Monies will be used for staff support to analyze song-bird migration data collected at migration station in Fairbanks, Alaska for the past 17 years, making results available to the public, other scientists, and land managers.
The Eggs to Fry project provides Association members in each of the organization’s 10 Chapters in Oregon an opportunity to participate in a program that offers fish incubation equipment for use in classroom instruction for students ranging from kindergarten to high school. This grant will help set up a mini-grant program for the Association where chapters will coordinate with local public and private schools to purchase 40-gallon fish tanks, a filtration system and pump, chiller, and cover administrative costs for volunteers to set up egg incubation in classrooms and then help transport students and fry to rivers for reintroduction.
Carl Skoog Memorial Fund - The photography exhibition runs from June 19 through September 6, 2010 at the Burke. The project will be a public exhibition of 2010 International Conservation Photography Awards. Competition was initiated by Art Wolfe to educate and inspire the public to take action to support conservation. The Burke Museum will also develop educational and outreach programs - youth day camps, talks by photographers, guided exhibit tours, discounts for disadvantaged.
Partnership program with Ducks Unlimited and Skyline High School. Habitat restoration and stewardship at Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve. The Cascade Land Conservancy has established a Youth Engagement Program that works to integrate youth into its work. Students will be taught about native and invasive plants, wildlife habitat and soil and water quality. They will construct their own duck boxes and place them. Students will monitor the boxes and hatchlings.
Grant monies will be used to produce protocals, purchase equipment, and coordinate volunteers in monitoring the road system in the Chumstick Fuels Reduction Project in the Wenatchee River Ranger District. The project will aid in the dissemination of information regarding fuel reduction near homes and critical habitat. Historical fire suppression in this area has led to high fuel load. This coalition is joining the USFS in Healthy Forest Restoration Project. Grant will pay for salary and equipment.
Update and revamp a very popular Stream Care Guide for residents in the Clark Fork watershed. The guide educates landowners about how to best care for the backyard streams. The original 2002 guide was given away quickly due to popularity and, through requests of policy makers, river advocates and local landowner groups is being requested to be updated. The guide supports the River Smart Growth program based in Missoula, Montana.
Data collection project for the Community River Knowledge Project, an online map and data collection for sites along the Columbia River. The online map and repository of volunteer-collected data will cover 100 sites on the river, from Wenatchee to Astoria. The project will allow the public to view a satellite map of the Columbia and zoom into any of the 100 locations to view water quality data, wildlife surveys, threats from pollution and habitat loss, and clean up actions.
This grant will support a joint project with I-90 Bridges Coalition for wildlife monitoring. Monies will support converting spur roads in the Twin Lakes area into non-motorized trails that connect to other trails within the system. Money will be dedicated to the hiring and administration of a contractor to restore roadbed and begin trail construction and managing volunteers for placement of cameras to monitor wildlife. Approval of this grant will add continued support to work the Foundation funded in 2008.
Monies will help fill out the budget for the documentary film “What’s the Economy for Anyway?” Film will introduce to lay audiences progressive economic ideas which include an emphasis on ecology, sustainability, health, and quality of life – a perspective for a more sustainable economy. An outreach/distribution strategy will be developed by Pyramid Communications in Seattle.
Canadian organization working to secure effective protection for British Columbia’s species at risk, including transboundary species. British Columbia has no stand-alone law to protect species at risk. Monies will be used to support production of report in conjunction with the David Suzuki Foundation, build support for species at risk legislation in Parliament, and develop public communications campaign.
Publication of a booklet describing the natural history of three roadless areas in the Clearwater National Forest of Idaho. Maps, photographs, and drawings as well as stories from those who have spent time in these places will hopefully draw readers into the areas and garner greater support for these areas to remain roadless.
Grant monies will support projects to help clean up areas of illegal dumping and littering. Monies will pay for overhead costs related to the projects - project coordinator salary and transportation costs. King County will provide matching funds from the King County Waterworks grant. Project locations are in the Green River, Cedar River and White River areas. The organization is expecting to clean up 20 different sites with 1000 hours
Collection of data to support a healthy, functioning, complete ecosystem. The grant will be used to help train volunteers, purchase GPS devices, and camera in order to identify areas of high quality intact habitat, regional connectivity needs of large-ranging carnivores, and the potential to help species adapt to climate change by pinpointing areas for creation of migration corridors.
This project will support 250 Seattle public school 5th graders with an environmental education experience. Provides 3-hour training workshops to 10 teachers and support to them and students to design and complete their own scientific investigation of near by pond or lake - Tiny Neighbors field investigation. Aligns with Seattle Public Schools curriculum unit called Microworlds. Homewaters Project is designed by teachers so it carries credibility with the education community. Monies are for teacher salaries and benefits.
The school program entitled Songbirds, Science, and Schools will allow K-8th grade students in the Ashland, Oregon area the opportunity to learn and experience the science behind bird and habitat conservation. The program includes both classroom and field visits, with supplementary materials for teachers.
Grant monies will support salaries for Forest Policy Director and Executive Director of Lands Council in their quest to set aside wilderness in the roadless areas of the Colville National Forest. Presently, there is no designated wilderness in this area of the state. The Council plans to continue to work with congressional representatives, local interests and communities, tribal representatives and then introduce legislation in 2010.
$2,500
Lane County School District 4J
Partnership program with Ducks Unlimited and Skyline High School. Habitat restoration and stewardship at Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve. The Cascade Land Conservancy has established a Youth Engagement Program that works to integrate youth into its work. Students will be taught about native and invasive plants, wildlife habitat and soil and water quality. They will construct their own duck boxes and place them. Students will monitor the boxes and hatchlings
Grant will help cover travel and publication costs related to “Water-Not a Drop To Waste,” a research study to address the issues and challenges of protecting and conserving Oregon’s water in the 21st century. From interviews of water stakeholders and research into current literature, the project will identify prevalent issues facing Oregon’s water.
The Foundation funded this school in 2008 and helped them develop a successful pilot education program for McCall, Idaho’s Donnelly Elementary and Donnelly High School to develop a local citizen scientist program. The project will address relevant local environmental issues and allow students to take the lead from beginning to end – the ultimate dissemination of the results within the community. These monies will allow two additional projects to be run on this model with the addition of a restoration component.
Monies will be used to improve wolf howlboxes and for placement of howlboxes near active wolf homesites. Howlboxes provide valuable population information without the need of invasive methods such as capture and handling. Monies will be used to cover transportation costs.
These monies will help to launch the new Montana Master Naturalist Program which will train and certify Master Naturalists, much like the very successful Master Gardner Program. Volunteers will serve in conservation organizations throughout Montana in areas of trail maintenance, restoration, species inventories, educational programs, guiding, native gardening, etc.
Tacoma Branch of The Mountaineers has teamed with the University of Washington Tacoma [UWT] to bring Dr. Arlene Blum to the Tacoma area to present her science policy and climbing experiences. Dr. Blum holds a doctorate in biophysical chemistry and has taught at Stanford University, Wellesley College, and UC Berkeley. Her research was instrumental in the banning of two cancer-causing chemicals from being used as flame retardants in children’s sleepwear and for the banning of the pesticide DBCP.
The summer Youth Theater Camp is run by the Kitsap Branch of The Mountaineers. The summer YTC is a two week day camp for children ages 9 to 14 held outside on the grounds of the Mountaineers Kitsap Forest Theater and the Foundation’s Rhododendron Preserve. The YTC is designed to bring children of the Kitsap Peninsula together to introduce them to The Mountaineers and the beautiful Forest Theater. This unique combination of teaching theater skills in an outdoor classroom stimulates students’ imagination, physical fitness, increases confidence, develops cooperative skills, encourages team work, instills respect for others and for the outdoors. The impact of this program on last year’s students was profound.
Provide support for the Club’s Public Trailhead and Junior Nationalist Programs in 2009. During its first year of existence these programs have reached roughly 1,000 participants consisting of families and young children from the general community. During its first year the programs were carried out with a skeleton crew, however, the focus in year 2 will be to expand these successful programs to include the Club Branches and more volunteer groups within The Mountaineers. These successful programs help implement several of the community focused components of the 5 and 10 year Strategic Plans of The Mountaineers.
Seattle Environmental Issues Course. The course will be designed for both education and public outreach to the greater community on the issue of global climate change. Six 2-hour sessions will be presented by researchers working on various aspects of climate change and by other experts from the community. Sessions 1-4 will concentrate on disseminating the science of global climate change in a way that is concrete yet understandable to a wide audience. The curriculum for these sessions will be based on a successful University of Washington course on global climate change taught by Mountaineer and UW faculty member Dr. Sonya Remington. Sessions 5-6 will focus on renewable energy sources and green building practices in order to end the course on a positive note. Each session will consist of instructional and hands-on student participation components and will require volunteers to facilitate smaller group discussions.
South Sound Environmental Issues Course. The lecture series will be aligned with the 2009 WEC legislative priorities. The Mountaineers is a partnering organization with WEC and, along with other environmental organizations, will have a voice in setting the WEC agenda. The grant monies will be used to pay for marketing; printing and distributing brochures and posters; and offering the speakers honorariums for their time and expertise. In the past UPS students were charged a fee for the course but this year UPS has agreed to pay all student course fees. This is an exciting project as we look to increase attendance. The South Sound Northwest Environmental Course has been created to empower participants to take actions that will help protect the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest. The course utilizes lectures, discussions, and workbooks to educate participants about environmental issues in the Northwest and to provide avenues to help solve problems.
This project will support hands-on trail and ecological projects for youth and help to develop long term commitment to Greenway stewardship. Grant monies will provide staff salaries, food, drinks, hardhats, gloves. The Mountains to Sound GreenwayTrust leads a broad-based alliance of conservation and recreation groups, private business, and government agencies.
GIS mapping and analysis of flood plains in Puget Sound and impact on salmon habitat. Grant monies will pay for GIS technical services (i.e. salary for GIS guru, Matt Stevenson) and 15% indirect expenses. Indirect expenses are associated with the organization that is sponsoring the grant application.
Monies will support the development of community, elementary and middle school curricula for various school districts throughout Western Washington. Students will learn the critical role wastewater plays in issues of water quality. Three curricula will be developed: Rain in the Drain, Where Does Wastewater Go?, and Sewer to Sound.
The NCCC, over a 5-month period, will be developing a specific proposal for additions to the North Cascades National Park and surrounding wilderness areas. Public input will be critical to the development of a proposal and this grant will help fund public meetings, promotion ads, and American Alps website development.
Used to support program to offer scholarships to needy students in grades 7 through 12 at their Mountain School. Curriculum is aligned with WASL, GLE, EARL. Project partners with North Cascades National Park.
Monies will be used to support staff and purchase gloves and fence tools to continue barbed wire removal in Oregon’s high desert regions. Fences remain on lands formally managed by the BLM and US Fish and Wildlife Service which interfere with native wildlife migrations and diminish wilderness, recreation, and scenic values. Areas of concern include Pine Creek Conservation Area, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, Steens Mountain Wilderness Area, and Sutton Mountain WSA.
Monies will help purchase satellite transmitters and pay for analysis of blood samples through the Adult Golden Eagle Project will add to information about migratory ecology of Golden Eagles and help research reasons for elevated blood-lead levels.
Monies will support initiation of an educational campaign t reduce the impact of monofilament fishing line in the Puget Sound region. Flyers, posters, presentations, events at trade shows will help bring recognition to the debilitating effects of monofilament fishing line on aquatic and land-based animals.
Continuation of Weaverling Spit restoration project along Fidalgo Bay. Habitat has degraded over time with invasive species. English Ivy removal began in 2007 with removal of 50,980 pounds of ivy. Monies will be used to hire a crew from Whatcom County Alternative Corrections and for hauling removed plants to landfill.
Operating expenses for the O2 program, an outdoor recreation and environmental education program that introduces diverse teens to environmental topics through monthly overnight trips, service projects, and afterschool programs. Teens participating in the Cascade Exploration Project focus on goal setting, integrity, compassion and team building. The grant monies will be used for food, equipment, camping fees, guiding fees, and gas.
Grant monies will be used for ongoing support for the Cascadia Scorecard project. The Foundation supported the conversion of the Scorecard into an online format. The current request is for monies to begin a yearly assessment of 7 key indicators shaping the future of the region. Model cases presently used are outdated since first being identified in 2004. Identification of better exemplary cases of community sustainability for comparison will help Cascadia recalculate how they are doing in comparison to these frontrunners.
Grant monies will support the publication of a rare plant field guide for Washington state. The guide will be published through the University of Washington press and requires a $20,000 down payment to publish. The field guide is nearly complete and ready for publication. WNPS worked in conjunction with BLN, WA Natural Heritage Protection, UW Herbarium
Grant monies will purchase a video camera and refreshments for a series of 6 speakers events to educate the public about the value of protecting wild lands and waters in Washington. Each event will be videotaped for wider distribution. WWC expects outcomes of the speakers events to be informed and motivated activists for wilderness preservation. They expect 200-400 viewers of the presentations online.
Monies will support the production of an Oregon North Coast Watershed Impact Assessment with accompanying Geographic Information Systems-based maps in order to inform key decision makers of the impacts that increased timber production would have on aquatic systems which support salmon populations on the Oregon North Coast. Funds will cover printing , contractual costs and travel for meetings.
Monies would support Wildlands CPR work in Washington State as part of the Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative (WWRI), consisting of 16 environmental groups (including The Mountaineers) and state agencies. Monies would help support the salary of WWRI coordinator plus travel expenses. WWRI works for road reclamation and maintenance in Forest Service areas.
