Connecting with Communities

A week in the life of Steigerwald Lake NWR

Steigerwald Lake NWR is making a name for itself these days. With the support of the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards (CGRS), the Refuge has been able to host new visitors and welcome new groups of people interested in volunteering.  With the support of the Urban Refuge Program, Stewards Volunteer Coordinator, Jared Strawderman, is ensuring that all are welcomed to the Refuge. Several events in one busy June week highlight a variety pf partnerships and ways of connecting with our community.  The Timbers Soccer Club, Thorns Soccer Club, and Hands On Portland helped to host a “Stand Together” volunteer event at the Refuge where Timber Joey happily put on rubber boots and helped maintain oak plantings. The following day, the Friends of the Columbia River Gorge and National Wildlife Federation endured a brief downpour on their visit to participate in invasive Himalayan blackberry removal and to learn about the importance of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Lastly, the CGRS hosted an Eco-Blitz on June 17^th, offering guided walks and trailhead tabling provided by CGRS, National Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Refuge staff, and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. Throw in the middle of that, the biggest event in Clark County, National Get Outdoors Day at Fort Vancouver, at which we which collectively reached over 500 people through volunteers, refuge and CGRS staff. One can clearly see that, working together, the CGRS have been able to serve more people in more ways, by joining together to make these events more achievable and successful. Want to get involved?  Contact Jared at jared_strawderman@fws.gov.

Celebrating Emerging Environmental Leaders

The Service is working with community partners to cultivate young leaders and to provide clear pathways for the next generation of diverse leaders in environmental education and conservation. 

On Saturday, June 17, we celebrated 20 young adults (ages 18-25) as they graduated from the Environmental Emerging Leaders Program led by Center for Diversity and the Environment and sponsored in part by the Urban Refuge Program. These young leaders come from all walks of life in the Portland metro area and brought their rich life experiences to bear to this training. Many already work in the environmental field and used this training to solidify their leadership skills and make stronger connections within the field. They all return to their schools and jobs having made a commitment to strengthen each other and the environmental community by speaking up around issues that intersect with the environment such as health, access to nature, and equity. Some of them have already started engaging with our refuges such as serving as translators for Tualatin River Bird Festival in May. Be prepared to see much more of these young people in our midst and among the Portland-Vancouver area’s environmental leaders of today and in the future.

“Keeping it Reel” and More Summer Fun

July 22nd offered multiple communities the opportunity to get outdoors and learn more about U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and our local National Wildlife Refuges. I started my day off at a lake in Vancouver, where Torch of Hope families were invited for a day filled with snow cones, an insect farm, swimming, and fishing. Of course the latter was the big draw for most. After learning to cast a line and reel it in, participants advanced on to the real deal. Most squirmed as they baited their lines, but enjoyed the opportunity to try and catch a fish from the stocked pond. As Cedar Waxwings, Western Tanagers, and multiple species of dragonflies zipped around, anxious (most first time) anglers, awaited a tug on their line. At the day’s end a handful had been successful at catching a fish, but all had accomplished learning how to cast and the art of fishing.

I jumped in the car after this event to head to downtown Camas for the Annual Camas Days. Street parking was limited, as the city was budding with street fair go-ers. The Gorge Refuge Stewards hosted a table, talking to the community about the Gorge Refuges and the wildlife viewing opportunities available to them – just 5 miles from where we stood.

The most amazing part of the two events for myself was meeting a family at the “Keeping it Reel” Fishing event, that I later re-connected with at Camas Days at the Gorge Steward’s table!

We still have a few events coming up later this summer where we have a great opportunity to connect with the community off-site. If you are interested in helping out, contact Mesha Wood, mesha_wood@fws.gov