Maxwelton Valley that has wetlands and the wild meandering Maxwelton Creek running through it.  Through community contributions, an Outdoor Classroom was built to provide a location for education and research into the future.

MSA quickly grew to working with the community  to restore salmon runs to the Maxwelton Watershed, and encouraged Watershed Stewardship through habitat restoration and individual actions. Our mission further expanded in 2006 and we became Whidbey Watershed Stewards, recognizing that we want to promote the health and vitality of all of South Whidbey’s watersheds and nearshore for the people and environment of Puget Sound. Whidbey Watershed Stewards promotes nearshore and watershed health by linking water, land, wildlife and people on Whidbey Island through education, research, and restoration.