Students, the great outdoors, hands-on learning and fun is a formula for success!
Linda McLean
WSU Colville Reservation Extension
The 4th Annual Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) and WSU Extension Natural Resources Field Day was bigger than ever! Three hundred and sixteen (316) kindergarten -3rd grade students traveled to Owhi Lake, located near Nespelem, WA, to learn about natural resources. The event was coordinated and facilitated by the team made up of staff from CCT Fish & Wildlife Department, CCT/BIA Range/Land Operations Departments and the WSU Colville Reservation Extension 4-H program.
"It is so important for early exposure of young people to natural resources," stated Linda McLean, Director/4-H Educator for WSU Colville Reservation Extension 4-H program. "Both the students and the environment benefit when we learn at an early age how to care for and manage our natural resources."
Five elementary schools participated in this fun-filled, action-packed day: Lake Roosevelt; Nespelem; Keller; Wilbur; and Creston. Students, teachers, and chaperones navigated through seventeen hands-on, instructive and interactive stations. Representatives and programs who provided educational stations were: CCT Fish & Wildlife, CCT Environmental Trust, CCT Natural Resource Enforcement, CCT Forestry, CCT Youth Development, CCT GIS, CCT IRMP, CCT Range, BIA Land Operations, CCT Mt. Tolman Fire Center, WA DNR, Okanogan Conservation District, WSU BioRise program, and WSU Colville Reservation 4-H.
The core planning team for this event, Jessica Davin, Jess Utt-Clark, Brandt Harvey and Linda McLean have been committed to providing solid hands-on natural resources experiences for the students since the Chuweah Creek Wildfire of 2021. The goal is to get the students out of the classroom for a day and help them learn about their environment in a refreshing and natural setting.
This year marks a location change; previously held in an open grassy field, the location shifted to the picturesque Owhi Lake. This proved to be a positive move for shade cover, access,
and exposure to a variety of trees, plants and a few small animals.
"We are training our next generation of natural resources biologists, technicians and specialists," stated McLean. The long-term benefits from this event may not be measured for a few years, until these Kindergarten to 3rd graders mature into adulthood.
If you would like more information about this program, please contact Linda McLean, Colville Reservation Extension Director, (509) 634-2305.
