No Child Left Inside!

This announcement means major things for our program and the state of environmental education nationwide:

Environmental Literacy Included in Obama’s New Education Budget: Historic First

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Together with their legislative sponsors, the No Child Left Inside Coalition today cheered President Obama’s budget as a historic moment, noting that environmental literacy has been included in the U.S. Department of Education budget for the very first time.

“This budget takes an important step toward boosting environmental education in the classroom and giving more kids the opportunity to get out and learn about the natural world around them,” said Senator Jack Reed (RI). ”Environmental education can help raise student achievement in other core subjects like math and science.  This is a smart investment in our children’s future and the future of our planet.”

“The President’s budget proposal is a terrific first step for environmental education,” said Congressman John Sarbanes, author of the No Child Left Inside House legislation. “I look forward to working with the Administration to more fully incorporate environmental education into school curriculums across the country.”

President Obama and Secretary Duncan have made innovation and student achievement a major platform of the Obama Administration, and as a result have included environmental literacy in a new program. The proposed budget includes new funding of $1 billion for Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education program designed to improve instruction to support college- and career-readiness standards, in part through the use of technology to deliver high-quality content. Among those programs eligible for funding are those deemed important to a “Well-Rounded Education,” including environmental literacy.

The President backs a plan for environmental literacy in k-12 schools.

“Advancing the environmental literacy of our students is key to addressing today’s increasingly complex environmental and related economic, social, natural resource, and energy issues,” said Don Baugh, Director of the No Child Left Inside Coalition.  “It will not only better prepare students for college and the 21st Century workforce, but help to combat childhood obesity and related health problems by getting kids outside to learn about the natural world.  On behalf of our entire 1,500 member Coalition, I commend the President and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for recognizing the critical role that environmental education plays in preparing our students for the green economy.”  

“The Department of Education took a historic step for the future economy by including environmental literacy under it’s ‘Well-Rounded Education’ budget initiative for fiscal year 2011,” said Kevin Coyle, Vice President for Education and Training at the National Wildlife Federation—a founding member of the Coalition.  “Having an environmentally literate citizenry is key to increasing interest in the STEM fields and keeping America competitive in the global, clean energy economy.”

Representing 50 million individuals nation-wide, the No Child Left Inside Coalition has become the nation’s leading voice for environmental education, speaking for a diverse group of Americans from throughout the United States who believe young people should receive a meaningful and robust education about their natural world.

 SOURCE No Child Left Inside Coalition

Mount Hood makes the map!

The National Geographic Society  recently unveiled its newest geotourism mapguide on the Central Cascades at Timberline Lodge on Tuesday, January 19. National Geographic exec’s, Travel Oregon, the U.S. Forest Service, and Timberline representatives gathered together to reveal the map that promotes sustainable travel in the Northwest.

The map highlights hundreds of shining eco-friendly stars, where tourists can enjoy nature while also helping to preserve it. Featuring more than 200 geotourism sites with cultural, recreational, agricultural, natural and geological points of interest, the map is in its first round of publishing with over 200,000 copied printed.  

Check out the map’s Web site here to learn more: http://thecentralcascades.com/

Here’s a video from KOIN Channel 8 news in Portland, covering the story: http://www.kgw.com/news/local/National-Geographics-geotourism-map-features-Oregon-82091342.html

Triumphant climber at top of Mount Hood graces the cover of the map!

Latest Article From the Sandy Post

We LOVE Garth Guibord at the Sandy Post! Make sure to check out his news on Wednesdays. He covers news of the mountain, Oregon Trail School District stories, business, and more.

Mount Hood on tour

Forest Service offers recreational events this winter

By Garth Guibord

The Sandy Post, Jan 12, 2010

Snowshoers tackle a trail with a view last year during a guided hike by the Forest Service.

contributed photo

Mount Hood has a bevy of resources: recreation, natural beauty and history among them. This winter, the Zigzag Ranger District will offer winter programming, including snowshoe tours, ski tours and tours of Timberline Lodge, featuring a smorgasbord of these treasure-troves.

“It’s really nice for folks who are coming up to the mountain who don’t have too much experience,” said Lawson Reif, interpretation and education specialist for the district.

The snowshoe tours are new this year and are offered at Trillium Lake and on the Glade Trail between Government Camp and Timberline Lodge. That’s the same route where, in 1951, the skyway tram between the two locations started.

“It was a little inefficient, but it was a cool novelty,” Reif said. “The Mount Hood area has kind of been the paradigm in a lot of ways for a lot of development and updates in the ski industry.”

The tours include a variety of other history, including how Mount Hood was where the first releasable ski binding was invented, the roots of ski jumping on the mountain and Timberline becoming the first four-season ski lift in the country, as well as information on natural elements, including trees, wildlife and geology.

Tours likely will end sometime in March, while Reif added that tours could change over the course of the season. Meanwhile, those interested in a tour who cannot make a scheduled date can contact Reif to possibly schedule an outing on a different day.

“We have a bit of flexibility as far as that goes, and we love providing this service,” he said.

The U.S. Forest Service will offer the following free events (for more information call 503-622-3191, ext. 610 or e-mail lreif@fs.fed.us):

• Timberline Lodge Tours are offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at the U.S. Forest Service desk at the lodge. The tour lasts 25 minutes and explores the history of the building.

• “Ski with a Ranger” at Timberline is offered at 11 a.m. Saturdays at the Wy’east Day Lodge. A ranger will take intermediate-level skiers and snowboarders on a tour of Timberline Lodge.

• Glade Trail Guided Snowshoe Walks are held at 10 a.m. Fridays and Sundays at the Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum, 88900 E. Government Camp Loop in Government Camp. The trip will be approximately 3.5 miles and go through the forest, discussing area history, ecology and more.

• Trillium Lake Guided Snowshoe Walks are held at 1 p.m. Fridays and Sundays at Trillium Lake Sno-Park off of Highway 26, 2.5 miles east of Timberline Road. The trip will be approximately 3 miles and offers views of Mount Hood and discussion on local history, ecology and more.

Winter season programming off to great start

So we’ve been gone for a while, but Christmas holidays started up our BRAND NEW winter interpretive season! Last year, we weren’t able to fund volunteers, but this year, we have some returning summer interns and Americorps volunteers joining the Mount Hood team.

The season started off with tours of Timberline Lodge and a Ski with a Ranger program at Timberline Ski Area. Volunteers enjoyed an early start to the ski season, with a near record breaking opening date at Timberline Lodge.

The volunteers will offer snowshoe walks at Trillium lake and Skibowl on weekends, tours of Timberline Lodge Thursday through Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., and a Ski with a Ranger Program at Timberline (and Skibowl, if it opens). Check with Lawson Rief at 503-622-3191 ext. 610 for more information or to schedule a special program for your group of 10 or more, and check back here for a full schedule of events.

Let it snow!

Star Party at Timberline

Join astronomy experts for a closer look at the night sky.

Doug McCarty, director of the astronomy program and the Planetarium Sky Theater at Mount Hood Community College and astronomer for over 30 years will lead visitors in viewing the mountains and craters on the moon, distant galaxies, a dying star and Jupiter and its moons through telescopes in the Lodge amphitheater.

Enjoy sunset and the alpine glow before joining the program at 9 p.m.

FREE to the public. No reservation required. Family friendly. For more information call Lawson Reif at 503-622-3191 ext 610.

See the press release below:

Media Contact: Grace Saad

Phone: 503-929-6244

Email: grace.saad@hotmail.com

For immediate release: TIMBERLINE LODGE, Ore.—The fourth of July lit up the sky with fireworks, but visitors to Mount Hood National Forest’s Timberline Lodge can enjoy a free natural sky show at the first ever “Star Party” event at the end of July. Pack up the car and head to the national historic landmark Lodge, located at 6,000 feet on the majestic Mount Hood, and meet with astronomy experts from Mount Hood Community College(MHCC)  for a closer look at our night sky.

              The program will be held at 9 p.m. on Saturday July 25 in the Lodge amphitheater, where astronomy guru Doug McCarty and university student Alex Cason will guide visitors in star gazing through several telescopes, pointing out planets, stars and other planetary bodies.

            “We are going to be looking at craters and mountains on the moon with one of the best telescopes in the world,”said McCarty, who has led astronomy tours in Turkey, Africa and South America. “This year is the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s discovery of the moon’s of Jupiter, and we’ll be viewing the planet and its moons through a telescope that is over 10 times more powerful than the one he used.”  

            The program will also give visitors a glimpse of a dying star and a galaxy over 2 million light years away.

“It’s like looking into the past,” McCarty said. “If a star is one light year away, that means that the light that we see from it takes one year to reach the Earth. We see the star as it appeared one year ago. We’ll be looking over 2 million years into the past when we view the most distant object that can be seen in the night sky.”    

McCarty has been working in astronomy for over 30 years and is also the director of the Planetarium Sky Theater at MHCC, which offers a different presentation of galactic, stellar and planetary images monthly.

            Visitors can also enjoy a day at the Lodge complete with a tour at 11 a.m., 1, 2 or 3 p.m., an alpine talk in the amphitheater at 12:30 p.m., a hike on one of the many trails leaving from the Lodge or a sunset picnic right before the program.

What: Star Party at Timberline Lodge. Join astronomy expert Doug McCarty for a closer look at our night sky.

 

Where: Timberline Lodge Amphitheater; (503) 272-3311. From Portland, take Highway 26 east toward Mount Hood. Turn left on Timberline Road, ¼ mile east of the village of Government Camp. From Hood River, take Highway 35 south to Mount Hood and turn right on Timberline Road, 2 miles past the turn off for Trillium Lake

When: Saturday, July 25; 9 p.m. until

Summer season is finally here!

Hi folks!

Some of you saw us this winter for scheduled events at Timberline and the ZigZag Ranger Station, but we’re back for the summer with a full schedule of events for children, families, outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs. Check out the news article below for more information, and be sure to check out each program’s page for specifics, photos and the new volunteer blog that will be updated weekly.

Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF) volunteers will give the public a chance to celebrate Oregon’s 150^th year with free programs focusing on history, the outdoors and conservation this summer.

“Every year, we give thousands of visitors a more interesting and valuable look at the mountain that is so identifiable statewide,” says Lawson Reif, head of the volunteer interpretive program in the ZigZag Ranger District of MHNF. “You can’t celebrate Oregon’s 150^th anniversary as a state without a visit to Mount Hood.”

To celebrate the anniversary, Lawson and the Forest Service created a brand new exhibit for Timberline Lodge’s Rachael Griffin Museum, which features 150 years on Mount Hood and includes photographs, artifacts and history.

In the historic Barlow Room, The Builders of Timberline, a 22-minute video on the construction off the Lodge, will be played at 12:30 p.m., giving visitors an inside look into the New Deal era building.

The Work Progress Administration (WPA) workers who constructed Timberline camped in tents for 15 months at Summit Meadows, which can be seen from the bird’s eye view of 6,000 feet at the historic Lodge.

“Summit Meadows was a resting point for weary pioneers in the 1800’s,” volunteer Grace Saad said. “The men who built Timberline were following in the footsteps of the great American travelers of the Barlow Road.”

Mount Hood itself was also a huge draw for early settlers of Oregon like Elijah (Lige) Coalman who summitted Mount Hood 586 times.

Volunteer Rangers will provide several guided hikes from Timberline this year as well, one with a focus on the climbing history of Mount Hood and a visit to the site of an old climber’s cabin.

Rangers will also provide free tours of the Lodge at 11 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m.  The tours will touch on pioneer and Native American history, as well as the construction, hand-crafted furnishings, art and textiles of the National Historic Landmark.

Alpine talks and guided hikes on weekends and special events at Timberline will cover topics such as wildflowers, wilderness safety, geology and fire prevention.  Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Rangers also staff an information desk and can let tourists in on local secrets like the best place for a beer, the cheapest taco, the best waterfall hike or the most secluded campground. 

After a Saturday at Timberline, visitors can enjoy 7 p.m. campfire programs at Timothy or Trillium Lakes starting the weekend of July 4 and wake up for a guided hike in the forest, to learn about the plant and animal life that make our state so unique.  Treks start near Government Camp and Welches and are less than 3 miles. Hikers will be rewarded with a postcard view of Mount Hood from Mirror Lake or a peaceful moment in the moss-draped maples and old growth firs of the aptly-named Salmon River.

The history lover might prefer a short hike focusing on the Barlow Road at Mount Hood Skibowl West, where the kids can hop a shuttle to Skibowl East for go-carts, mini golf and a mean hot dog. Learn about pioneer travel and area history or take the lift to Tom Dick Peak, for a view of 5 Cascade volcanoes and an alpine lake.

Rangers will also provide a plethora of other activities this summer, especially for children, including Junior Ranger Day, Festival of the Forest, Wild Wednesdays at Wildwood Recreation Area, Smokey’s Trail, and special tours, hikes and service projects for large groups.

“Oregon’s history is so rich,” Reif says.  “It’s great to be able to provide activities for the children and families that set our state apart. We have 150 years of history to celebrate. I only hope the next 150 are as exciting.”

For a full schedule of events, to book an event or tour for a large group or more information, visit www.mthoodvolunteers.wordpress.com, email mthoodvolunteers@hotmail.com, or call Reif at (503) 622-3191 ext. 610.

Winter Season Kick Off

Hey hey hey!

We may have been on hiatus, but we’re back for BRAND NEW winter programming at Timberline Lodge, local schools and more!

Please visit us on Saturdays and Sundays at T-Line at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for tours, or call Christy Covington at 503-622-3191, ext. 668, or email mthoodvolunteers@hotmail.com to schedule a FREE tour for your family, small or large group or school class any day of the week!

Make sure to visit us in the Lodge when you are skiing or snowboarding for winter recreation information, Lodge history and any other questions you might have. We will be staffing the desk on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteer Rangers will also be visiting area schools for “Snow Days.” If you teach homeschool, preschool, elementary, middle or high school students and would like to have us present to your group, please call Grace Saad at 503-929-6244.

Thanks again for reading, and check back soon for more info!

2008 Interpretive Season a SUCCESS!!!

We just wanted to write to thank everyone who attended our events, hikes, tours and conservation educaiton programs! This year’s season was a huge success, and we want to continue building upon that success this winter and beyond. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

We also wanted to update everyone on the success of our season. Here are some numbers:

• Nearly 30,000 visitors served
• Over 3,000 hours of volunteer time was donated, valued at nearly $60,000
• Nearly $5,000 raised

We added tons of new programming, participated in many more special events and grew partnerships and organization for the volunteer interpretive program this year, laying a road map for the new winter season (our first ever!) and next year’s summer season as well.

We hope everyone enjoyed their time in Mt Hood National Forest, and don’t forget to check back weekly for updates.

Pictures of all the events and programs will soon be posted to our gallery!

ALSO

****Let us know how we can serve you better****

Please send any comments or requests for programming to mthoodvolunteers@hotmail.com! We need your help to make this year great!

OPB Screening of “Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps”

Join the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Public Broadcasting at Timberline Lodge on Sunday, November 2 for an advanced screening of a special presentation on the Civilian Conservation Corps celebrating the national historic landmark hotel and the 75th anniversary of the New Deal.

The pre-screening of the documentary will begin at 1 p.m. in the Lodge’s Barlow Room, where guests will learn the history of the CCC in Oregon and hear from OPB and Forest Service speakers who will honor corps alumni and those involved in the creation of the film. Immediately following the screening, guests will be invited to take a Ranger-led tour of Timberline Lodge and view special exhibitions on the New Deal Anniversary.

For more information, or to reserve a seat in the Barlow Room, contact volunteer Grace Saad at 503-929-6244 or Forest Service liasion Christy Covington at 503-622-3191 ext. 668, or by email at mthoodvolunteers@hotmail.com

 

Mt Hood Festival of the Forest

Join Rangers Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14, for the Mt Hood Festival of the Forest to support Special Olympics Oregon! Bring the family out for food, fun, music, prizes, games, forest activities and more! Meet Smokey Bear! Enjoy arts and crafts and other vendors from the greater Mt Hood area and Portland at Wildwood Recreation Area from noon to 6 p.m.

$5 per vehicle, per day

For more information, visit www.mthood.info/forestfest or contact Toni Demicoli at demicolit@aol.com