ECO Students Plant the Future of Oregon White Oak

ECO students from the Rachel Carson Environmental Science Program helped restore a rare and disappearing ecosystem: the Oregon white oak savanna.

At the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals—nestled in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where less than 3% of historic oak savanna remains—ECO students planted dozens of young Oregon white oaks alongside native shrubs like red flowering currant, mock orange, oceanspray, and Oregon grape.

These trees do more than shade the landscape. Oregon white oaks are a keystone species, supporting over 200 native plants and animals. Their open, sun-filled habitat is especially important for birds, pollinators, and traditional food plants. Indigenous peoples, including the Calapooia, have long managed oak savannas through controlled burning and land stewardship practices.

Because oaks grow slowly, every planting counts. This year, funding gaps meant the museum’s hopes of expanding its savanna almost didn’t happen—but with support from Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, ECO students from the Rachel Carson program made it possible. They dug, planted, and carefully tucked six-inch oak seedlings into the soil, imagining what they’d look like towering overhead in 30 or 40 years.

The work was part of a larger classroom unit on the importance of native ecosystems, but out in the field, it became something more: a hands-on way to shape the future.

Exciting News for ECO's Aves Compartidas

We’re excited to announce ECO has been awarded a 2025 Partners in Conservation grant from the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District! With this support, we will expand ECO's Aves Compartidas program at Lent and Alder Elementary Schools, bringing hundreds of students into local natural areas, connecting them with environmental professionals, and deepening hands-on learning in ecology and restoration. 

We’re also proud to share that the Nike Community Impact Fund has awarded additional support to our Aves Compartidas program. With this momentum, we’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead—full of expanded opportunities for Lent and Alder students to explore, learn, and grow through nature-based education.

Discover Wonder Outdoors

Our library of free ecology lessons is open all summer!

teach.ecologyoutdoors.org/freelessons/

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and let kids explore. Whether it's a walk around the block, time in the backyard, or a visit to a local park, nature offers simple moments that spark curiosity and delight.

You don't need a plan—just a few tools and some open-ended questions. A spoon becomes a soil scoop, a notebook becomes a nature journal, and a magnifier turns moss into a miniature forest. Ask questions like "What do you notice?" or "What do you wonder about?" and let their curiosity lead.

Here are some summer tips from our program team: 

• Keep it routine, not rigid. A little time outdoors every day adds up. Try a morning check-in with the birds, a sketch break after lunch, or a quiet evening sit-spot. Kids settle in faster when it becomes familiar.

• Bring something to look closer. A spoon for digging, a notebook for sketching, or a magnifying glass can turn the ordinary into an adventure. Wonder what's under that log? Scoop some soil and find out.

• Create a shared nature journal. Use a notebook, a whiteboard, or even start a jar of sketches. Let kids track what they find—leaves, birds, clouds, bugs—and share what stands out each day.

We'd love to see what you discover—share your adventures with us on social!