Education Update
By Cindy Haws…
Environmental education programs, beaver surveys persevere in fire season Expanding their horizons We had a wonderful three-day outdoor nature camp in July in partnership with the Cow Creek Tribe of Umpqua Indians’ Expanding Horizons program, Umpqua Natural Leadership Science Hub and Umpqua Audubon. We have gotten to know these young people and staff over a number of years now and the relationship is blooming. You kind of get attached to the kids, especially after sharing years of experiences together! We have fun stories to share now of our mutual experiences.
For example, two years in a row, while in beautiful natural places, we have encountered rubber boas. The last one was the most exciting since the boa literally came down upon us from the top of a tree! The kids were so excited. We spend two of our camp days at Iverson Park. It is a great place to do outdoor education and I thank The Friends of Iverson Park who worked hard to protect it from logging as was planned by the county. I also thank Susan Applegate who hosted the third day of our program, where youth played with the Emriver stream table and then walked to Elk Creek to look at stream processes where ODFW had put instream structures on Susan’s property to improve habitat. Beaver survey project Thanks to Susan Applegate’s gracious allowance again, we utilized her beaver occupied wetland and Elk Creek as a training site for our beaver surveyors. The beaver survey project that UW is undertaking includes educating inexperienced survey crew members on survey protocol, orienteering and field data collection. We are working to support a local workforce to do this kind of work in hopes that it provides experience and a means of income as part of their livelihood. Support us at the session Please consider attending the Myrtle Creek City Council community forum session Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m., at the Myrtle Creek Community Center. I will be demonstrating the Emriver stream table to City Council members and participants about stream processes and how they relate to the segment of the actual Myrtle Creek which runs through the city. The goal is to see if it is possible to take a restorative approach to addressing the issues and conditions of the creek so as to improve coho salmon and water quality, along with addressing some erosion and flooding challenges. Such an endeavor would also provide tremendous exposure and access for educating the public about the benefits of stream and riparian habitat restoration.
