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Connections with the Natural World in Action

Stormwater Stewards - Stormwater science lab and field activities for middle and high school students

The connected article presents in-depth and hands-on stormwater curricula which has been used successfully by many Portland teachers. It is our hope that educators interested in hydrology, urban ecology and engineering solutions to environmental problems will replicate or modify it for their use. It may be particularly useful for educators with stormwater mitigation sites on or near their school site.

Our ten-week inquiry aims to increase students’ environmental literacy, specifically their knowledge, dispositions and skills, and to teach students relevant ecological principles to...

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Ed Jensen Hosts Successful Tree and Shrub Walks in Portland and Corvallis

Every year, the City of Portland hosts Arbor Month to draw attention to the 1.5 million trees in city limits! Ed Jensen conducted trips at Hoyt Arboretum in Portland co-sponsored by Portland Parks, Hoyt Arboretum, and World Forest Center; at Tryon Creek State Park in Lake Oswego (where RRM grad Deb Hill is the park ranger); at Peavy Hall for the Corvallis Natural Areas Coalition; and at Bald Hill for the Corvallis Greenbelt Land Trust. High attendance and favorable responses at these events suggest that they are an important way for the College to connect with local communities.

From Kindergarten, Butte Creek Elementary students have their eyes set on sixth grade outdoor school at the Oregon Coast—but they need a little help getting there

A close encounter with a seal thrilled sixth-graders from Silverton, Oregon, during a recent trip to Outdoor School. Some of them had never even been to the beach before!

Butte Creek Elementary is a rural school located outside of Silverton, Oregon. Each year, the school sends their sixth graders to Camp Westwind just north of Lincoln City. With sea caves, incredible vistas, and an estuary of the Salmon River, it’s no wonder the school has returned to this site year after year.

At camp, hands-on is...

Teens in the Umpqua Explorers program gain self-confidence, friendships, and knowledge of the natural world.

Growing up in the lush Umpqua River Valley, a teenager might take for granted the rich natural heritage in his or her backyard.

The Douglas County Museum aims to change that.

“The museum is all about inspiring our community to see the big picture, and to feel like they're connected to each other and to the environment,” says Kelly Hibbert, Museum Education Coordinator.

For the past seven summers, Hibbert has led groups of 13- to 17-year-olds to...
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