Active Participation in Restoring our Watershed
Through Student Stewardship Projects, we seek to cultivate student watershed stewards by integrating interdisciplinary studies- creative writing, art, and science- into meaningful hands-on restoration. Every year, hundreds of students from local schools participate in projects that are designed to elevate student motivation for learning about their watershed and provide them with restoration skills, experiences, and watershed knowledge.
Tumalo Creek is magnificent and the best place to be. It sounds like the wind rustling through the trees and the water flowing. It smells like home sweet home to me.
-Ellie, 4th Grade, Cascades Academy
Through active participation in these restoration projects, students develop a sense of pride and care for their home waters. During their projects, students have the opportunity to interact with professionals in the “real world” of watershed restoration, such as conservation groups, federal agency representatives, and local scientists. This in turn encourages these natural resource professionals and community members to view youth as informed and capable stream stewards.
Past projects have included removing noxious weeds and planting native plants along Riverbend and Farewell Bend Parks, restoration along Whychus Creek, and planting trees in Shevlin Park. Many of these projects bring students to a site multiple times, so they truly have the opportunity to form a connection with the place. In addition to on the ground restoration activities, students also participate in creative writing, art and music projects that allow them to form an even deeper connection with the natural world around them.
Am I a river? Am I a song? I am a melody which always lulls on. My body, it moves with pride. I shape this land and make it home.
-Alaina, 11th grade, Sisters High