Green Earth Club

Idaho Fish and Game is conducting a multi-year stream restoration project in the Little Salmon River basin between the junction of the Little Salmon River and Big Creek and the junction of the Little Salmon River and Boulder Creek. The Idaho Fish and Game project manager, Mary Dudley, coordinates volunteers from schools and conservation organizations. Meadows Valley High School’s Green Earth Club and science classes have been working on the project for several years.

The major effort in recent years has been to do stream bank stabilization using local fresh-cut willow branches on Boulder Creek and the serpentine portion of the Little Salmon River just north of New Meadows.

A water drill, stinger, is used to bore a hole at an angle through the cut bank. Stout willow branches are pressed into the holes and exposed on the face of the bank. Then, smaller willow branches are “woven” into the staves. Below is an account of the day’s activities from some of our students:

Willow Weaving is an extremely involved activity that the Idaho Fish and Game does several times a year. It is supposed to strengthen the stream or river banks and save them from erosion. Also, it keeps the sediments out of the water that would cover and smother fish eggs. Willows also shade the water, keeping the temperature cool enough for the trout.

The process of weaving the willows and running the stinger to make holes in the bank was a very physical one. On the Meadows Valley School field trip, we separated into two groups; one group gathered willows nearby while the other holes into the banks to make braces. Wearing waders, the group on the bank made holes with something called a stinger. The stinger was a long, slender pole that drew water from the river and shot it, with high pressure, into the banks. When the hole was large enough for a willow to fit in, a thick, long, and straight willow was pushed into the bank. After several hours of making these initial braces, the other group returned with smaller willows to weave into the bank.
The weaving itself was much easier than making holes in the bank, although still very physical. To explain how to weave willow branches, I would first suggest getting a very good pair of waterproof gloves. The water from the river is a little chilly. Using the willows gathered previously in the day, you sit on the bank and literally weave the willow branches over and under the braces made with the stinger. A little monotonous, but never-the-less helpful to the environment!

Despite the hard work, I can not help but feel really good about the fact that I did something helpful for our local landowners and the environment. The riparian habitat along the Little Salmon River in Meadows Valley has been restored and will hopefully hold up to another harsh spring in 2009 and for years after.

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Interview with Amy Ulappa

1.) What did you do at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge? I worked there for nearly two years as an Americorps member as the Environmental Education and Interpretive Specialist. That long title just means I was one of the main contacts for environmental education programs. In the last two year I have interacted with 11,405 children and nearly 3,000 community members in a number of ways. Susan Kain (Visitor Services Manager) and I led hundreds of children in field trips every year, ran three day camps, and staffed booths at family events all over the Treasure Valley. I also brought the refuge to classrooms with our "Bring the Outdoors Indoors" classroom programs since many schools can't afford the trip to the refuge, I went to them. The staff at the refuge is very supportive of environmental education and gave me the resources to create traveling education trunks for teachers, plan adult lecture series, start a Scout Day program, and invite the public and local biologists to the refuge for the BioBlitz. I was so lucky to have a job with such diversity and opportunity to interact with the community.

2.) How did you end up at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge? After graduating from Boise State University with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, I worked in a lab testing water. It turns out that I really wanted to be outside and interact with people so the Environmental Educator job at Deer Flat was perfect for me. I had volunteered at the refuge a little before and I was excited to see the job opening. Luckily, the refuge decided to give the job to me and I began                  Amy Ulappa leads Habitat Sit
work October 1, 2006.

3.) What are your future goals? I began graduate school in the Biology department at Boise State University this fall so a major goal for me in the next three years will be to put together a successful thesis and to enjoy the graduate experience. The lab I work in will be studying sage grouse and I am also teaching undergraduate biology labs so I will still be outdoors and get to teach. After graduate school my husband and I will have to decide what to do next, hopefully a new adventure!

4.) Why are you a member of IdEEA? Environmental Education is so important to the development of children and future naturalists. I have never met a kid who wasn't interested in wildlife and it is important to use that as a teaching tool. Idaho has such great resources and educators that I like being connected to all that through IdEEA. It is inspiring to see people who care about connecting kids to nature and I have learned a lot from them.
 

Deadline for the President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA)

Deadline for the President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) applications has been extended to December 31, 2008.

Since 1971, EPA has sponsored the President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA). The program recognizes young people across America for projects which demonstrate their commitment to the environment. Young people in all 50 states and the U.S. territories are invited to participate in the program.

Projects submitted in the past have covered a wide range of subject areas including recycling programs in schools and communities; construction of nature preserves; major tree planting programs; videos, skits, and newsletters created by students that focused on environmental issues; and environmental science projects. To be eligible to compete, a
student or students, sponsored by an adult, must submit to their local EPA regional office evidence of a completed project as defined in the PEYA application, as well as a completed application. More information can be found at the PEYA website -
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/index.html  If you have questions, you can contact Sally Hanft in the Seattle Regional Office at hanft.sally@epa.gov or call her at 206-553-1207.

Creating a New Climate for Action

Creating a New Climate for Action - Campaign Provides Tools for Students to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (focus middle and high school students)

To honor Child Health Day, EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection and Environmental Education is launching a campaign to educate middle and high school students about
climate change, its effects on children’s health, and actions teens can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become Climate Ambassadors in their communities.

“Young people have been the motivation behind recycling efforts and they can play an equally important role with climate change,” said Ruth McCully, director of EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection and Environmental Education. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will create a healthier environment to live, learn and play.”

The goals of EPA’s “Climate Change and Children’s Health Education” campaign are three-fold: 1) help young people understand the connections between climate change and children’s health; 2) encourage middle and high school students to take actions to reduce their personal energy use; and 3) mobilize youth-based organizations and other interested
organizations to actively engage young people in efforts to address climate change and children’s health.

As part of the campaign, EPA is launching a Web site for middle and high school students. The Web site will include many tools for young people, including criteria describing how to become a Climate Ambassador, a downloadable presentation, sample proclamation and daily action steps.

The Web site will also include links to a carbon calculator for young people and blog postings by an EPA intern. Information about the campaign and Climate Ambassadors:
http://www.epa.gov/climateforaction/

To view EPA’s video and podcast, Green Scene, on the “Climate Change and
Children’s Health Education” campaign, visit:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/MMWebCon.nsf/HTML/RRUO-7JXQ2X?OpenDocument

If you have questions on this campaign, you can contact Margo Young in
the Seattle Regional Office - young.margo@epa.gov  or 206-553-1287.

Call for Articles

IdEEA is accepting articles that highlight environmental education programs in Idaho. To be considered for inclusion in the next edition of IdEEA Report, articles must be 300 words or less and submitted by January 1st. Preference will be given to individuals and/or organizations that are IdEEA members and offer programs that are statewide or could be adopted in locations throughout Idaho.

Save the Dates

2009 Idaho Environmental Education Conference
“Environmental Service:
Bring Learning to Life”
March 5 and 6, 2009
Red Lion Hotel – Pocatello, Idaho           >>More