Science Olympiad Competition!
Last Saturday we drove up to Corvallis, OR to compete in the state science olympiad competition at OSU! Douglas High School students had spent months studying, experimenting and building for their competition events! Today was the day to leave it all out there and we had a great time competing and seeing other students constructions [...]
Science Olympiad!
It is crunch time! We are 1 month away from our state Science Olympiad competition in Corvallis @ OSU! The students at Douglas High School are doing great with all their building and study events!
Tension on the surface?!
We had a wonderful lesson last week with Casa! We experimented with water’s surface tension, learned about CO2 and photosynthesis and at the end we created grow bracelets that represent all the elements needed for plants to grow! Can’t wait to see what next week has in store!
Spring 2017
KQUA
WE HAVE A VOICE!
KQUA 96.5 Low-Power FM Community Radio! We are very excited to announce that we are now broadcasting loud and clear and forming our RADIOACTIVE Committee to discuss innovative programming ideas aimed to give a voice to education, the environment, and social justice. Community content will be on the air soon, [...]
Spring 2017
Stanley Petrowski
SUCTION DREDGE MINING BILL PASSED!
Thank you to everyone who spoke out to stop environmentally damaging suction dredge mining! After receiving bipartisan support, Senate Bill 3A was recently signed by Gov. Brown, providing immediate protection to some of Oregon’s most sensitive waterways.
Suction dredge mining is a form of recreational gold mining that [...]
Spring 2017
Stanley Petrowski
We are certainly living during interesting times. Apart from the usual mishaps of our human condition there are some really encouraging events that have transpired since our last newsletter.
Spring 2017
Alan Bunce
In Memoriam….
I first met Ann Chamberlain while working with the Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers (PUR). Who was this vivacious lady who, like me, represented conservation on the PUR Board? Her biography on the PUR website reads as follows:
Ann Chamberlain is a teacher, an ecologist, a research scientist, and an avid [...]
Spring 2017
Stan Petrowski
The Burden of Healing
From its very beginnings Umpqua Watersheds has had restoration ecology as a critical component of its agenda. The first decade or so was mainly devoted to the immediate and most important task. Slowing down of the level of damage to the habitat that was being reeked on the public [...]
Fall 2017
Stanley Petrowski
The Upper South Umpqua Spring Chinook by Stan Petrowski
The month of August has been a banner month for the harassed remnant of Spring Chinook on the upper South Umpqua river. As most of you know, this unique fish run is hanging on by a biological thread to survive. Although the USFS has [...]
Spring 2017
Al Bunce
A fly on the wall
Last year I wrote about titans of conservation converging nearby on the Elk River. While researching for the story, I found myself wondering what it would have been like to be there with them; the fly angling experience, the comradery, and the conversations.
Spring 2017
J. Patrick Quinn
“The emperor has no clothes!” the child famously exclaims while watching his majesty parade by in the buff, too innocent to know enough to imitate his elders, and say nothing. Our watersheds, in too many instances, have no clothes either. It is apparent to anyone who is able to explore the back [...]
Spring 2017
Wilderness
Bob Hoehne
The wild on Wilderness committee has been busy working on the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal. We are giving a Crater Lake Wilderness Slide show at the Patagonia store in Portland on June 8th at 7:00 pm. Please tell any friends in Portland to come out. We have been interviewing people for the CLWP our reach job, [...]
Spring 2017
DCPARC
John Hunter
The inauguration of Donald Trump has brought a special urgency to the environmental movement. Daily we face another crisis. This is especially true in Douglas County where our Board of Commissioners seem embolden by Donald Trump’s election. This presents many challenges for DCPARC, but we are up to the test! This year [...]
Spring 2017
Executive Director
Kasey Hovik
Two months ago I assumed the role of Executive Director at Umpqua Watersheds and am proud to work alongside Alan Bunce and the UW Board of Directors to help respond to the threats to our natural environment because of our current political reality. I am very grateful to be part of [...]
Geocaching Sunshine
Yesterday as we were wrapping up Science Wednesday we got lucky with some amazing sunshine for our last day of geocaching! The Fir Grove students got to learn how to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS’s) while searching for caches containing trinkets and review questions! We got lots of great photos of their finds and treats!
What is Wilderness to you?
Today we started our Wilderness Literature class out at Phoenix Charter School. We played some wilderness games, got to go outdoors and read an article about how nature is good for our health! There is lots more to come and we are excited to read and learn more about our natural environment (especially while going [...]
Practicing Flotation
This week at Casa de Belen we worked on floating paper clips, Goldfish and toothpicks on top of water’s surface tension (Hint: some are harder to float then others!) We got to snack on the left over Goldfish while we experimented and learned all about the water cycle!
Casa Science
Last week we got a chance to learn about the Earth’s atmospheric layers through a sweet activity with lots of colors and liquids! Check it out! Thanks Casa de Belen for partnering with us for Science Mentoring Lessons! We are excited to see what else we can find out about the world around us.
Science Wednesday Water Cycle!
Our Fir Grove 5th graders loved their Science Wednesday class last Wednesday! This included a review of the water cycle with a shaving cream food color activity! We learned about precipitation, condensation and evaporation!
What does a scientist look like?!
Last Wednesday we started the Science Wednesday program over at Fir Grove Elementary; as we learn about water chemistry, cycle and forest ecology! Here are some photos of our first lesson and the 5th graders interpretations of what a scientist looks like!