Columbia Slough Watershed Council

The Slough School Education Program engages K-college students throughout the Columbia Slough Watershed in science education and service-learning projects to raise awareness of the watershed while empowering youth as active, engaged citizens. Student outcomes include increased understanding of watershed ecology, increased familiarity with our region’s natural areas and increased awareness of our watershed’s interconnected relationships. In addition, students contribute to native habitat restoration. Slough School also supports teacher workshops and prepares high school students to mentor younger students during Slough School activities.

Slough School works with any teacher in the Columbia Slough Watershed seeking to involve his/her students in high-quality, hands-on classroom presentations and field trips. This includes N/NE Portland, parts of North Gresham and Fairview; most schools have a high percentage of low-income and minority students. Slough School activities, often including transportation, are provided free of charge. Many activities are offered in Spanish for bilingual students. Watershed ecology topics include: riparian plants, water chemistry, ethnobotany, local wildlife, aquatic macroinvertebrates, groundwater and invasive species. Students are also involved in watershed stewardship projects. The Slough School links students from four different school districts to their watershed through hands-on experiences which bring awareness, passion and understanding. Students gain formal knowledge of watershed health and they build skills to advocate on the watershed’s behalf in the future.