GiveBIG 2021: Educating Educators |
|
|
|
On May 4th and 5th, people all around Washington will support nonprofits as a part of GiveBIG. All GiveBIG donations will support NOSC's “Educating Educators” event where we will be taking teachers from five local school districts to two of our restoration sites to teach them about implementing place-based environmental education into their curriculums. The early giving period is open for donations now!
Investing in our teachers is investing in the environmental stewards of the future!
|
Past NOSC Education Coordinator, Chrissy, working with students in the field. Image: Charles Espey
|
|
Lower Discovery Bay Walking Tour |
|
Just a step off of the Olympic Discovery Trail, NOSC’s Lower Discovery Bay Restoration Project is the perfect spot to take a break while on your walk, run, or bike ride this spring. We’ve put together a self-guided tour for you to get to know the site and the work we’ve done there!
|
|
|
Celebrate with us at Always Needed, Forever Appreciated on 5/25 |
|
Calling all current members and volunteers!
On Tuesday, May 25th, we will be celebrating YOU and all that you’ve helped us accomplish this year.
|
|
We’ve got a lovely evening lined up, including a raffle, chances to meet and share stories with other passionate NOSC supporters plus an exclusive Q&A session with the folks from Kodama Farm and Food Forest. Nate Roberts, NOSC Stewardship Coordinator, will give an inside look at our Dungeness Riparian Recovery Project – an incredible collaborative effort. It’s a night you won’t want to miss! |
|
That's a Wrap - 2021 Planting Season |
|
With the hard work of our volunteers and the WCC crew’s service, we were able get almost 6,000 plants in the grounds at sites across the entire northern peninsula – from Kilisut Harbor between Marrowstone and Indian Islands to Railroad Creek in the Hoko River Watershed. Thanks to everyone who made this feat possible! |
|
|
|
To hear more about the award, and Rebecca and Sarah's remarks, you can check out the ceremony (starting at about 13:45) here.
|
|
After a year away, we’re back in the classroom! |
|
Students search though samples to find and identify macroinvertebrates. All images by Al Gonzalez. |
|
NOSC staff spent a week teaching Al Gonzalez’s 6th grade science class at Chimacum Elementary School about macroinvertebrates and Chimacum Creek. Using samples collected from the creek, students identified these bugs with microscopes to make inferences about water quality. We also want to congratulate Al, who has been a teacher for 30 years, for being awarded the Northwest Council for Computer Education’s Outstanding Technology Educator of the Year!
|
|
|
2021 Spring Stream Stewards Class |
|
|
|
Aside from giving locals the tools to turn environmental knowledge into action, this 6-week program will cover a range of topics about the connections between our lands and waters as well as the life that depends on their health!
|
Morse Creek in early Fall. Image Sarah Doyle |
|
Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah, Todd, Chloe, & Ayla |
|
The Salmon Coalition is grateful to work with and learn from so many inspiring and dedicated people. To celebrate the contributions of this community, NOSC selects someone each month to highlight and give thanks.
This month we are highlighting Sarah Leonard and Todd Stephens, along with their children Chloe and Ayla. Sarah and Todd were RFEG volunteers before moving to the area and are now getting their kids involved with NOSC. Read on to learn more about them!
|
|
Tell us a little bit about yourselves. |
|
We’re a family of four who, in the past twelve years, have lived on Marrowstone Island and now in Port Hadlock. Todd grew up on Bainbridge Island and Sarah in Seattle. Chloe (10) and Ayla (8) were born here.
We run our business, Millbrook Clayworks, where we make pottery that reflects our love of the environment. Most of our pottery designs have strong PNW themes.
We definitely spend a lot of time outside…in the forest, at the beach or mucking around by a lake or creek. We value being out in nature rather than eyeballing screens (although, like many people, out of necessity during the pandemic, we’ve done more of that in recent months).
|
|
How did you all become involved with the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups? |
|
We just really wanted to put energy toward what we believe in: the health of the environment and how we, as humans, can do things to help offset some of our ‘footprint’…impacts of being on the planet and using resources. |
|
We heard that you also were avid volunteers with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Group in Bellingham! |
|
Yes (about 15 years ago)! We moved and our passion just followed us!! |
|
Why is volunteering with NOSC important for your family? |
|
For the reasons written above….and now as a family, it’s important for us to continue to put our values into action. Participating in NOSC planting events is one way that we, as a family, can get all our hands involved. We believe that engendering this spirit and involvement will have a lasting positive impression on our daughters. Hopefully it will influence their decisions as they grow and take on even greater roles with their generation on the planet. |
|
Anything else you’d like to tell our readers? |
|
We’re thankful for the individuals and organizations (like NOSC and NSEA) for their passion, energy and intelligence as they work to enhance the lives of salmon and the overall health of the ecosystems that support all of life. We’re glad we have the opportunity to grab a shovel and work alongside you. |
|
Thank you Sarah, Todd, Chloe, & Ayla, we appreciate you! |
|
Base funding for the RFEG program comes from a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a portion of state commercial and recreational fishing license fees, and excess egg and carcass sales administered by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
|
|
Give Us Your Feedback
Questions or Comments? Let us know what you think!
outreach@nosc.org
360.379.8051
www.nosc.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
