Just a mile from their school, students saw snakes, river otters, deer, waterfowl, and insects as part of a field trip to the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Columbia River Gorge Elementary School (CRGE) fifth graders took part in a series of learning activities that involved cataloging wildlife and native plants, removing invasive species like blackberries, and learning from educators from the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership based out of Portland, OR.
The field trip, which took place on September 20, 2024, was funded through a grant written in partnership with the Estuary Partnership, which promotes student learning centered around local ecosystems and helping students understand their impact on the web of life in the natural environment. Teachers Marie Klemmer and Jennifer Perry connect the field trip with science standards students study in fifth grade. Students use the data collected during the field trip as part of lessons that build upon their experience and help them apply these lessons to future learning.
Klemmer said, “The educators from the Estuary Partnership do fantastic work in helping the students see real-world application of what they’re learning in the science classroom. The high level of engagement and excitement of the students interacting with the natural areas surrounding our community is an invaluable learning experience.”
During the field trip, students participated in natural area stewardship by removing the Himalayan blackberry that was crowding out native plants along the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail at the refuge, put the knowledge acquired during an earlier classroom lesson with the Estuary Partnership into action by identifying different bird species the refuge and engaged in a creative multi-sensory exploration of nature using watercolors.
“Thanks to the Outdoor Learning Grant from the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Recreation and Conservation Office, we have a fantastic opportunity to enhance students’ knowledge and confidence in the outdoors through stewardship, exploration, and observation” said Sam Dumont, Environmental Educator with the Estuary Partnership, “As an educator, it’s incredibly rewarding to witness the curiosity, sense of empowerment, and collaboration that develop as we progress through our six-part on-campus lesson series and three-part outdoor field experiences.”
Perry said, “The hands-on experiences provided by the Estuary Partnership educators, both in the classroom and in the field, are critical to fostering curiosity and enjoyment of the natural areas around us. Young students who are excited about nature grow into adults who care about the natural world around them.”
CRGE Principal Hannah Hartman said, “The excitement in our students coming back from their field trip was remarkable. We deeply appreciate these grants and working with the Estuary Partnership that provide such a valuable learning opportunity for our students. We are so fortunate to live in Washougal and for our students to be so close to amazing natural resources.”
The grant will also allow students to visit Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for a canoeing trip, collect and analyze water samples from nearby Gibbons Creek, and have an opportunity to dissect trout. The grant provides lessons from tribal native educators, which will focus on traditional food that was gathered by native peoples and the importance of stewardship of local ecosystems.
The Washington State Legislature funded the Outdoor Learning Grants program, administered by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the goal to develop and support outdoor educational experiences for students in Washington public schools. The Washington Recreation and Conservation Office manages this portion of the fund that is available for organizations that partner with public schools. This two-year funded Outdoor Learning project provides three outdoor field experiences as well as six on-campus lessons taught by Estuary Partnership educators and local native educators. CRGE is one of six schools in Clark County to participate in this program that will serve over 900 students.
