A busy season for environmental education in the Applegate

The Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council’s (APWC) Education Program has its hands full this spring and summer with Applegate Outdoor School and Applegate Outdoor Summer Camp.

Now in its fourth year, Applegate Outdoor School (AOS) leads fifth- and sixth-graders in four-day sessions of place-based, hands-on learning at Cantrall Buckley Park. This spring, we have strengthened our partnership with the Medford School District by serving Oakdale Middle School for the second time and Hedrick Middle School for the third year in a row. We served 580 sixth-graders from these two schools throughout April and May.

This season has moved forward despite unexpected challenges. As detailed in the last Applegater issue, a steep cut to the statewide Outdoor School budget has increased financial pressure on our program and that of other Outdoor School providers across the state. We are honored to have received a $6,000 award from the Carpenter Foundation to ease some of this strain.

Another setback occurred closer to home during our training week. One of our lead field instructors, Setthaphone Mayxonesing, was involved in a severe traffic collision on Highway 238 and sustained several broken bones. She is now on her way to recovery, but will not be able to return to AOS or summer camp this year. Setthaphone has worked for APWC as a seasonal employee since 2023, and her absence this season has been strongly felt.

Despite these setbacks, AOS has been abundant with joy, learning, and connection to nature. The AOS curriculum, which includes forestry, soil science, water quality, macroinvertebrate sampling, and fire ecology, puts scientific learning into students’ own hands. However, the value of Outdoor School extends well beyond academic outcomes. In an age where youth are increasingly alienated from the natural world, giving them the opportunity to wade in the river, sample a tree core, build soil sculptures, or simply sit and listen to the sounds of nature helps reconnect students to the world around them.

A successful season of AOS is the outcome of months of dedication from our program staff, seasonal field instructors, and community partners. We deeply appreciate Jackson County Parks for allowing us to use their park and Black Barn Kitchen for providing delicious lunches every day of programming.

As spring turns to summer, AOS will give way to Applegate Outdoor Summer Camp (AOSC). AOSC is open to children between the ages of 5 and 11 and also takes place at Cantrall Buckley Park. We are offering six weeks of programming throughout the summer. Each week of camp will feature games, crafts, scientific explorations, and presentations based on a theme. This year, AOSC is supported by Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District, the Pacific Power Foundation, and Rooted In Hope.

Bugs, Birds & Beyond (June 15-19) will feature bug hunting, birding, animal crafts, and a live insect presentation from Bugs-R-Us. Outdoor Adventurers (June 22-26) will offer navigation, treasure hunting, shelter building, and a presentation from Jackson County Search and Rescue. Crafty Kids (July 6-10) will include salt-dough sculptures, bookmaking, macrame, finger knitting, and a workshop from local fiber artist Shannon Rodine. Friends of the Forest (July 13-17) will involve plant identification, leaf art, native shrub plantings, and a guest visit from the Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative. Backyard Biologists (July 20-24) will incorporate phenology, animal adaptations, insect life cycle art, and a live reptile and amphibian presentation from Bugs-R-Us. Finally, Nature Investigators (August 3-7) will encompass water quality testing, track and scat identification, and a guest visit from Pollinator Project Rogue Valley.

We are excited to be piloting a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program for youth ages 13-17 alongside AOSC. Participants will have the opportunity to build confidence, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and learn how to mentor campers. The CIT program is tuition-free, and CITs will receive a gift certificate at the end of each week.

The Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council is committed to facilitating impactful outdoor learning opportunities for the youth of the Applegate Valley and beyond. We are grateful for the community’s continued support of our Education Program. More information about AOSC, including FAQs, registration, and the CIT program, can be found on our website at applegatepartnership.org/summer-camp.

Any additional questions, including inquiries about scholarships, can be directed to charlotte@apwc.info.

Charlotte Hyde

charlotte@apwc.info

Photo 1: An Oakdale Middle School 6th grader collects macroinvertebrates in the Applegate River at Cantrall Buckley Park.