Many people deepen their connection to nature by enjoying a nature education class or participating in a volunteer opportunity. These experiences provide guided introductions, group camaraderie and opportunities to learn something new about plants, wildlife, or history in the region’s parks, trails, natural areas and historic cemeteries.
Throughout the year, Metro’s nature educators help students of all ages discover nature close to home. From field trips to the ancient forest at Oxbow Regional Park to twilight hikes at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area to mushroom hunts and campfire demonstrations, there’s an array of ways to connect with the outdoor world at Metro’s parks.
Metro’s community education and stewardship team works with communities of color to co-create culturally specific and relevant education and stewardship activities. Through hands-on activities like planting and caring for trees and native plants, understanding invasive species, community science projects and plant gatherings, these experiences provide opportunities to connect to each other, build reciprocal relationships with the land, create a sense of belonging and learn about plants, wildlife, and history in the region’s parks, trails, natural areas and historic cemeteries.
Story: Don’t move firewood
You’re planning a family trip to the coast, and you’ve been busy getting all the supplies to bring with you for a cozy weekend of watching the winter waves: food, cocoa and some firewood you found on sale at a local store. You’re ready to go!
Unfortunately, so are all the invasive, tree-killing pests lurking in that firewood.
Firewood is a major pathway for invasive species. You might not be able to see them when looking at firewood, but pests and fungi can hide inside logs and sticks. When they arrive at a new location, they can leave the wood and find new territory to infest.
Biologists believe firewood has been a vehicle for new infestations of invasive insects and diseases, including the emerald ash borer and the Mediterranean oak borer. These insects, which are not native to our region, have recently been found in local trees – and they have the potential to decimate the region’s Oregon ash and Oregon white oak populations…
When you burn firewood that is sourced locally, it still may contain pests and diseases, but they probably already exist in that area so you’re not introducing new problems. When firewood is transported long distances, however, it can allow invasive species to travel much farther and faster than they ever could under their own power.
In general, when it comes to buying or harvesting firewood, the rule to follow is: The more local, the better. Try to burn wood within the same county it was harvested in—or, to use the Oregon Department of Forestry’s recommendation, within 10 miles of where it was harvested.
From: Help save trees: Don't move firewood