Students Lead the Way at One Planet Club
Written by: Kirk Beckendorf
|
|
|
Collecting scat, identifying bird calls and animal tracks, practicing archery and making arrows, exploring riparian areas, skipping rocks, swinging high in a ropes course, learning first aid, climbing into a fire lookout tower, practicing their aim with fire hoses and cooking over campfires! That is what the 6 days of summer camp was all about, for the students from Mission View Elementary School. Those activities helped the students create connections with nature, build knowledge, skills and cooperation, and have LOADS OF FUN!
|
|
|
Cascadia and Cascade Fisheries have been collaborating with the Mission View After School Program since 2020, leading the students on outdoor nature explorations. Actually, we prefer to FOLLOW the students, providing them with the freedom to follow their curiosity of the natural world. During the school year and the summer, we take a dozen or more trips into local natural areas. Annually each student will spend 50 - 60 hours outdoors in these field experiences, and most participate for 3 years.
|
|
Spring Salmon Releases Go Swimmingly!
Written by: Amanda Newell
|
|
Cascadia staff have joined our partners; Cascade Fisheries and the Leavenworth Hatchery, with salmon release events around the county this spring! From Alpine Lakes 4th grade and Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery's community salmon release party, to Cashmere's salmon release parade and all of the Wenatchee 3rd grade classes. At their school, the students were raising baby salmon and caring for the salmon fry. At the "Release Parties" students released the baby salmon into our local rivers and on their way to the Pacific, in hopes they return after their time in the ocean!
Please enjoy some student quotes below:
- “I learned that the land around the river effects the healthiness of the river."
- “When we looked at all the insects and bugs I noticed that the Icicle river is pretty healthy.”
- “Thank you for taking your time in teaching us all these amazing things about science!”
- “I learned a lot and had lots of fun!”
Thank you to WA Department of Ecology for funding Cascadia's staff time to participate in these events and teach kids the importance of good water quality for the fish that live in our local lakes, rivers, and streams!
|
|
|
Wildfire NCW website now live!
Building a Wildfire Ready Region Together.
This bilingual website has been in the works for nearly 5 years now, we want to extend a thank you to Our Valley Our Future, the Chelan County PUD, and all of the partners who had a voice in shaping this website. We hope it is a wonderful and useful tool for our communities. More information can be found on Wildfirencw.org, or fuegoncw.org
|
|
Rates & Charges Renewal Request
|
|
Cascadia CD is proposing to renew and update its current rates and charges to $10 per parcel per year for 2026-2036. This helps the conservation district deliver non-regulatory public services that turn county commitments into action, supporting wildfire preparedness, outdoor education to students, agricultural viability, and natural resource enhancement.
Our proposed renewal includes a modest rate increase to help keep pace with significant increased demand for conservation services. Cascadia CD actively secures state, federal, and other funding, but those sources are often competitive, short-term, and restricted. Many core services, like direct landowner assistance, outreach, and coordination aren’t fully eligible for grant funding. Our rates and charges proposal provides stable, flexible funding for public services that reflect local priorities like water resources, wildfire preparedness, farms, habitat, K-12 education, and more!
For more information please contact (509) 436-1601 or [email protected].
|
|
|
Happy Retirement Valerie Hampton!
|
|
|
After 30 years of dedicated service to Cascadia, Valerie Hampton has retired. Valerie’s dedication, experience, wit and humor have been a wonderful influence on Cascadia these many years and will be greatly missed! As she begins her next adventure, Valeire is looking forward to more time with family and perhaps rekindling some hobbies like photo albums and jigsaw puzzles.
|
|
|
|
"There have been so many changes over the past 30 years, but one thing that was consistent was the knowledge and dedication of our staff. I learned so much from all of you. It has been my honor to support our mission alongside so many wonderful board members and colleagues. I’ll miss you all!" - Valerie Hampton
|
|
|
|
Congratulations Alex Harwell!
|
|
|
|
Alex Harwell has taken on the Riverscape Program Manager role. Alex is excited to take on the new role of Riverscape Program Manager at Cascadia Conservation District to help support the amazing riverscape team, help plan for the programs continued growth, and ensure that our restoration efforts deliver durable ecological and community benefits across Chelan County.
|
|
|
|
Happy Independence Day!
We wish you a fun and safe holiday weekend celebrating America's 250th anniversary!
|
|
|
|
The Eastside Rebuild Tool Library has 900+ tools, including a recently updated Farm and Food Tool Library! Several new tools include a BCS walk behind tractor with flail mower and spreader, a dehydrator, pressure canner, and freeze dryer! to learn more or get involved, visit Eastside Rebuild's website here.
|
|
We'd like to hear from you!
What kind of information would you like to receive in this monthly E-News?
Please take our short survey to help us better serve our community!
|
|
|
|
|
