8
SUMMER 2013
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
New Faces at PCEI! David Arnold, PCEI Restoration Technician David grew up in northern Idaho and fell in love with the mountains, prairies, trees and rivers of the Northwest. He has a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and a master’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho. When not working outside, David likes to be (you guessed it) outside looking for his next adventure. Krissy Lindsay, Development Intern Krissy grew up in Spokane and is studying Environmental Science and Journalism at the University of Idaho. She intends to build a career with non-profit environmental organizations, especially in public relations and fundraising. When she can find the time between work and school, she loves to camp, backpack, bike and ski race. Kim Harris-Thacker, Summer Storytime Coordinator Kim is a Moscow resident and a long-time supporter of PCEI. She loves reading and gardening and is thrilled to unite these two passions for PCEI’s Summer Storytime Series. When her nose isn’t buried in a book (or a flower), she can often be found penning her own tales. Olivia Alexander, Summer Storytime Intern Olivia is a Moscow High School junior and very active in school activities, including the MHS Environmental Club. She loves kids and is excited to help them make new discoveries and spend time outdoors.
Job Opportunities Restoration Technician Contracts and Grants Coordinator
Gardening • Habitat Restoration Grounds Keeping • Sustainability Education • Public Relations Website Content Management Photography • Videography Event Management Then an internship at PCEI is for you! Visit pcei.org/internships for details.
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Your Renewal Date
Learning Serving Not a Member? Join PCEI Today!
Living
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Where Art and Nature Meet: PCEI's Artwalk Inside an Artwalk
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Palouse - Clearwater Environmental Institute
Summer Internships
PO Box 8596 Moscow, ID 83843
13 0 2
Summer 2013 Vol. 25, No. 2
Visit pcei.org/jobs for details.
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Moscow, ID 83843 Permit No. 417
Restoring
ENVIRONMENTAL news
Moscow artist, Gerri Sayler, is a familiar sight at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) Nature Center. Over the last few months she has been conceptualizing, experimenting, and installing her exhibits, “Wind Cloud Sky” and "Line Dancing", just in time for the kickoff of Moscow Artwalk 2013 on June 14. "I like to get the quality of a place, and then listen to my gut," said Sayler. "For 'Wind Cloud Sky', I arrived at the properties of silk. Silk moves with the slightest current and becomes gossamer, almost transparent against the sun. 'Line Dancing' is more whimsical, intended to skew perception with eye-popping color." Local poet, Karen Trujillo Burnett, has also been exploring the themes of wind, sky and grasses in her new poem, "To Wind" which will be on display with at the PCEI Artist Studio along with a themed photography exhibit. "Karen and I have been collaborating in our artistic responses to the wind, the sky, the grasses, which are so omnipresent here at PCEI. It's been energizing to share ideas about our response to this amazing landscape," says Gerri Sayler.
The dance of "Wind Cloud Sky" at the PCEI Nature Center (Artist Studio on the left). This installation by Gerri Sayler celebrates the interaction of the elements that inspire creative expression. Enjoy the works of many local artists at PCEI's Artwalk Inside an Artwalk and throughout the year.
artwalk AN ARTWALK INSIDE AN
Join us for an afternoon picnic complete with art, nature, music & food at the PCEI Nature Center!
PCEI's Artwalk Inside an Artwalk will also feature whimsical bird “condominiums” by Palouse Women Artists, a barn quilt created by children in our summer camp, "Exploring Art and Nature on the Palouse", and mosaics made by Palouse Women Artists for the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility.
3pm-6pm Friday, June 14, 2013 1040 Rodeo Drive, Moscow
Featured Local Artists: Gerri Sayler & Steve Streets - Outdoor Installations Karen Trujillo Burnett - Poetry & Photography Palouse Women Artists - Bird Condos and Mosaics Art and Nature Summer Camp - Barn Quilt PCEI Supporters - Spare-a-Square Pathway
PCEI always strives to showcase the beauty of artistic expression alongside the beauty of nature. The Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion (see p.4) reflects that attitude, as will the extension of our universally accessible pathway (see p.5).
Music by Paul Anders & Friends
We hope you can join us at the PCEI Nature Center for our Artwalk reception on June 14 and throughout the summer to experience first hand the magical connection between art and nature. INSIDE:
• Restoration in Washington
• Spare-a-Square
PCEI 2013
A supervised group bike ride to the PCEI Nature Center will leave City Hall at 3:30pm. This is open to all ages. A supervised ride back to City Hall will take place at 6:00pm.
• Busy Bees
• Summer Storytime and Camps
• Photo Contest
2
WHO'S WHO AT PCEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carole Wells President Jim Ekins Vice President Josh Boyce Secretary Alexa Makhani Treasurer Pam Brunsfeld Director Gail DeSantis Director Sarah Koerber Director Jerry Long Director Janet Morris Director Jack Sullivan Director Jennifer Wik Director
STAFF Thomas Lamar Executive Director Judith Brown Business Manager Jen Hiebert Development Coordinator Joan Alexander AmeriCorps Placement Coordinator Heather Huston Education Outreach Coordinator Randy Stevens Implementation Coordinator David Arnold Restoration Technician Carolea Webb Administrative Assistant Lara Jones Confluence Program Director Sherrie Jackson Confluence Program Support Coordinator Rob Loucks Confluence Communication Specialist
AMERICORPS MEMBERS Katie Peterson Environmental Educator Daniel Sidder Environmental Educator Bob Grandchamp Nature Center and Watersheds Steward
INTERNS Olivia Alexander Summer Storytime Krissy Lindsay Development Rachit Singh Website
WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS Sue Allard Office Assistance Gail DeSantis Office Assistance Kim Harris-Thacker Summer Storytime Clinton Ubhoff House Plant Maintenance Christopher Wright Garden Care
Events Calendar Tuesdays, June through August: Summer Storytime Series, 10am-noon, PCEI Nature Center. Every Tuesday (except July 2) a special guest from the community will read books on a specific theme followed by fun outdoor activities. Please bring a blanket or camp chairs. Get 20% off the featured Book of the Week at BookPeople of Moscow. Visit www.pcei.org/storytime for schedule. All Summer: Pump Track Wednesdays, 5:45pm-7pm, PCEI Nature Center. Join us every Wednesday this summer to learn how to ride the PCEI pump track! This family friendly event will be led by Val Carter from the Palouse Bicycle Racing Club. All skills welcome! Event will be cancelled in the event of rain. Thursday, June 13: Youth Cycling Clinic, 4pm-6pm, PCEI Nature Center, $7, ages 4-18. This cycling clinic, sponsored by Palouse Bicycle Racing Club, will cover the basics of bicycle safety, maintenance and riding skills and include demonstration and practice of BMX-style riding on the PCEI pump track. Register online at www.moscowrecreation.sportsites.com/player/homeplayer.aspx. Friday, June 14: PCEI Artwalk Reception, 3pm-6pm, PCEI Nature Center. See recent additions to our growing collection of public art, including a brand new barn quilt, mosaics in the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility, a new outdoor installation by Palouse Women Artists, and artist-in-residence projects by Gerri Sayler and Karen Trujillo Burnett. Wednesday, June 19: PCEI Board Meeting, 6:30pm-8:30pm, PCEI Nature Center. Open to the public. Email Board President, Carole Wells, for an agenda, www.pcei.org/about/board.htm. July 1-30: Find Waldo on the Palouse, PCEI Nature Center and participating businesses. Find Waldo at the PCEI Nature Center in July and get your passport stamped for the chance to win some great prizes! Passports available July 1 at BookPeople of Moscow, PCEI and participating businesses. Prizes awarded thoughout the month. For details call Jesica DeHart at 208.882.2669. Saturday, July 13 and Saturday, August 10: Rose Creek Volunteer Work Days, Rose Creek Nature Preserve, Albion, WA. Join PCEI and community volunteers to beautify the Rose Creek Nature Preserve. Dress for the weather. Carpooling available. Visit www.pcei.org/rosecreek for directions.
Get the latest updates at pcei.org/events
Join PCEI Today! PO Box 8596 Moscow, Idaho 83843 208.882.1444 •
[email protected] • pcei.org
Visit our Nature Center
1040 Rodeo Drive in Moscow Open dawn to dusk, 7 days a week.
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter! facebook.com/PCEI.org twitter.com/PCEIorg
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUMMER 2013
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
www.pcei.org/donatejoin We'll put your membership gift to work immediately to promote environmental education, sustainable living, community service and watershed restoration. Every member makes a difference! The mission of PCEI is to increase citizen involvement in decisions that affect our region's environment. Our goal is to encourage sustainable living, provide experiential learning, and offer opportunities for serving in our community, while actively protecting and restoring our natural resources. PCEI is a non-profit organization (EIN #94-3038182).
NEWS
Sign Up Your Kids for Summer Adventure! Looking for something for your kids to do this summer? How about getting them outside exploring nature, learning about animals, plants, history, science, teamwork and the environment in fun and creative ways? Children aged 7–13 years are invited to attend any or all of our summer nature camps. They'll explore the Palouse region’s natural history through engaging field trips, hands-on activities, crafts, games and scientific investigation. Ambling Animals: Wiggle, Waddle, Walk: June 17 – 21 Learn all about animals: how they move, how to identify tracks and scat, and how they live. Includes visits to the WSU Grizzly Center and the Wolf Education and Research Center. $220 (5 days) Beak Week: June 26 – 28 Explore the Palouse to find our flying friends! Activities include crafts, owl pellet dissections, birding, and a visit from the WSU Raptor Club! $132 (3 days) Forest Forensics: Bugs, Slugs and Scales: July 16 – 19 Discover the crawly, slimy, and strange creatures that we all rely on! We will investigate the PCEI Nature Center and the surrounding area to find who’s hard at work. Includes a field trip to Spring Valley Reservoir. $176 (4 days) Enrollment forms are available at pcei.org/learning/nature-camps or at the PCEI Nature Center. 10% off for PCEI members and an additional 10% off for siblings (two or more)! For more information, call Heather Huston, PCEI Education Outreach Coordinatore at 208.882.1444 or email
[email protected].
Find Waldo on the Palouse! Waldo will be visiting the Palouse in July and you can find him right here at the PCEI Nature Center! "Find Waldo on the Palouse" is a fun-for-the-whole-family scavenger hunt sponsored by BookPeople of Moscow. Starting July 1, passports will be available at BookPeople of Moscow, PCEI or any participating business. For every location you find Waldo, you'll get a stamp in your passport! After you've found Waldo at the PCEI Nature Center, don't forget to check out our trails, EcoArt, Playscape and wildlife. Prizes will be awarded thoughout the event. For more information, call Jesica DeHart at 208.882.2669.
presents
Summer Storytime Enjoy reading and the outdoors with your children at the PCEI Nature Center! Each reading will be followed by fun outdoor activities.* *bring
a blanket or camp chairs
Every Tuesday
June through August 2013 (except July 2nd)
10:00am-noon PCEI Nature Center 1040 Rodeo Drive, Moscow
sponsored by
20% discount on the PCEI Storytime Book of the Week!
Featured Readers
Kim Harris-Thacker Jade & Ben Stellmon Sandye Crooks (Moscow Recycling) Loralee Boal Mayor Nancy Chaney and more!
www.pcei.org/storytime For the latest updates follow PCEI on Facebook/Twitter
7
6
On May 2, 2013, Idaho Gave!
PCEI Nature Center Photo Contest! CONTEST RULES
80+ donors gave $6,500 during Idaho Gives to help the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute nurture the next generation of nature stewards!
Thank You! idahogives.razoo.com/story/PCEI
1. Photos must be taken at the PCEI Nature Center between June 1 and June 30, 2013. 2. Photos must be submitted by July 1, 2013. 3. One photo submission per person. 4. Photos must be submitted electronically to
[email protected].
VOTING
On July 2, 2013 photo entries will be displayed in an album on Facebook (facebook.com/PCEI.org). The photo that receives the most "likes" will be the winner!
PRIZES
1st Place: 4 hours use of the PCEI Artist Studio with homemade treats made by PCEI staff 2nd Place: a Mountain Ash from our Learning Nursery 3rd Place: a set of Nature Circle Cards
Local Kids Get Their Hands Dirty at Moscow Watershed Festival Third graders from McDonald, Lena Whitmore and Russell Elementary Schools learned first-hand about water conservation and ecology at our annual Moscow Watershed Festival on May 17, 2013. The activities at the festival engaged the children’s imaginations, while helping them learn in fun and creative ways. Daniel Sidder, AmeriCorps member and educator at PCEI, explains the value of water
ENVIRONMENTAL
Summer 2013
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
conservation education. “If kids look at the life in a pond, for example, and learn which macroinvertebrates can or cannot survive polluted conditions, they can determine the health of the pond.” Thank you so much to all the volunteers who made the Festival a success, including John Pfeiffer from EcoAnalysts, Inc and Gail DeSantis, PCEI Board Member.
As most of you know, the Palouse Region straddles the Washington-Idaho border. Some locals favor one side over the other, but here at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, we go both ways! Our recent projects in Washington include: 9th Annual Pullman Stream Clean-up, April 6: Over 200 volunteers teamed up with the City of Pullman, PCEI, and local businesses and organizations, to remove more than 33 cubic yards of trash from the South Fork of the Palouse River, Paradise Creek and Missouri Flat Creek. City of Pullman: This spring, over 600 native shrubs and trees and 1,200 sedges and rushes were planted at the City Playfields. About 250 of those trees were planted on Arbor Day by community volunteers and the City of Pullman. The plants will help stabilize the banks of the South Fork of the Palouse River and provide wildlife habitat. We've also planted over 500 shrubs and trees and 1,200 wetland plants at the outfall of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. We could not have done it without our terrific volunteers! Water Conservation Education: Since January 2013, PCEI's environmental educators have connected with over 700 students in Pullman and Colton about the importance
of water conservation. Programs included hands-on activities to learn about stormwater and natural filters (see above photo), where our water comes from and how to protect water resources. Rose Creek Nature Preserve: PCEI continues to maintain and improve the Rose Creek Nature Preserve near Albion, WA. Invasive species are on the decline and the trails are looking good thanks to the hard work of PCEI volunteers. Join us for our next volunteer days on July 13 and August 10!
Thank You for Supporting Clean Streams!
PCEI Nature Center Gets Spring Cleaning on Saturday of Service
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers, businesses and organizations that supported the 9th Annual Pullman Stream Clean-up (April 6) and the 23rd Annual Paradise Creek Clean-up in Moscow (April 20). More than 300 volunteers braved the elements to remove a total of over 38 cubic yards of trash and recyclables from Moscow and Pullman waterways. Thirty local businesses and organizations donated food, prizes, materials and services to support the volunteers. Many thanks to: City of Pullman, City of Moscow, Pullman Transit, Pullman Disposal, Latah Sanitation, Moscow Recycling, Barnes & Noble Bookie Too, Les Schwab, Dairy Queen, Rico’s, Heros N Sports, Prints Underground, Safeway, Starbucks, Loco Grinz, Chang Sing Restaurant, Smokey Mountain Pizza, Pizza Perfection, Mrs. Fields, Casa Lopez, Baskin Robbins, Café Moro, Subway, Sella’s Calzone and Pizza, Arby’s, New Garden, Taco Del Mar, Jimmy Johns, Pizza Hut and Walmart.
PCEI is grateful for the 70+ students from the University of Idaho who helped prepare the Nature Center for spring as part of Saturday of Service, April 13, 2013. Despite the cold weather, they mulched trails, potted plants and built an Idaho-shaped sandpit for the Playscape. Thank you also to Buy the Dozen Donuts for donating treats to feed our hungry volunteers!
Articles for publication and letters to the editor are welcome. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PCEI.
The Water Conservation Game
Looking for indicators of clean water
3
Working Hard in Washington
This newsletter (ISSN# 1087-9374) is published quarterly by the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI). 3rd Class postage paid in Moscow, ID.
"Yay for dirt and trees!"
NEWS
Environmental News is mailed quarterly to current PCEI members and donors. Join today! Call (208) 882-1444 or visit www.pcei.org/donatejoin
Template Design: Teva Hopper Editors and Contributors: Jen Hiebert, Carolea Webb, Krissy Lindsay Heather Huston, Randy Stevens, Tom Lamar, Judy Brown, Joan Alexander, Daniel Sidder Printed on FSC and GreenSeal ™ certified paper and contains 30% recycled post-consumer fiber.
4
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
ENVIRONMENTAL
Summer 2013
If you would like to support the completion of the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion, please visit pcei.org/donatejoin or call us at 208.882.1444.
Busy Bees at the PCEI Nature Center Did you know that the PCEI Nature Center is host to 200,000 honey bees? The 20 hives, each with about 10,000 bees, are part of a study by the WSU Department of Entomology APIS Molecular Systems Laboratory to develop honey bee stocks that are resistant to pathogens and parasites. “We watch for behavior, such as good hygiene, which affects disease control, and temperament," says Brandon Hopkins, PhD student and APIS Molecular Systems Manager. "Obviously, we want them to be reasonably
Help make the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility accessible to all!
pcei.org/spare-a-square Expand Accessibility at the PCEI Nature Center
Nancy Taylor was passionate about art, farming and recycling, and you’ll find that the stage structure embodies them all. For example, old farm wheels have been turned into brackets, and the timber is all reclaimed. We’d like to thank everyone who has made, and is making, the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion a reality. We are especially grateful for Nancy’s inspiration, the family of Nancy Taylor, and everyone who has contributed to the Nancy Taylor Memorial Fund. Many thanks to Clearwater Paper Corporation, Wasankari Construction, Larry Duff, Dr. Robert Barnstone and his design-build class at WSU, Steve Streets, and Hoey Graham who have made vital contributions to this project.
5
Can You Spare a Square?
Construction Takes Center Stage on the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion If you visit the PCEI Nature Center, you will find a new addition to the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion project: a stage made of reclaimed timber and metal wheels. Named for a much-beloved supporter of PCEI who passed away in 2012, the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion is becoming an outdoor gathering place for education, special events, volunteers, and visitors to the Nature Center.
NEWS
We receive thousands of visitors a year at the PCEI Nature Center. The 365-foot expansion of our universally accessible pathway will benefit visitors of all ages and mobility by connecting the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility to outdoor classrooms, the Playscape and our existing universally accessible pathway.
A Great Way to Honor Loved Ones
Make your square a family project, in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one.
Only $250 per 4'x4' Square!
Share the cost with family, friends or coworkers. Purchase multiple squares to multiply your impact! The stage structure of the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion made for a great learning station at the May 2013 Moscow Watershed Festival. A sign language interpreter provided assistance while Katie Peterson (AmeriCorps Member and PCEI Environmental Educator, at right) talked about water conservation.
Customize Your Square
Participants are encouraged to customize their squares with embedded objects and imprints during construction--or leave the design up to us!
tolerant and unaggressive.”
Artist Studio
Food Garden
Playscape Area Outdoor Classroom
Jim LaFortune Memorial “Groover” Restroom Facility TerraGraphics Wetlands
There is also a need for bees that are better adapted to conditions of the Pacific Northwest. “Most bees are bred for California or Florida,” says Hopkins. Do visitors need to worry about the bees? Not really. They are very much live and let live, as long as people stay away from the immediate hive area. What we should be more concerned about are the important functions bees perform in our ecological and agricultural systems. For more information, visit entomology.wsu.edu/apis.
How Does Our Garden Grow? The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute is commited to helping communities make environmentally sound and economically viable decisions that promote a sustainable future. This includes sustainble food production; if you take a look at the northwest corner of our Nature Center you’ll see plenty of veggies destined for local tables. Our food garden is being cultivated by Greg Freistadt and Marci Miller of Deep Roots Farm, and Chris Cummings, a PCEI AmeriCorps member serving with Backyard Harvest, a local non-profit organization that provides fresh food to low income families, seniors and other community members. Future plans for the gardens include their use as outdoor classrooms to help to nurture the next generation of soil stewards.
50 Squares Still Available!
We need to construct the new pathway this summer‒but we can't do it without your help! Visit www.pcei.org/spare-a-square today!
Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion
Rodeo Drive
Welcome Kiosk
Pump Track
Donna the Buffalo
Spare-a-Square Pathway (construction goal: Summer 2013) Universally Accessible Pathway (constructed in 2009) Unpaved Trails
NATURE CENTER 1040 RODEO DRIVE, MOSCOW ID
4
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
ENVIRONMENTAL
Summer 2013
If you would like to support the completion of the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion, please visit pcei.org/donatejoin or call us at 208.882.1444.
Busy Bees at the PCEI Nature Center Did you know that the PCEI Nature Center is host to 200,000 honey bees? The 20 hives, each with about 10,000 bees, are part of a study by the WSU Department of Entomology APIS Molecular Systems Laboratory to develop honey bee stocks that are resistant to pathogens and parasites. “We watch for behavior, such as good hygiene, which affects disease control, and temperament," says Brandon Hopkins, PhD student and APIS Molecular Systems Manager. "Obviously, we want them to be reasonably
Help make the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility accessible to all!
pcei.org/spare-a-square Expand Accessibility at the PCEI Nature Center
Nancy Taylor was passionate about art, farming and recycling, and you’ll find that the stage structure embodies them all. For example, old farm wheels have been turned into brackets, and the timber is all reclaimed. We’d like to thank everyone who has made, and is making, the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion a reality. We are especially grateful for Nancy’s inspiration, the family of Nancy Taylor, and everyone who has contributed to the Nancy Taylor Memorial Fund. Many thanks to Clearwater Paper Corporation, Wasankari Construction, Larry Duff, Dr. Robert Barnstone and his design-build class at WSU, Steve Streets, and Hoey Graham who have made vital contributions to this project.
5
Can You Spare a Square?
Construction Takes Center Stage on the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion If you visit the PCEI Nature Center, you will find a new addition to the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion project: a stage made of reclaimed timber and metal wheels. Named for a much-beloved supporter of PCEI who passed away in 2012, the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion is becoming an outdoor gathering place for education, special events, volunteers, and visitors to the Nature Center.
NEWS
We receive thousands of visitors a year at the PCEI Nature Center. The 365-foot expansion of our universally accessible pathway will benefit visitors of all ages and mobility by connecting the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility to outdoor classrooms, the Playscape and our existing universally accessible pathway.
A Great Way to Honor Loved Ones
Make your square a family project, in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one.
Only $250 per 4'x4' Square!
Share the cost with family, friends or coworkers. Purchase multiple squares to multiply your impact! The stage structure of the Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion made for a great learning station at the May 2013 Moscow Watershed Festival. A sign language interpreter provided assistance while Katie Peterson (AmeriCorps Member and PCEI Environmental Educator, at right) talked about water conservation.
Customize Your Square
Participants are encouraged to customize their squares with embedded objects and imprints during construction--or leave the design up to us!
tolerant and unaggressive.”
Artist Studio
Food Garden
Playscape Area Outdoor Classroom
Jim LaFortune Memorial “Groover” Restroom Facility TerraGraphics Wetlands
There is also a need for bees that are better adapted to conditions of the Pacific Northwest. “Most bees are bred for California or Florida,” says Hopkins. Do visitors need to worry about the bees? Not really. They are very much live and let live, as long as people stay away from the immediate hive area. What we should be more concerned about are the important functions bees perform in our ecological and agricultural systems. For more information, visit entomology.wsu.edu/apis.
How Does Our Garden Grow? The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute is commited to helping communities make environmentally sound and economically viable decisions that promote a sustainable future. This includes sustainble food production; if you take a look at the northwest corner of our Nature Center you’ll see plenty of veggies destined for local tables. Our food garden is being cultivated by Greg Freistadt and Marci Miller of Deep Roots Farm, and Chris Cummings, a PCEI AmeriCorps member serving with Backyard Harvest, a local non-profit organization that provides fresh food to low income families, seniors and other community members. Future plans for the gardens include their use as outdoor classrooms to help to nurture the next generation of soil stewards.
50 Squares Still Available!
We need to construct the new pathway this summer‒but we can't do it without your help! Visit www.pcei.org/spare-a-square today!
Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion
Rodeo Drive
Welcome Kiosk
Pump Track
Donna the Buffalo
Spare-a-Square Pathway (construction goal: Summer 2013) Universally Accessible Pathway (constructed in 2009) Unpaved Trails
NATURE CENTER 1040 RODEO DRIVE, MOSCOW ID
6
On May 2, 2013, Idaho Gave!
PCEI Nature Center Photo Contest! CONTEST RULES
80+ donors gave $6,500 during Idaho Gives to help the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute nurture the next generation of nature stewards!
Thank You! idahogives.razoo.com/story/PCEI
1. Photos must be taken at the PCEI Nature Center between June 1 and June 30, 2013. 2. Photos must be submitted by July 1, 2013. 3. One photo submission per person. 4. Photos must be submitted electronically to
[email protected].
VOTING
On July 2, 2013 photo entries will be displayed in an album on Facebook (facebook.com/PCEI.org). The photo that receives the most "likes" will be the winner!
PRIZES
1st Place: 4 hours use of the PCEI Artist Studio with homemade treats made by PCEI staff 2nd Place: a Mountain Ash from our Learning Nursery 3rd Place: a set of Nature Circle Cards
Local Kids Get Their Hands Dirty at Moscow Watershed Festival Third graders from McDonald, Lena Whitmore and Russell Elementary Schools learned first-hand about water conservation and ecology at our annual Moscow Watershed Festival on May 17, 2013. The activities at the festival engaged the children’s imaginations, while helping them learn in fun and creative ways. Daniel Sidder, AmeriCorps member and educator at PCEI, explains the value of water
ENVIRONMENTAL
Summer 2013
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
conservation education. “If kids look at the life in a pond, for example, and learn which macroinvertebrates can or cannot survive polluted conditions, they can determine the health of the pond.” Thank you so much to all the volunteers who made the Festival a success, including John Pfeiffer from EcoAnalysts, Inc and Gail DeSantis, PCEI Board Member.
As most of you know, the Palouse Region straddles the Washington-Idaho border. Some locals favor one side over the other, but here at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, we go both ways! Our recent projects in Washington include: 9th Annual Pullman Stream Clean-up, April 6: Over 200 volunteers teamed up with the City of Pullman, PCEI, and local businesses and organizations, to remove more than 33 cubic yards of trash from the South Fork of the Palouse River, Paradise Creek and Missouri Flat Creek. City of Pullman: This spring, over 600 native shrubs and trees and 1,200 sedges and rushes were planted at the City Playfields. About 250 of those trees were planted on Arbor Day by community volunteers and the City of Pullman. The plants will help stabilize the banks of the South Fork of the Palouse River and provide wildlife habitat. We've also planted over 500 shrubs and trees and 1,200 wetland plants at the outfall of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. We could not have done it without our terrific volunteers! Water Conservation Education: Since January 2013, PCEI's environmental educators have connected with over 700 students in Pullman and Colton about the importance
of water conservation. Programs included hands-on activities to learn about stormwater and natural filters (see above photo), where our water comes from and how to protect water resources. Rose Creek Nature Preserve: PCEI continues to maintain and improve the Rose Creek Nature Preserve near Albion, WA. Invasive species are on the decline and the trails are looking good thanks to the hard work of PCEI volunteers. Join us for our next volunteer days on July 13 and August 10!
Thank You for Supporting Clean Streams!
PCEI Nature Center Gets Spring Cleaning on Saturday of Service
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers, businesses and organizations that supported the 9th Annual Pullman Stream Clean-up (April 6) and the 23rd Annual Paradise Creek Clean-up in Moscow (April 20). More than 300 volunteers braved the elements to remove a total of over 38 cubic yards of trash and recyclables from Moscow and Pullman waterways. Thirty local businesses and organizations donated food, prizes, materials and services to support the volunteers. Many thanks to: City of Pullman, City of Moscow, Pullman Transit, Pullman Disposal, Latah Sanitation, Moscow Recycling, Barnes & Noble Bookie Too, Les Schwab, Dairy Queen, Rico’s, Heros N Sports, Prints Underground, Safeway, Starbucks, Loco Grinz, Chang Sing Restaurant, Smokey Mountain Pizza, Pizza Perfection, Mrs. Fields, Casa Lopez, Baskin Robbins, Café Moro, Subway, Sella’s Calzone and Pizza, Arby’s, New Garden, Taco Del Mar, Jimmy Johns, Pizza Hut and Walmart.
PCEI is grateful for the 70+ students from the University of Idaho who helped prepare the Nature Center for spring as part of Saturday of Service, April 13, 2013. Despite the cold weather, they mulched trails, potted plants and built an Idaho-shaped sandpit for the Playscape. Thank you also to Buy the Dozen Donuts for donating treats to feed our hungry volunteers!
Articles for publication and letters to the editor are welcome. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PCEI.
The Water Conservation Game
Looking for indicators of clean water
3
Working Hard in Washington
This newsletter (ISSN# 1087-9374) is published quarterly by the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI). 3rd Class postage paid in Moscow, ID.
"Yay for dirt and trees!"
NEWS
Environmental News is mailed quarterly to current PCEI members and donors. Join today! Call (208) 882-1444 or visit www.pcei.org/donatejoin
Template Design: Teva Hopper Editors and Contributors: Jen Hiebert, Carolea Webb, Krissy Lindsay Heather Huston, Randy Stevens, Tom Lamar, Judy Brown, Joan Alexander, Daniel Sidder Printed on FSC and GreenSeal ™ certified paper and contains 30% recycled post-consumer fiber.
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WHO'S WHO AT PCEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carole Wells President Jim Ekins Vice President Josh Boyce Secretary Alexa Makhani Treasurer Pam Brunsfeld Director Gail DeSantis Director Sarah Koerber Director Jerry Long Director Janet Morris Director Jack Sullivan Director Jennifer Wik Director
STAFF Thomas Lamar Executive Director Judith Brown Business Manager Jen Hiebert Development Coordinator Joan Alexander AmeriCorps Placement Coordinator Heather Huston Education Outreach Coordinator Randy Stevens Implementation Coordinator David Arnold Restoration Technician Carolea Webb Administrative Assistant Lara Jones Confluence Program Director Sherrie Jackson Confluence Program Support Coordinator Rob Loucks Confluence Communication Specialist
AMERICORPS MEMBERS Katie Peterson Environmental Educator Daniel Sidder Environmental Educator Bob Grandchamp Nature Center and Watersheds Steward
INTERNS Olivia Alexander Summer Storytime Krissy Lindsay Development Rachit Singh Website
WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS Sue Allard Office Assistance Gail DeSantis Office Assistance Kim Harris-Thacker Summer Storytime Clinton Ubhoff House Plant Maintenance Christopher Wright Garden Care
Events Calendar Tuesdays, June through August: Summer Storytime Series, 10am-noon, PCEI Nature Center. Every Tuesday (except July 2) a special guest from the community will read books on a specific theme followed by fun outdoor activities. Please bring a blanket or camp chairs. Get 20% off the featured Book of the Week at BookPeople of Moscow. Visit www.pcei.org/storytime for schedule. All Summer: Pump Track Wednesdays, 5:45pm-7pm, PCEI Nature Center. Join us every Wednesday this summer to learn how to ride the PCEI pump track! This family friendly event will be led by Val Carter from the Palouse Bicycle Racing Club. All skills welcome! Event will be cancelled in the event of rain. Thursday, June 13: Youth Cycling Clinic, 4pm-6pm, PCEI Nature Center, $7, ages 4-18. This cycling clinic, sponsored by Palouse Bicycle Racing Club, will cover the basics of bicycle safety, maintenance and riding skills and include demonstration and practice of BMX-style riding on the PCEI pump track. Register online at www.moscowrecreation.sportsites.com/player/homeplayer.aspx. Friday, June 14: PCEI Artwalk Reception, 3pm-6pm, PCEI Nature Center. See recent additions to our growing collection of public art, including a brand new barn quilt, mosaics in the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility, a new outdoor installation by Palouse Women Artists, and artist-in-residence projects by Gerri Sayler and Karen Trujillo Burnett. Wednesday, June 19: PCEI Board Meeting, 6:30pm-8:30pm, PCEI Nature Center. Open to the public. Email Board President, Carole Wells, for an agenda, www.pcei.org/about/board.htm. July 1-30: Find Waldo on the Palouse, PCEI Nature Center and participating businesses. Find Waldo at the PCEI Nature Center in July and get your passport stamped for the chance to win some great prizes! Passports available July 1 at BookPeople of Moscow, PCEI and participating businesses. Prizes awarded thoughout the month. For details call Jesica DeHart at 208.882.2669. Saturday, July 13 and Saturday, August 10: Rose Creek Volunteer Work Days, Rose Creek Nature Preserve, Albion, WA. Join PCEI and community volunteers to beautify the Rose Creek Nature Preserve. Dress for the weather. Carpooling available. Visit www.pcei.org/rosecreek for directions.
Get the latest updates at pcei.org/events
Join PCEI Today! PO Box 8596 Moscow, Idaho 83843 208.882.1444 •
[email protected] • pcei.org
Visit our Nature Center
1040 Rodeo Drive in Moscow Open dawn to dusk, 7 days a week.
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter! facebook.com/PCEI.org twitter.com/PCEIorg
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUMMER 2013
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
www.pcei.org/donatejoin We'll put your membership gift to work immediately to promote environmental education, sustainable living, community service and watershed restoration. Every member makes a difference! The mission of PCEI is to increase citizen involvement in decisions that affect our region's environment. Our goal is to encourage sustainable living, provide experiential learning, and offer opportunities for serving in our community, while actively protecting and restoring our natural resources. PCEI is a non-profit organization (EIN #94-3038182).
NEWS
Sign Up Your Kids for Summer Adventure! Looking for something for your kids to do this summer? How about getting them outside exploring nature, learning about animals, plants, history, science, teamwork and the environment in fun and creative ways? Children aged 7–13 years are invited to attend any or all of our summer nature camps. They'll explore the Palouse region’s natural history through engaging field trips, hands-on activities, crafts, games and scientific investigation. Ambling Animals: Wiggle, Waddle, Walk: June 17 – 21 Learn all about animals: how they move, how to identify tracks and scat, and how they live. Includes visits to the WSU Grizzly Center and the Wolf Education and Research Center. $220 (5 days) Beak Week: June 26 – 28 Explore the Palouse to find our flying friends! Activities include crafts, owl pellet dissections, birding, and a visit from the WSU Raptor Club! $132 (3 days) Forest Forensics: Bugs, Slugs and Scales: July 16 – 19 Discover the crawly, slimy, and strange creatures that we all rely on! We will investigate the PCEI Nature Center and the surrounding area to find who’s hard at work. Includes a field trip to Spring Valley Reservoir. $176 (4 days) Enrollment forms are available at pcei.org/learning/nature-camps or at the PCEI Nature Center. 10% off for PCEI members and an additional 10% off for siblings (two or more)! For more information, call Heather Huston, PCEI Education Outreach Coordinatore at 208.882.1444 or email
[email protected].
Find Waldo on the Palouse! Waldo will be visiting the Palouse in July and you can find him right here at the PCEI Nature Center! "Find Waldo on the Palouse" is a fun-for-the-whole-family scavenger hunt sponsored by BookPeople of Moscow. Starting July 1, passports will be available at BookPeople of Moscow, PCEI or any participating business. For every location you find Waldo, you'll get a stamp in your passport! After you've found Waldo at the PCEI Nature Center, don't forget to check out our trails, EcoArt, Playscape and wildlife. Prizes will be awarded thoughout the event. For more information, call Jesica DeHart at 208.882.2669.
presents
Summer Storytime Enjoy reading and the outdoors with your children at the PCEI Nature Center! Each reading will be followed by fun outdoor activities.* *bring
a blanket or camp chairs
Every Tuesday
June through August 2013 (except July 2nd)
10:00am-noon PCEI Nature Center 1040 Rodeo Drive, Moscow
sponsored by
20% discount on the PCEI Storytime Book of the Week!
Featured Readers
Kim Harris-Thacker Jade & Ben Stellmon Sandye Crooks (Moscow Recycling) Loralee Boal Mayor Nancy Chaney and more!
www.pcei.org/storytime For the latest updates follow PCEI on Facebook/Twitter
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SUMMER 2013
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
New Faces at PCEI! David Arnold, PCEI Restoration Technician David grew up in northern Idaho and fell in love with the mountains, prairies, trees and rivers of the Northwest. He has a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and a master’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho. When not working outside, David likes to be (you guessed it) outside looking for his next adventure. Krissy Lindsay, Development Intern Krissy grew up in Spokane and is studying Environmental Science and Journalism at the University of Idaho. She intends to build a career with non-profit environmental organizations, especially in public relations and fundraising. When she can find the time between work and school, she loves to camp, backpack, bike and ski race. Kim Harris-Thacker, Summer Storytime Coordinator Kim is a Moscow resident and a long-time supporter of PCEI. She loves reading and gardening and is thrilled to unite these two passions for PCEI’s Summer Storytime Series. When her nose isn’t buried in a book (or a flower), she can often be found penning her own tales. Olivia Alexander, Summer Storytime Intern Olivia is a Moscow High School junior and very active in school activities, including the MHS Environmental Club. She loves kids and is excited to help them make new discoveries and spend time outdoors.
Job Opportunities Restoration Technician Contracts and Grants Coordinator
Gardening • Habitat Restoration Grounds Keeping • Sustainability Education • Public Relations Website Content Management Photography • Videography Event Management Then an internship at PCEI is for you! Visit pcei.org/internships for details.
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Where Art and Nature Meet: PCEI's Artwalk Inside an Artwalk
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Palouse - Clearwater Environmental Institute
Summer Internships
PO Box 8596 Moscow, ID 83843
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Summer 2013 Vol. 25, No. 2
Visit pcei.org/jobs for details.
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Moscow, ID 83843 Permit No. 417
Restoring
ENVIRONMENTAL news
Moscow artist, Gerri Sayler, is a familiar sight at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) Nature Center. Over the last few months she has been conceptualizing, experimenting, and installing her exhibits, “Wind Cloud Sky” and "Line Dancing", just in time for the kickoff of Moscow Artwalk 2013 on June 14. "I like to get the quality of a place, and then listen to my gut," said Sayler. "For 'Wind Cloud Sky', I arrived at the properties of silk. Silk moves with the slightest current and becomes gossamer, almost transparent against the sun. 'Line Dancing' is more whimsical, intended to skew perception with eye-popping color." Local poet, Karen Trujillo Burnett, has also been exploring the themes of wind, sky and grasses in her new poem, "To Wind" which will be on display with at the PCEI Artist Studio along with a themed photography exhibit. "Karen and I have been collaborating in our artistic responses to the wind, the sky, the grasses, which are so omnipresent here at PCEI. It's been energizing to share ideas about our response to this amazing landscape," says Gerri Sayler.
The dance of "Wind Cloud Sky" at the PCEI Nature Center (Artist Studio on the left). This installation by Gerri Sayler celebrates the interaction of the elements that inspire creative expression. Enjoy the works of many local artists at PCEI's Artwalk Inside an Artwalk and throughout the year.
artwalk AN ARTWALK INSIDE AN
Join us for an afternoon picnic complete with art, nature, music & food at the PCEI Nature Center!
PCEI's Artwalk Inside an Artwalk will also feature whimsical bird “condominiums” by Palouse Women Artists, a barn quilt created by children in our summer camp, "Exploring Art and Nature on the Palouse", and mosaics made by Palouse Women Artists for the Jim LaFortune Memorial "Groover" Restroom Facility.
3pm-6pm Friday, June 14, 2013 1040 Rodeo Drive, Moscow
Featured Local Artists: Gerri Sayler & Steve Streets - Outdoor Installations Karen Trujillo Burnett - Poetry & Photography Palouse Women Artists - Bird Condos and Mosaics Art and Nature Summer Camp - Barn Quilt PCEI Supporters - Spare-a-Square Pathway
PCEI always strives to showcase the beauty of artistic expression alongside the beauty of nature. The Nancy Taylor Welcome Pavilion (see p.4) reflects that attitude, as will the extension of our universally accessible pathway (see p.5).
Music by Paul Anders & Friends
We hope you can join us at the PCEI Nature Center for our Artwalk reception on June 14 and throughout the summer to experience first hand the magical connection between art and nature. INSIDE:
• Restoration in Washington
• Spare-a-Square
PCEI 2013
A supervised group bike ride to the PCEI Nature Center will leave City Hall at 3:30pm. This is open to all ages. A supervised ride back to City Hall will take place at 6:00pm.
• Busy Bees
• Summer Storytime and Camps
• Photo Contest
