Agenda for First Wetlands Planning Meeting

June 25th, 2013

Questions to begin the meeting:

• What do we know about the OES wetlands?
• How is it currently used?
• What are some of the limitations?
• What outside sources do we need to consider?
• What service projects are possible?
• What currently happens in classrooms that might connect to the wetlands?
• What is possible?
• What are our personal hopes and dreams for what might happen in the OES wetlands?
• What goals do we have for the children and entire community in relationship to the wetlands?

Hopes and Dreams for the wetlands and what we know from past experience of those present:

Anna Rozzi- MS Science Teacher

• focus of MS and US on scientific research: How might the wetlands be used for that?
• Could we test water quality as part of scientific research?
• Design Engineering with the Beaver Dam
• Invasive and Native Species?

• Create a Friends of OES Wetlands Group-start a sustainability club of students
• How might the MS curriculum shift towards a focus on sustainability?
• desire to collaborate cross divisionally, take walks together, teach one another
• find time to collaborate with LS, flex time?

Tracy Arensberg- LS Math Specialist and Field Biologist

• service projects in LS in connection with wetlands
• get 5th grade outside for extra 1 hour of science a week: habitat, field studies, rotate all students through time in garden, time in wetlands time in classroom? *possible MS connection time
• Snapping Turtle discovered in wetlands- invasive vs. native, license for removal, connect to available resources
• raise Chinook Salmon in the Fall/ Trout in the Winter release with students, possible plan to include in 5th grade curriculum
• Built duck boxes with K's, donated to Tualatin River Bird Refuge
• Invasive Plant Removal
• partner with Clean Water Services, contact with Margaret, stabilize banks along Fanno Creek
• Data Collection
• amphibian egg masses (OR Fish and Wildlife)- citizen data collection
• Xmas Bird Count
• Friends of Fanno Creek- water quality baseline data
• How do people interact with the wetlands?
• trail maintenance
• education for public
• golf course
• Field Guide of OES campus
• collaboration of all 3 divisions
• natural history
• ethno botany
• maps
• photos
• history
• descriptions of species
• change of land (story of how it came to be how it is now)
• Naming of the Pond- need for accuracy of language to describe the place, have meaning

Kirstin McAuley- Kindergarten Teacher, Member of Building Committee

• BS- each class spends at least 2 hours a week outdoors, much of it in the wetlands
• What they do out there?
• habitats/ animal and plant life
• observation/ over time
• notice changes over time
• explore things like the Beaver Dams
• edible plants
• made K fieldguide to the wetlands
• ask questions such as: What things thrive where and why?
• passionate advocates for the wetlands
• like to bring things they find back to study 
• explore things with microscopes
• there is a whole world under their feet they can't see, microscopes open that up
• interdependance
• relationship to the place
• slow down, look more closely
• bring attention to the life that is there
• see the wetlands as a venue for installations
• mysterious history of this place
• What is the process for putting things into the wetlands?
• Who do we ask?
• What is your clean up plan?
• Invitation for parents to partner with us
• Who else might we partner with in the community?
• Montclaire, other community partners who don't have access to this kind of environment

Erin Baker- 3rd Grade Teacher, focus on Oregon History and connection to Native Peoples

• What can we reveal about the native presence in this area through our connection and exploration of the wetlands?
• How can we nurture all of our connection to this place and educate our students better through nurturing a sense of place?
• Want to instill a time to slow down and reflect
• look for avenues into writing and social studies and a connection to Native Culture of the NW
• cross divisional collaboration to have a cohesive understanding and vision for what is possible in the wetlands to maximize the connection to the land and mitigate the impact on the native species

Tom Handel- Outdoor Education Specialist, Longest Employed OES Staff member present, extensive experience exploring wetlands 

• Desire to develop meaningful service projects 
• Cross Divisional Porjects
• Desire for greater access through
• education
• trail clearing
• educational spaces
• campsite
• bridge maintenance
• canoes-get more kids out on the pond
• Concerns about restricting access in some parts due to safety?
• Kids could help create trails, name them across divisions
• Develop safety protocols
• Building a context for kids to have meaningful questions for independent reserach

Goals of the Groups:

1. Get all LS and eventually all OES students, parents and staff out to visit the wetlands at least once a year
1. develop an experience and relationship with the wetlands to be a catalyst for more meaningful learning, research... back in the classroom
2. Experiment with what is possible in the wetlands and then make it visible to the community
1. get at least one teacher from each grade level to commit to taking class out and trying to see how what they already do can connect to the wetlands-LS
2. data collection and science research connected to wetlands -MS/ US
3. Commitment and Heavy Labor Service projects- US/ Outdoor Program
3. Two types of Experiences already going on to build on
1. Service Projects- invasive removal, trail maintenance and creation
2. Classroom Integrated Problem Solving Projects
1. Beaver Dam Flow Design Engineering Project
2. Further encourage exploration and reflection in all age groups in the wetlands
3. Poetry Posts in the wetlands for all to use

Other Interested Adult Friends of the Wetlands:

Toni Holmberg

David Lowell

Linda Hill

Peter Langley

Chris Mader

Margaret Syan Russell

Laura Foster Flynn

Brad Baugher

Jerry

Ryan Holland

Tom Berridge

Scott Thomas
Deborah Bridgnell
Colesie Tharp
Lauren Erickson

Big Ideas and Concepts that Can Be fostered by Wetland Studies:

-interdependence

-cycles

-diversity

-communities

-adaptation

-change

-energy flow

-design engineering/ thinking

-trust

-responsibility

Ideas:

-Year of the Wetlands- culminates in an all school cross divisional Field Guide to OES wetlands

-Naming of the Pond

-Collaborate LS/ MS- find time to be together in wetlands

-Make what we are trying and discovering visible to others

To do's:

-Tracy/ Erin: set date to meet in the Fall invite Clean Water Services and ODFandW as well as other interested adults

-Everyone: gather other interested decision makers and teachers

-Tom: plan walks for teachers, a staff canoe trip... for the fall, could involve service, learning about birds and plants or invasive plants

-Kirstin: get a Thursday am meeting time to do a walk, set up Wetlands Blog

-Everyone: experiment cross grade collaborations, making what we do visible to others 

-Kirstin/ Erin/ Tracy: contact one person per grade level in LS to see how they can connect what they do already to wetlands

-Erin: contact Louise Cadwell to see about field guide examples and simliar work done to build connection to the land of the College School in St. Louis, ask about adding on to June visit to visit us at OES

-Tracy: find field guide example, connect to ODFand W

-Anna: experiment with collecting data (lessons) in MS and US connect with Chris Mader

-Tom: connect with Tom Berridge to get word out about wetlands, as well as the Blophish, Mesenger

-Tom: trail cut through wetlands-meet with Jon Van Beren to see if possible- Mt. Hood Service Climb Day cut trail?

-Anna: talk to Scott Hardister about sustainability club
-Anna: connect with Clare McClellan in sustainability club currently

Please let me know if I missed anything or just add it on!