Winter/Spring 2012 Projects

In 2012, we are featuring 3 Environmental Education Projects and 3 Conservation Science in Action Projects.

The Pacific Northwest is home to some magnificent old-growth forests. Unfortunately, many local children have never had the opportunity to explore this enchanting ecosystem first-hand.  In response, this team will develop and facilitate a unique fieldtrip experience -- one that gives middle-schoolers an opportunity to climb into the canopy and explore the understory to learn about useful plants.  Your mission will be to inspire curiosity about our many local native plants used for food, medicines and materials.   In winter term, you will develop interdisciplinary hands-on lessons that will engage children in learning about native plants and their human uses.  In spring, you will visit classrooms in April, and lead full-day fieldtrips every Thursday and Friday in the month of May.  You will be working in partnership with the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest and the Pacific Tree Climbing Institute.  A background in forest biology or ecology is preferred. Learn what the team did last year.

Restoration of streamside vegetation improves water quality and benefits fish, wildlife and people! In partnership with the McKenzie and/or Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Councils, the Restoration Stewardship Team will get involved in several stages of stream restoration. You will get your hands dirty and make a difference by planting trees at a restoration site, maintaining recently restored sites, and monitoring to evaluate the success of riparian vegetation plantings. You will gain an applied understanding of some common riparian restoration techniques and challenges. You will build upon existing data sets by monitoring tree survival and vigor, species competition and other factors. You will have the opportunity to make recommendations to improve restoration project design. A knowledge of restoration, stream ecology, botany or ecology is preferred. Although your project will be somewhat different, see Restoration Stewardship 2011 to learn what the team did last year

Cedar!  Salal!  Salmonberries!  Working in partnership with Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, this team will develop interpretive signs and a fieldtrip for fifth graders centered on plant/people relationships.  Your mission will be to inspire curiosity about our many local native plants used for food, medicines and materials.  In winter term, you will develop interdisciplinary hands-on lessons that will engage children in learning about native plants and their human uses.  In spring term, you will facilitate your fieldtrip at Mt. Pisgah as well as facilitate an “Art in Nature” workshop at the Wildflower Festival in mid-May.

The Less than 1% of the Willamette Valley’s wet prairies remain today. Wet prairies are important for water quality, flood abatement, and wildlife habitat. Over the past two decades, numerous efforts have been launched in the Willamette Valley to protect and enhance remaining wet prairies, while restoring additional areas. Success of restoration depends upon proper site preparation, initial establishment of native species, and long-term focused management activities. Scientists and restorationists have conducted valuable research in the West Eugene Wetlands, and while major gains in the science of wet prairie restoration have been achieved, important questions still remain regarding best practices. In this project, you will collect and analyze data for a small-scale field experiment that is strategically designed to answer lingering questions about effective prairie restoration methods. You will learn about experimental design, restoration methods and challenges, and hands-on techniques such as using an auto-level, creating maps, and identifying native and non-native plants.  A knowledge of restoration, wetlands ecology, botany, mapping, or GIS is preferred but not required.