Cascade Streamwatch is both a place and an innovative science education program. The CSW project is a 15 year collaborative effort by the USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Land, and the non-profit educational organization Wolftree, Inc., to create an opportunity for people to learn about, observe and appreciate some of the Northwest’s foremost resources --- forests, water, and salmon

Cascade Streamwatch is both a place and an innovative science education program.

The CSW project is a 15 year collaborative effort by the USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Land, and the non-profit Wolftree, Inc., to create an opportunity for people to learn about,

observe and appreciate some of the Northwest’s foremost resources

--- forests, water, and salmon.

The purpose of CSW is to increase science and geographic literacy with an emphasis on reaching populations living

in under-served communities.

Improving public understanding of river and forest ecosystems and the complex issues regarding the management of our natural resources is a common goal held by our partners.

CSW increases the science literacy of students, by providing hands-on, science-inquiry based classroom and field activities led by Wolftree staff, local scientists, naturalists, and educators

The CSW Project accommodates a full range of learning abilities and cultures.

RECOGNITION

Hands on the Land Award for CSW, National Director of the BLM

National Rise to the Future Award for Public Outreach, Chief of the Forest Service

Grosvenor Awards for Inner-City Experiential Learning Project from the National Geographic Society

Excellence in Education Award of Merit from the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Excellence in Partnerships for Student Learning Award from Portland State University/City of Portland, Mayor of Portlan;

One of the Top 40 Non-Profits in Oregon from the Oregon Community Foundation/Portland Magazine

Outstanding Leadership and Stewardship Award from the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, Washington DC.

SPONSORS• Oregon Forest Resources Institute • Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

• USDA Forest Service • USDI Bureau of Land Management• Friends of Wolftree Stewardship Fund

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS

• Clackamas County • Collins Foundation • EPA• Friends of the Paul Bunyan Foundation• Laird Norton Family Foundation • Merrill Lynch • METRO Greenspaces• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation• National Forest Foundation • National Geographic Society• Northwest Natural • Oregon Community Foundation• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife• Portland General Electric • Portland State University• Portland Water Bureau • Portland Youth Builders • REI • Rose Tucker Charitable Trust • Spirit Mountain Community Fund • Stimson Lumber Company• Sunriver Anglers • Timberline Lodge • US Bank • Wells Fargo • Weyerhaeuser Foundation

“Cascade Streamwatch is a time-proven, premiere outdoor science education program.  It engages youth in the outdoors, and opens their minds to the natural wonders of living ecosystems.  Youth become scientists for the day in an outdoor setting, transforming the way they think about our precious natural resources.”

— Dan Shively, Fish Passage and Habitat Partnerships Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

“I worked with kids this year who had chronic attendance problems, but they never missed a science class ... it was very frustrating, but it said a lot about Wolftree ... they were willing to go to that class because they really enjoyed being there, it gave them something they didn’t get in the other classes ... we are really trying to model this approach in the rest of our school.”

— Stevie Newcomer, Principal Pauling Academy of Integrated Science

 

“Portland Public Schools shares Wolftree’s premise that the prosperity of our communities will depend on well developed, active minds, imagination, ingenuity, and innovation. We believe that a diversity of learning opportunities enhances school performance, reduces social assistance costs, expands economic activity, supports diversity, and improves family/work life.”

— Vicki L. Phillips, former Superintendent, Portland Public Schools, now with the Gates Foundation

 

15 Years of Investments

BLM $450,000 via CCS to Wolftree

Wolftree matched these funds for a total of $1.8 million

Additional funds from private and public sources $2.5 million

In-kind and volunteers time $2.1 million

Participants served 105,000 (from over 100 schools & organizations)

Over 300,000 student-day experiences

Annual visitors at the site in 1992 :10,000

in 2009: 80,000

SUPPORT FOR THE PARTNERSHIP IN 2010

Wolftree provided a:

CSW day for 100 participants attending the Department of Interior Conference on the Environment in April involving Wolftree staff and contractors

CSW day for 40 new BLM employees in April

CSW tour for the River Management Society and BLM Washington Staff in May

Wildwood Recreation SiteCSW Service Area in the Box