Deschutes Basin WS Education

This grant helped to support a project that involved students, teachers, schools, parents, natural resources professionals and volunteer naturalists in multiple field day activities. In classroom sessions, participants were engaged in hands-on activities before and after field days. A major emphasis was on monitoring and restoration of Whychus Creek in preparation for returning reintroduced anadromous fish. Native trees were planted, invasive weeds, garbage and old barbed wire fences were removed, and critical monitoring data was collected. Students presented their experiences and results of their work to many different forums throughout the region. Students placed about steelhead fry into the creek. The results of this project include increased watershed literacy in communities, more citizens connected to their local creeks, improved watersheds through restoration and reintroduction of fish.

The Project links isolated, rural communities to both local and regional natural resource management and conservation issues. It does this by providing enhanced educational opportunities that (1) directly connect student-learning and community service activities (restoration and monitoring of salmon habitat); (2) involves parents with schools in the educational process, and (3) provides access to a highly successful Project Based Learning education model for teachers. Academic success is, in part, determined by regularly observing students doing science inquiry, applied science, and geography in the classroom and the field. Watershed education success is determined by the evidence of a deep understanding of how the condition of the watershed dirctly impacts the quality of life at both the community and personal level. Wolftrees investment in science education volunteer stewards involved in long-term, community-based restoration moving forward.