Oak Savanna Exhibit by August Jackson, Interpretive Coordinator
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Summer 2019 Volume XLIX, Issue 3 THE MOUNT PISGAH ARBORETUM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Oak Savanna Exhibit by August Jackson, Interpretive Coordinator The first European explorers and Euro-American colonizers described the Willamette Valley as a vast expanse of open prairie, dotted here and there with mature trees—mostly oaks—which impressed upon them the feeling of a “park” or “garden.” The only real forests to be found were on the foothills and knolls, and densely cloaking the braided and ponderous Willamette River. On his journey through the Willamette Valley in September of 1826, the botanist and explorer David Douglas discovered the cause of this park-like setting, noting that nearly the entire valley floor had been recently burned. Douglas remarked that some of the native Kalapuya people explained to him that they conducted the burns for the purpose of procuring food. Since the cessation of native burning practices, Oregon white oak savanna has become one of the most critically endangered ecosystems in North Photo by Kimberly Cullen America, with as little as 1% of the original extent remaining. Mount Pisgah Arboretum’s new Oak Savanna Exhibit aims to honor the cultural heritage of this quintessential Willamette Valley landscape and celebrates the biodiverse ecosystem that was supported by considerate and considerable Kalupyan management practices. The exhibit consists of two meditative paths with scattered vignettes that share some of the cultural and ecological outcomes of regular burning. These paths converge in the center around a planter showcasing a number of native plants that were important traditional food sources, and which benefited from regular burning. A bench encircles the outer half of the planter, offering expansive views of the savanna and a chance to pause and reflect on the statement embedded in stone at one’s feet: “the oak savanna will not exist without humans.” This exhibit challenges the conventional wisdom that humans inherently have a IN THIS ISSUE: negative effect on the environment, and the persistent Euro-American cultural Director's Message myth that humans are distinct and separate from the ecosystem at large. In a Mallards in the Meadow time of rapid climate change and increasing human population, this story holds Summer Celebration recap a new relevance as it becomes ever more important to reevaluate our relationship Education Report with the natural world and rediscover our role in the ecosystem. continued on p. 2 continued from p. 1 The Oak Savanna Exhibit is the fourth interpretive exhibit which has been Board of Directors installed, and marks the halfway point in the implementation of the Arboretum’s Tim King, President Interpretive Plan. Over 80 individual donors contributed to the project, and Anne Forrestel, Vice President Karen Anderson, Secretary a number of volunteers, Grande Ronde Tribal members, organizations, and Carl Bybee companies donated time and resources to the installation of the exhibit, truly Charlotte Helmer Charlotte Kreitlow making this a community-driven project. Jonathan Stafford Rich Kelly Sally Stender Education Report Staff by Jenny Laxton, Education Manager Brad van Appel, Executive Director Tom LoCascio, Site Manager Jenny Laxton, Education Manager This school year, our field trip programs were August Jackson, Interpretive Coord. in high demand from local teachers, with more Kimberly Cullen, Office Coordinator Julie Hubbard-McNall, Dev. Coord. classes wanting to come out than we had field Leisha Wood, Venue Manager trip days available. We ended up with classes Jason Spear, Site Assistant Matney Lea, Events Assistant from eight different districts, with students Josh Head, Pavilion Custodian coming from as far away as Florence and Toki Nakae, Site Aid Oakridge. Over 3,000 students took a nature walk here as part of our Discovery Tours Contact Information Program this last school year. For some, this Office Phone: 541-747-3817 Events Phone: 541-747-1504 was a chance to learn more about the animals Education Phone: 541-741-4110 and plants they see when they go on walks [email protected] and hikes with their families (and to share this www.MountPisgahArboretum.org knowledge with them) and for others with www.twitter.com/MtPisgahArb facebook.com/mountpisgaharboretum families who are less outdoorsy, or parents who Photo by Kimberly Cullen are busy making ends meet, their field trip to the Arboretum was one of their only chances to go on a hike during the year. The highlight this spring was all the signs of our wild, end-of-the-winter weather. The kids marveled at the trees down along the Incense-cedar Trail from our February snowstorm. A whole cluster of small cedars were weighted down enough with snow that their Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a tops bent to the ground and they nonprofit organization with a mission snapped in the middle, leaving to engage people with nature through interactive learning and stewardship. behind jagged stumps and a jumble of logs. In the Water Facilities include miles of riverside Garden Trails, students loved and forest trails, picnic areas and a pavilion for events. We host outdoor seeing the random hay bales and programs to foster appreciation of the the silt line on the tree trunks up natural world. above their heads left from the Thank you for being a supporter! March flooding. Photo by Kimberly Cullen Executive Director's Message by Brad van Appel The word “arboretum” can sound exclusive to some – a place only for the wealthy and well educated. Mount Pisgah Arboretum belongs to the whole community, and we’re working to ensure that everyone feels like they belong here. Placeholder Our interactive exhibits are designed to engage the imaginations of all visitors, including those who might never attend an educational program. We’ve recently produced a Spanish trail map as part of an effort to reach local Spanish-speakers. Over 3,000 children take part in our volunteer-led Discovery Tours annually. A large number of those kids come from low-income schools and the Arboretum Brad van Appel speaking at Summer Celebration raises funds to help pay their field trip costs so that every child can participate. With the support of Lane County Parks, the Arboretum has just launched a new membership initiative in partnership with Huerto de la Familia and Cornerstone Community Housing. Our supporters can now sponsor annual memberships for families who may not know about, or be able to take advantage of what the Arboretum has to offer. To further expand our community connections, we have joined the Rivers to Ridges Partnership to help protect and enhance natural resources, and provide environmental education and recreation opportunities in our region. And, we’re proud to be part of Eugene/Springfield NAACP’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Committee. The Arboretum has also deepened our long-term partnership commitments with Lane County Parks and the Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah. In 2018 these three organizations collaborated to complete a Habitat Management Plan for HBRA. This year we worked together to clear trails after the snowstorm and to build the new Coast Fork Trail. The Arboretum and the Friends continue to actively explore new ways to work together to better serve the community and the land, and the Willamette Confluence Preserve may present exciting opportunities for more collaboration in the near future. Working together and embracing diversity makes our community stronger, and helps advance the Arboretum’s educational mission. Community support and partnerships have made Mount Pisgah Arboretum a place where people of all economic and cultural backgrounds can enjoy and learn about our area’s vibrant ecology. Thank you! Mallards in the by Jason Spear, Site Assistant Meadow This year the Arboretum was chosen as a nesting site by a female Mallard, who successfully incubated and reared 12 ducklings in the low grasslands on site! I stumbled upon a nest mowing the grass in late May. I was startled by mother duck who Spear Jason by Photo Female Mallard and her ducklings passing the Arboretum caretaker’s continued on p. 5 home on their way towards the river. 3 Music by Satori Bob Thank you members, volunteers, supporters and staff for a lovely evening together! Jenny Buckley, recipient of the Newly elected board members Office Volunteer of the Year award Charlotte Kreitlow (pictured) and August Jackson, the Arboretum's Interpretive Coordi- Sally Stender. Re-elected was nator, speaking about the power of site-based learning. Charlotte Helmer. Thank you Planktown, Evenfall, and Rue 25 Winery for beverage & food contributions! Say Hello to Our New Seasonal Staff by Brad van Appel, Executive Director The busy wedding season started in late May, and this year we were very pleased to hire Matney Lea as our Events Assistant. Matney is applying her broad range of professional experience to oversight of this year’s weddings and other events. Summer is a busy time for trail and habitat maintenance. In June the Arboretum hired Toki Nakae to help us stay on top of things. Toki is doing some great work as our 2019 Site Aide and will be heading to the U of O in the fall. Matney Lea, Events Assistant Toki Nakae, Site Aide continued from p. 3 flew out of the grass in an effort to protect her nest. I shut down the mower assuming a nest may be near. Only a few moments later I discovered and photographed the nest. I left this area full of tall grass to keep the nest well hidden. Concerned that I might have caused momma Mallard to abandon her nest, I returned the next day. Thankfully I was able to put my worries at rest, when I found the mother had returned. A short week and one half later, I had caught word from Jenny Laxton, Arboretum’s Education Manager, that a momma duck and her ducklings were headed to the river.