2015-16 Activities
November 05, 2016
Smith and Bybee Lake
Grounding Waters Students and mentors did early morning birding followed by stewardship. The group wrapped beaver cages around mature trees to prevent beavers from swimming into the park and gnawing on their bark during flood season. Thanks to their work, inhabitants and human park goers will still be able to enjoy these elders of the forested wetland.
Smith and Bybee Lake
Grounding Waters Students and mentors did early morning birding followed by stewardship. The group wrapped beaver cages around mature trees to prevent beavers from swimming into the park and gnawing on their bark during flood season. Thanks to their work, inhabitants and human park goers will still be able to enjoy these elders of the forested wetland.
October 22, 2016
Kelley Point Park Stewardship
Grounding Waters students and mentors traveled to Kelley Point Park to learn about invasive versus native species, riparian zones, and how the former wetland became a popular (and dry) scenic area. The students also had the opportunity to see firsthand the confluences of the Willamette River, Columbia Slough, and Columbia River. After the presentation, the group dug up blackberry rootstocks.
Kelley Point Park Stewardship
Grounding Waters students and mentors traveled to Kelley Point Park to learn about invasive versus native species, riparian zones, and how the former wetland became a popular (and dry) scenic area. The students also had the opportunity to see firsthand the confluences of the Willamette River, Columbia Slough, and Columbia River. After the presentation, the group dug up blackberry rootstocks.
October 08, 2016
Environmental Stewardship at Dharma Rain Zen Center
Grounding Waters students and mentors visited Dharma in North East Portland to learn how the Buddhist Monks and their community volunteers transformed a construction material dump to acres of vital wildlife habitat and vegetable gardens. After an educational tour of the property, the students helped remove invasive blackberry and tended recently installed raised beds.
Environmental Stewardship at Dharma Rain Zen Center
Grounding Waters students and mentors visited Dharma in North East Portland to learn how the Buddhist Monks and their community volunteers transformed a construction material dump to acres of vital wildlife habitat and vegetable gardens. After an educational tour of the property, the students helped remove invasive blackberry and tended recently installed raised beds.
September 24, 2016
Eco-Blitz at Vancouver Lake
Grounding Waters students and mentors hiked along the lake in search of amphibians while learning about characteristics of prime habitat for the cold-blooded creatures.
Eco-Blitz at Vancouver Lake
Grounding Waters students and mentors hiked along the lake in search of amphibians while learning about characteristics of prime habitat for the cold-blooded creatures.
August 23, 2016
Ross Island Canoe Trip
Grounding Waters students and mentors hopped in canoes and paddled their way up the Willamette to visit Ross Island. Along the way, students learned about the history of the river and island. The tour taught them how and why river systems change over time.
Ross Island Canoe Trip
Grounding Waters students and mentors hopped in canoes and paddled their way up the Willamette to visit Ross Island. Along the way, students learned about the history of the river and island. The tour taught them how and why river systems change over time.
July 30, 2016
Mussel Academy at Johnson Creek
Grounding Waters students and mentors traveled to Johnson Creek Watershed to learn about fish habitat and biological indicators. The group also trained in research methods, subsequently collecting data on freshwater mussels for a USFWS data base. Next school year, the students will teach elementary students what they learned in preparation for inviting the students to take part in data collection summer of 2017.
Mussel Academy at Johnson Creek
Grounding Waters students and mentors traveled to Johnson Creek Watershed to learn about fish habitat and biological indicators. The group also trained in research methods, subsequently collecting data on freshwater mussels for a USFWS data base. Next school year, the students will teach elementary students what they learned in preparation for inviting the students to take part in data collection summer of 2017.
July 25, 2016
Hatfield Science Center and Estuary Tour
Grounding Waters students and mentors went on our annual trip to the coast. Students learned about coastal processes, estuary residing organisms and their habitat.
Hatfield Science Center and Estuary Tour
Grounding Waters students and mentors went on our annual trip to the coast. Students learned about coastal processes, estuary residing organisms and their habitat.
June 1, 2016
Grounding Waters Impacts 2016
Grounding Waters Impacts 2016
May 21, 2016
Eco-Blitz at Powell Butte
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended Eco-Blitz to learn about wildlife tracking and perform citizen science using the iNaturalist app for cataloging watershed plants and animals.
Eco-Blitz at Powell Butte
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended Eco-Blitz to learn about wildlife tracking and perform citizen science using the iNaturalist app for cataloging watershed plants and animals.
May 19, 2016
STEAM Night at Boise-Eliot
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended a night of community learning about the science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities Boise-Eliot students completed during the 2015-16 school year. Activities included Salmon in the Classroom, where the students dissected eggs and raised juveniles for spring release in the Columbia Watershed.
STEAM Night at Boise-Eliot
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended a night of community learning about the science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities Boise-Eliot students completed during the 2015-16 school year. Activities included Salmon in the Classroom, where the students dissected eggs and raised juveniles for spring release in the Columbia Watershed.
May 12, 2016
STEAM Night at Woodlawn
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended a night of community learning about the science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities Woodlawn students completed during the 2015-16 school year. Activities included Salmon in the Classroom, where the students dissected eggs and raised juveniles for spring release in the Columbia Watershed.
STEAM Night at Woodlawn
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended a night of community learning about the science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities Woodlawn students completed during the 2015-16 school year. Activities included Salmon in the Classroom, where the students dissected eggs and raised juveniles for spring release in the Columbia Watershed.
May 7, 2016
Invasive Removal in Forest Park
Grounding Waters students and mentors removed and mulched english ivy from 35 conifers. Each tree now has a 6-foot radius buffer from the life endangering ivy.
Invasive Removal in Forest Park
Grounding Waters students and mentors removed and mulched english ivy from 35 conifers. Each tree now has a 6-foot radius buffer from the life endangering ivy.
April 23, 2016
Eco-Blitz at Sandy River Delta
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended Eco-Blitz to learn about wildlife tracking and perform citizen science using the iNaturalist app for cataloging watershed plants and animals.
Eco-Blitz at Sandy River Delta
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended Eco-Blitz to learn about wildlife tracking and perform citizen science using the iNaturalist app for cataloging watershed plants and animals.
March 19, 2016
Invasive Removal in Forest Park
Grounding Waters students and mentors removed and mulched english ivy from 22 conifers. Each tree now has a 6-foot radius buffer from the life endangering ivy.
Invasive Removal in Forest Park
Grounding Waters students and mentors removed and mulched english ivy from 22 conifers. Each tree now has a 6-foot radius buffer from the life endangering ivy.
March 5, 2016
Black Student Success Summit
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended the BSSS 2016 to learn about college and career options from Black professionals. The Blueprint Foundation, Grounding Waters table in the college and career fair spread the word about environmental stewardship as a both civic engagement and a rewarding career.
Black Student Success Summit
Grounding Waters students and mentors attended the BSSS 2016 to learn about college and career options from Black professionals. The Blueprint Foundation, Grounding Waters table in the college and career fair spread the word about environmental stewardship as a both civic engagement and a rewarding career.
March 1, 2016
Salmon in the Classroom Demonstration and Fish Dissection
Grounding Waters students assisted U.S. Fish and Wildlife fish biologists with a demonstration for 4th grade students at Woodlawn and Boise-Eliot Schools in North Portland.
Salmon in the Classroom Demonstration and Fish Dissection
Grounding Waters students assisted U.S. Fish and Wildlife fish biologists with a demonstration for 4th grade students at Woodlawn and Boise-Eliot Schools in North Portland.
February 24, 2016
Salmon in the Classroom Demonstration and Fish Dissection
Grounding Waters students assisted U.S. Fish and Wildlife fish biologists with a demonstration for 4th grade students at Oakley Green School in North Portland.
Salmon in the Classroom Demonstration and Fish Dissection
Grounding Waters students assisted U.S. Fish and Wildlife fish biologists with a demonstration for 4th grade students at Oakley Green School in North Portland.
February 13, 2016
Tree Planting in the Columbia Slough Watershed
Grounding Waters students and mentors spent the day planting sixteen trees in North Portland.
Tree Planting in the Columbia Slough Watershed
Grounding Waters students and mentors spent the day planting sixteen trees in North Portland.
January 26, 2016
US Fish and Wildlife Prepares Grounding Waters Students to Teach Salmon in the Classroom Curriculum
Grounding Waters students were treated to an engaging demonstration on salmon life cycles, fish rearing, and egg extraction for fish breeding. Grounding Waters partners, Sean Connolly and Jeff Johnson of the US Fish and Wildlife Service walked students through a dissection procedure that the students will in turn teach to their younger peers during USFWS Salmon in the Classroom curriculum at local middle schools.
US Fish and Wildlife Prepares Grounding Waters Students to Teach Salmon in the Classroom Curriculum
Grounding Waters students were treated to an engaging demonstration on salmon life cycles, fish rearing, and egg extraction for fish breeding. Grounding Waters partners, Sean Connolly and Jeff Johnson of the US Fish and Wildlife Service walked students through a dissection procedure that the students will in turn teach to their younger peers during USFWS Salmon in the Classroom curriculum at local middle schools.
January 23, 2016
Aquaponic Garden Tour
Grounding Waters students and mentors visited a distributor of aquaponic garden supplies. The purpose was to see various types of garden set ups, learn the benefits of aquaponic gardening to conservation efforts, and select a set up that they will use to grow a garden in their schools. The students will educate their community members about aquaponic gardening at upcoming community social events.
Aquaponic Garden Tour
Grounding Waters students and mentors visited a distributor of aquaponic garden supplies. The purpose was to see various types of garden set ups, learn the benefits of aquaponic gardening to conservation efforts, and select a set up that they will use to grow a garden in their schools. The students will educate their community members about aquaponic gardening at upcoming community social events.
December 5, 2015
Green Infrastructure Tour
As an introduction to their water quality sampling project, the Grounding Waters students were led on a walking tour of stormwater management structures around Portland State University. The tour and water sampling project are being implemented in collaboration with Randy Belston, who is a manger of field operations for the City of Portland Environmental Services, Water Pollution Control Lab (WPCL). During the weeks following the tour led by Randy, Grounding Waters students will complete a scavenger hunt for green infrastructure, using smart phones to document stormwater management structures in their neighborhood. Additionally, students and mentors will take multiple water samples from stormwater management structures to be analyzed by the WPCL. Following the sampling, students will receive a debriefing on the differences in pollutants as a function of type of structure, traditional or green, from which the samples were taken.
Green Infrastructure Tour
As an introduction to their water quality sampling project, the Grounding Waters students were led on a walking tour of stormwater management structures around Portland State University. The tour and water sampling project are being implemented in collaboration with Randy Belston, who is a manger of field operations for the City of Portland Environmental Services, Water Pollution Control Lab (WPCL). During the weeks following the tour led by Randy, Grounding Waters students will complete a scavenger hunt for green infrastructure, using smart phones to document stormwater management structures in their neighborhood. Additionally, students and mentors will take multiple water samples from stormwater management structures to be analyzed by the WPCL. Following the sampling, students will receive a debriefing on the differences in pollutants as a function of type of structure, traditional or green, from which the samples were taken.
November 14, 2015
Restoration Day at Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge
Grounding Waters students joined other volunteers at the refuge to remove sapling support structures on recently planted natives. A great time was had by all. The cohort will be back at the refuge in winter and spring to plant trees and remove invasive species.
Restoration Day at Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge
Grounding Waters students joined other volunteers at the refuge to remove sapling support structures on recently planted natives. A great time was had by all. The cohort will be back at the refuge in winter and spring to plant trees and remove invasive species.
October 30, 2015
EPA Blog Post
Grounding Waters has been featured on the Environmental Protection Agency Blog About Our World! Read it here.
EPA Blog Post
Grounding Waters has been featured on the Environmental Protection Agency Blog About Our World! Read it here.
October 24, 2015
Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery Tour
Grounding Waters students visited Bonneville Dam, then went on a hike at Multnomah Falls. The activity is the first preparatory activity for their work as educators helping US Fish and Wildlife teach middle school students about salmon life cycle during the "Salmon in the Classroom" lab exercises.
Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery Tour
Grounding Waters students visited Bonneville Dam, then went on a hike at Multnomah Falls. The activity is the first preparatory activity for their work as educators helping US Fish and Wildlife teach middle school students about salmon life cycle during the "Salmon in the Classroom" lab exercises.
October 20, 2015
Grounding Waters News
Our new environmental science mentoring program, Grounding Waters is off and running, but it is not too late to join up. Check out the GW page for the details
Computer Science Mentors Wanted
We have a new discipline specific mentoring program in the works for computer science. We are on the lookout for Black professional and college student mentors in computer science and electrical engineering who are willing to help Black youth get interested in their discipline.
Check out our mentor page for more details on being a mentor.
Grounding Waters News
Our new environmental science mentoring program, Grounding Waters is off and running, but it is not too late to join up. Check out the GW page for the details
Computer Science Mentors Wanted
We have a new discipline specific mentoring program in the works for computer science. We are on the lookout for Black professional and college student mentors in computer science and electrical engineering who are willing to help Black youth get interested in their discipline.
Check out our mentor page for more details on being a mentor.