AmeriCorps Update
AmeriCorps Voice…..Christine Smith
The fact that this article is my last one is unbelievable. These past two years have been filled with growth, amazing connections and so much fun in the environmental education world. Maris and I are maximizing our last few weeks by teaching at as many camps and outdoor schools as we [...]
Executive Director
Kasey’s Corner … Executive Director
Over the last eight years Umpqua Watersheds has had a very successful AmeriCorps program. We have been very fortunate to have Mike Rooney, Roland Wang (2 years), Katrina Keleher (2 years), Bailey Stein, Christine Smith (2 years) and Maris Wilson.
Our AmeriCorps members have made a significant contribution to our [...]
Preschool Spring Science at the Library
This spring, preschoolers from Douglas County have been learning about science in our new free program at the library! The first week, we learned about spring weather by making a rain cloud in a cup and creating our own rainbows. The following week, we learned about plants in springtime and how they grow. We talked [...]
Americorps Voice Christine Smith and Maris Wilson
Spring 2019 Christine Smith
Education at Umpqua Watersheds is flourishing with new connections resulting in more programs and additional youth interactions! Maris and I enjoy working in the office together, collaborating on some projects and working individually on others. I’ve been continuing programs from previous years and expanding on them while finding ways to bring [...]
Fishing with Fremont
After learning rules, regulations, fish anatomy, fish identification, and knot tying with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fremont Middle School students were ready to try their hand at fishing! We traveled to Cooper Creek where students worked together to practice baiting hooks and casting lines. We didn’t get any bites, but everyone had [...]
Biochar: An Ancient Solution to a Modern Global Crisis
Ken Carloni, Ph.D.
biochar /ˈbīōˌCHär/ noun: charcoal produced from plant matter and stored in the soil as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (Online Dictionary)
When the Portuguese first arrived in Amazonia, they discovered small islands of dark, highly productive soils associated with indigenous villages. Unlike other notoriously poor soils [...]
Food Webs and Tree Rings with Fullerton!
Fifth grade students at Fullerton Elementary have had the chance to do some hands on science in their classroom in addition to their Science Wednesday program.
At the beginning of November, students in Mrs. Cunningham’s and Mr. Lofton’s classes learned more about food webs. We talked about how everything in the environment is interconnected, including [...]
Science Wednesday with Fullerton Elementary
This marks week four of working with Fullerton 5th graders at Science Wednesday! Our group of 20 students have been getting hands on and learning about the environment. We have learned about the water cycle and water chemistry, discovered the difference between weather and climate, and discussed the importance of the carbon cycle. We only [...]
Getting Messy with the BGCUV Garden Club!
We have been partnering with the garden club at the Boys and Girls Club to teach lessons that connect the environment to their usual gardening activities. A few weeks ago, students learned about the different components of soil and got to see a soil layer profile. Then they used a mortar and pestle to grind [...]
…not everyone gets to PET A WHALE…
Ken Carloni, Ph.D.
Baja tour evaluation comment
As many of you know, I retired from full-time teaching at UCC in June. My plan was to continue to teach the field courses I’ve reported on in the pages of past 100 Valleys newsletters as a part-time instructor. Unfortunately, that plan has been dashed.
For a variety [...]
Twin Lakes Youth Wilderness Campout
July 27 – July 29, 2018
A summer weekend filled with fun, educational activities in the outdoors. Space is limited!
FIRE IS NOT THE ENEMY PART II:
Ken Carloni, PhD.
The 2013 Douglas Complex Fires Revisited
New science reverses conventional wisdom that old growth forests burn more severely than plantations.
Four years ago, I wrote an article for the Summer 2014 100 Valleys entitled “Fire Is Not The Enemy” analyzing the Douglas Complex fire that burned through a BLM/private industry checkerboard northwest [...]
Field tour
Ken Carloni, PhD.
Along with the amazing work being done with younger students by our AmeriCorps, Christine Smith (see her article in this issue), Umpqua Watersheds continues to support authentic field learning experiences to college students and community members of the 100 Valleys and beyond. Here are some opportunities to get involved:
If you happen [...]
New Pathways
Ken Carloni, PhD.
Your Education Committee continues to work hard to create opportunities for student of all ages to learn about their natural world and put that knowledge to work. Here are a couple of highlights:
New Pathways for Natural Resources Students: I’m pleased to announce that just last week Umpqua Community College (UCC) approved [...]
AmeriCorps Shines
Ken Carloni, PhD.
Umpqua Watersheds’ education initiatives have been going strong and continue to touch the lives of hundreds of students a year from K-12 through college. The educational programs, originally developed by our VISTA member Roland Wang and expanded by AmeriCorps member Katrina Keleher, offer after-school “Science Friday” programs, Science Olympiad, and other fun [...]
Camp Kellogg
Last week at Camp Kellogg we got the chance to teach Hucrest 5th graders about Water Chemistry! We did hands-on activities learning about the properties of water and their uses in nature! The students had a blast getting their hands a little wet at their first ever Science Camp-Out!
Thanks Hucrest for a great turn-out [...]
Thanks Tri-City Elementary!
Last week was our last Crater Lake Field Trips for the season and we had wonderful classes! This could be the last time the students get to see Crater Lake with all its glorious snow and they definitely had time to appreciate its immense beauty on this crisp and sunny day! We want to thank [...]
Wilderness Sweets!
Yesterday, was our last Wilderness Literature class at Phoenix Charter School! The students presented their art projects for their class anthology; ranging from essays, to picture slideshows to drawings of native plants and wildlife found along the hikes! Here are some of the celebratory treats we brought in for the classes final celebration! We had [...]
Sun, Seeds and Starts!
Today at the Umpqua Valley Arts Association, Fir Grove Elementary’s Leadership group got to come help out with the planting of a salsa garden! We started by spreading fresh dirt on the beds and then got to plant all of our ingredients; peppers, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos & more! The students had a wonderful time planting [...]
SEEDS Field Trip
Last Saturday we got a chance to teach local high-school age and younger students about the Natural Resources program at UCC. They got exposure to agency jobs, had conversations with local professionals and got to attend hikes with a botanist and learn about their region! We got to take a couple of students from Casa [...]