LOWER COLUMBIA ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP
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Mission Statement
We improve the lower Columbia River by protecting and restoring ecosystems and enhancing water quality for current and future generations of people, fish, and wildlife.
About This Cause
Our dedicated and experienced staff have developed educational and recreational programs for youth to ignite their passion for STEM, inspire and activate environmental stewardship, and develop a new generation of environmental leaders, policy makers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Each year, we serve 5,000 students, host ten community restoration events, and build thoughtful community partnerships that amplify the voices and perspectives of those traditionally under-represented in the outdoors and environmental industry. THE PROBLEM: K-5 SCIENCE IS DISAPPEARING. Limited school budgets and standardized testing leave little time and resources for science and hands-on outdoor learning, this is especially true for schools in low-income communities. UNEQUAL ACCESS TO NATURAL AREAS & STEM CAREERS. Youth from communities of color and low-income families face barriers to accessing natural areas and on-water experiences. People of color are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers. OUR SOLUTION: 1. GET SCIENCE BACK IN THE SCHOOLS. During the school year, we teach science lessons and facilitate outdoor learning. We work with teachers to develop programming that is tailored to their classroom needs and objectives. Typically each class we work with gets three science lessons and a field experience that takes learning outside. Our program gets students outside to: • Explore water-quality to assess stream health. • Build schoolyard stormwater features to reduce runoff. • Plant trees to restore habitats for fish, wildlife and people. We remove barriers by prioritizing low-income schools and covering ALL costs, including transportation. 2. GET COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUTDOORS TO LEARN AND EXPLORE. During the summer, we guide paddling trips for community-led organizations. Our summer paddle programs get people outdoors to: • Learn about our local waterways and wildlife habitat. • Introduce first time paddlers to on-water recreation. We also organize fall and spring volunteer events to restore natural areas, many in underserved communities. Each planting gets 1,000 trees in the ground. 3. OFFER STEM RELATED WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG ADULTS. We offer paid internships to disadvantaged youth. These internships help rising leaders to: • Learn alongside experts from the field. • Develop practical and transferable skills. • Strengthen their resume and build contacts. THE BENEFIT FOR ALL: IMPROVED ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS • Retained science concepts using real-world applications. • Enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills. • Increased graduation rates. • Inspired youth who purse careers in STEM. TIME OUTDOORS STRENGTHENS CONNECTIONS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS • Increased comfort and confidence outdoors. • Strengthened relationships through team-work. • Improved physical health and mental well-being. • Empowered stewards of natural areas.