Umpqua Watersheds AmeriCorps in the news!
While winding down their service at Umpqua Watersheds, Maris Wilson and Christine Smith were certainly not winding down their activities. Two big weekends full of activity mark the end of their service. Check out the article in the News Review.
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 [...]
