Local students learn about wildlife, water quality, and restoration in an outdoor learning laboratory.
How your support made a difference at the Nichols Natural Area
As the cottonwood trees drop their leaves and the wildlife settles in for winter, I wanted to share some highlights from a piece of the river close to your home.
At the Nichols Natural Area, on the Hood River waterfront, we hosted 800 students this year including second graders, sixth graders, High School AP Environmental Science students, and Community College ESL students. They learned about riparian zone function, tested water quality, studied native and invasive species, explored restoration techniques, and connected with the wildlife that use the space through games and activities. Our local teachers are pleased to have such a unique opportunity right here in our “front yard.”
Ubaldo Hernández, Columbia Riverkeeper’s Community Organizer, visited over a dozen schools, doing classroom presentations and connecting with students. Ubaldo has become a bit of a celebrity in the elementary school and middle school world, as the students recognize him as the guy that visits their classroom and teaches them about the Nichols Natural Area and the Columbia River in a way that is funny, engaging, and inspiring. Many students are delighted to be able to speak to Ubaldo in their native language, Spanish.
Over 200 volunteers helped plant native trees, pull weeds and spread mulch to maintain the site. While this work is not always glamorous, it’s vital to the success of the site, and we’re so happy that so many community members want to help out. Our Fall Planting Party, in particular, exceeded our wildest expectations. The morning of the event we woke to heavy rain and wind, but that didn’t stop over 80 (!) volunteers from joining us to plant native trees and shrubs. This was a beautifully diverse group, including many students, Latinx families, longtime Columbia Riverkeeper volunteers, and new volunteers who were just hearing about Riverkeeper for the first time.
As we move into winter, we are capitalizing on the momentum by updating and developing curriculum, recruiting new schools and community groups, and developing bilingual interpretive signs to install at the site. This project is changing our community and connecting people to the river and each other in new ways. And the riparian zone is thriving!
We couldn’t do this without community support. THANK YOU! If you are interested in hearing more about our recent progress, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’d like to support the education and restoration at Nicholas Natural area please click here.
Local students learn about wildlife, water quality, and restoration in an outdoor learning laboratory;
Organize volunteer restoration work parties to remove invasive plants and nurture native plants; and
Develop bilingual interpretive signs so everyone can learn about our local ecology.
We received some letters and art from local 2nd graders that illustrate some of what the students experience in our program. Thank you so much for making this happen!
Thank you for inviting us to the riparian zone. I like the games. My favorite game was the heron game. I also like measuring the water temperature and pH. I really want to work at Columbia Riverkeeper when I grow up.
Thank you for teaching me the heron game. My favorite game was Pollution and Plants. I learned that we need to take care of the Columbia River. You are nice, funny, and playful.
Engage, educate, and inspire the diverse communities of the Columbia River Gorge to turn a former industrial site into vibrant riverfront habitat.
