Westwind believes strongly in the value of education as a tool to conserve the environment. Allowing children and families to experience nature and learn from real-life experiences inspires people to be stewards of the environment and their communities. Environmental education promotes an understanding of the interdependence of the natural world and fosters a desire for stewarding the outdoors. Inspiring the next generation of stewards is one of the best ways that we can work to conserve Westwind and beyond.
Outdoor School
Westwind is proud to be an MESD Outdoor School site during the fall and spring. During these seasons, we welcome over a thousand sixth graders from Multhohman Country schools. At Outdoor School, students participate in four field studies: soil, water, plants, and animals. This is an exceptional experience for students, as they can take lessons they learn in the classroom and further develop connection and understanding while participating in a hands-on learning experience. These experiences translate to a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and a desire to steward the natural environment.
Raindrop to Sea Trail
During Westwind’s Earth Day Celebration, we officially broke ground on phase one of the Raindrop to Sea trail. This trail follows the path of a raindrop as it falls on High Meadow and travels through the watershed to the Pacific Ocean. The Raindrop to Sea Trail was built in collaboration with the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative and the Trail Keepers of Oregon. We are so excited to have this unique trail to teach about the water cycle in a way that allows children to have a hands-on learning experience. This trail will be used by Westwind campers, ODS students, and students from Lincoln County schools to learn more about the water cycle and apply classroom lessons to real-life experiences.
Naturalist Program
Since 2021, Westwind has worked hard to grow its naturalist program during Youth Camp. In 2022, we added specific blocks to the schedule for each unit to work with the naturalist. This is a time for activities tailored to learning about the natural environment. During naturalist time, campers identify edible plants, discover bioluminescent plankton, and learn about the water cycle. This is just one way that our youth camp programs look to incorporate environmental education into a week of youth camp.
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