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Since the inception of Creekside Conservancy (formerly Heernett Environmental Foundation) in 1996, we have strived to pursue education and outreach as part of our mission.
We are continually working on meaningful programs to provide resources and experiences for local community members, landowners, students, and other organizations to understand the symbiotic relationships between human impacts and the fragile balance of ecosystem functions. We have developed internship programs for our regional college students to work and experience hands-on approaches to learning. We have also created and worked with local school districts and teachers to allow for opportunities to come into classrooms to discuss and share regional knowledge about ethnobotony and natural resources. Hundreds of students have participated with on-the-ground projects, providing different habitat types on our properties for both native riparian plant planting, as well as monitoring stations for students to conduct actual water quality monitoring tests. Creekside has also hosted “town hall” meetings, providing a platform and facilitation for local residents and community members to discuss regional environmental issues and concerns, proposed ESA listings and what they could mean for landowners, basin wide water issues, and community planning. We consistently work with local governments and municipalities to provide resources and information to support planning efforts and further negotiations for long-term planning. Through other outreach methods, Creekside has consistently been requested to participate in regional festivals, events, workshops, seminars, and conferences. During these events, we provide direct dialog and discussion on critical issues, topics of the event, and general environmental outreach. We also have provided services to specific events to help ensure hands-on experiences for families that attend. Staying involved in the schools and community is a critical component to our overall mission by sustaining stewardship, sharing information and resources, as well as, active encouragement and inspiration to promote informed long-term management practices which are beneficial for both the community and ecoregion. |
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Water Quality Monitoring: Bringing Environmental Education to Local Schools
Project description: This project is a part of a long-term, continuing outreach and education program. Over the last several years, Heernett Environmental Foundation (HEF) has assisted the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium with their Water Quality Monitoring Program. HEF would like to continue this effort with a focus in the Scatter Creek Watershed by setting up two permanent Environmental/Water Quality Monitoring Stations on our properties. One would be located in the headwaters of Scatter Creek, at the Sampson Bridge or Mill Pond, and the second in the mainstem of Scatter Creek, close to the confluence with the Chehalis River, located on the Mills Property at RM 2.
Once these two Environmental/Water Quality Monitoring stations are permanently established, and the sites are confirmed safe for local students to use, HEF would use 2 new complete water quality kits for students to perform tests and record data for analysis. The different tests performed are consistent with other ongoing water quality monitoring programs (e.g. Chehalis Basin Education Consortium) so that the data is compatible and useful in the basin. These tests will be: pH, Temperature, DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, and Turbidity.
In addition to establishing the new monitoring sites, another component of this project was to conduct discussions and workshops both in and out of the classroom (Tenino and Rochester area schools and others in the Chehalis basin). For the last seven years, HEF has gone into the local schools and on fieldtrips with students to discuss ethnobotany, ecology, and hydrology to kindergarten through 12th grade classes. These projects consist of environmental discussions selected by the teacher, structured activities, and/or tree planting projects. The USFWS Fisheries Education biologist, Dan Spencer, coordinated with HEF to participate in classroom visits as well as field trips at these two field sites. Dan developed a Youth Fisheries Academy and various fisheries techniques education modules that complement the HEFs water quality testing and classroom visits.
Once these two Environmental/Water Quality Monitoring stations are permanently established, and the sites are confirmed safe for local students to use, HEF would use 2 new complete water quality kits for students to perform tests and record data for analysis. The different tests performed are consistent with other ongoing water quality monitoring programs (e.g. Chehalis Basin Education Consortium) so that the data is compatible and useful in the basin. These tests will be: pH, Temperature, DO, Nitrates, Phosphates, and Turbidity.
In addition to establishing the new monitoring sites, another component of this project was to conduct discussions and workshops both in and out of the classroom (Tenino and Rochester area schools and others in the Chehalis basin). For the last seven years, HEF has gone into the local schools and on fieldtrips with students to discuss ethnobotany, ecology, and hydrology to kindergarten through 12th grade classes. These projects consist of environmental discussions selected by the teacher, structured activities, and/or tree planting projects. The USFWS Fisheries Education biologist, Dan Spencer, coordinated with HEF to participate in classroom visits as well as field trips at these two field sites. Dan developed a Youth Fisheries Academy and various fisheries techniques education modules that complement the HEFs water quality testing and classroom visits.
