Education
FREE Ecology Kit Rentals for Teachers
The Siuslaw Watershed Council, in conjunction with Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors (ECO), now offers self-contained learning modules for classrooms to introduce students to a range of concepts relating to ecology, from plant survival to food webs to soils. Modules conform to Oregon Department of Education Standards and come with all the supplies and materials required, along with detailed instructions for the facilitator. To request a module for your classroom, send an email with the subject line 'Ecology Classroom Kit Request' to education@siuslaw.org with the name of the kit(s) you would like to borrow and the timeframe for which you are requesting them.
Click on a module to learn more!
Oregon Dunes Stewardship and Ecology Tour
At a Glance
- Hike/Invasive Plant Removal
- 3rd-8th grade
- Available year-round
- Topics include invasive species, dune ecology, stewardship
Program Details
Aimed at students from 3rd through 8th grade, the Oregon Dunes Stewardship and Ecology tour leads participants through the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area, focusing on ideas surrounding stewardship, native vs. invasive species, and dune formation.
Students will work to remove highly invasive Scotch Broom from the Recreation area's scenic overlook, and join an hour long hike through the dunes to explore their history, formation, and some of the plants and animals that depend upon them. At the conclusion of the program most teachers will give their students free time to play on the dunes.
For this trip, SWC provides all required implements for removing Scotch Broom, and associated protective equipment. SWC can, upon request, also provide sand sleds for use during free time on the dunes. Participants are advised to dress warmly and in layers; even on sunny days the dunes can be windy and cold.
Sweet Creek Falls Interpretive Hike
At a Glance
- Hike
- K-12th grade
- Available year-round
- Topics include ethnobotany, crayfish, macroinvertebrates, and more
Program Details
The Sweet Creek Falls trail gives students of all ages an opportunity to experience the natural splendor of our watershed. Split into several segments, the trail thereby lends itself a high degree of adaptability, offering shorter or longer treks depending upon the programmatic needs, interest level, and stamina of participants.
A broad range of topics can be covered depending upon the needs of the students, and can be discussed with SWC staff when booking the field trip.
SWC will provide necessary supplies and materials for programming.
PAWN Trail Interpretive Hike
At a Glance
- Hike
- K-12th grade
- Available year-round
- Topics include forest ecology, threatened and endangered species (marbled murrelet), ethnobotany, and more
Program Details
The PAWN trail gives students a chance to experience the majesty of an old growth remnant, including trees now over 500 years old. A looping trail of under one mile, its shorter length does not in any way detract from its beauty, and is a palatable hike even for younger students. The trail serves as a great introduction to forest ecology and concepts such as plant succession, temperate rainforests, and anthropogenic ecosystem changes post European colonization.
A broad range of topics can be covered depending upon the needs of the students, and can be discussed with SWC staff when booking the field trip.
SWC will provide necessary supplies and materials for programming.
STEP Whittaker Creek Steelhead Fish Processing
At a Glance
- Seasonal (Available end of February-March, dependent on fish)
- K-12th grade
- Topics include Steelhead, fish anatomy, fish reproduction, fish ecology, and more
Program Details
Held collaboratively with local Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) volunteers, the Whittaker Creek Steelhead program runs concurrently with the Steelhead early each year. Timing and availability is dependent upon the presence of fish at the STEP trap. Students get a chance to observe Steelhead swimming upstream, and observe STEP volunteers collecting milt and eggs for hatchery use before releasing the fish back into the water. A fish dissection follows, allowing for hands on learning (for those willing to handle fish organs) and an in-depth look at Steelhead anatomy.
Lunch can be taken on site, which has covered areas in the event of rain as well as a restroom. The second half of the day follows a station rotation format, covering additional topics including macroinvertebrates, decomposers and soil composition, forest ecology, and more.
SWC and STEP will provide necessary supplies and materials for programming.