Catalog 2 WElcome Opal Creek anCient FOrest Center 2011 CatalOg COntents 3 Overview and History.......................................................................................... 4 School Programs................................................................................................. 5 Workshops........................................................................................................... 6 Mosses,.Lichens.and.Liverworts.................................................................. 6 FAMILY.WORKSHOP:.Exploring.Opal.Creek................................................... 6 FAMILY.WORKSHOP:.Bugs.&.Blooms........................................................... 7 Yoga.in.the.Ancient.Forest........................................................................... 7 ornwell C Adult.Fly.Fishing......................................................................................... 8 ark M . : Ancient.Grains.in.the.Ancient.Forest............................................................ 8 photo FAMILY.WORKSHOP:.Fall.Amphibians.......................................................... 9 Ancient.Forest.Mushrooms......................................................................... 9 Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center is.located.in.the.heart.of. the.Opal.Creek.Wilderness.and.Scenic.Recreation.Area,.a.spectacular.35,000-acre.wilderness. Turning.Over.Stones:.A.Creative.Writing.Workshop......................................10 of.ancient.trees.and.pristine.waters..At.Opal.Creek,.you.will.walk.among.some.of.the.largest.and. Wilderness Medicine Institute Courses........................................................... 10 oldest.stands.of.trees.remaining.in.the.Pacific.Northwest..The.plant.biodiversity.that.still.thrives. Opal Creek Expeditions.................................................................................... 12 in.Opal.Creek’s.watersheds.is.a.sampling.of.the.forests.that.once.blanketed.all.the.Western. Cascades..Opal.Creek.is.the.largest.uncut.watershed.in.western.Oregon,.and.mere.descriptions. Beginning.Backpack.................................................................................12 fail.to.convey.the.impact.of.being.in.a.place.of.such.primordial.importance..Opal.Creek.Ancient. Berries.and.Backpacking..........................................................................12 Forest.Center.can.help.you.fully.experience.this.gem. Peaks.of.Opal.Creek.................................................................................13 P.Our.base.of.operations.is.Jawbone.Flats,.a.historic.mining.town.that.sits.at.the. Treetops.and.Ridgelines.of.the.Watershed.................................................13 confluence.of.two.mountain.streams.surrounded.by.dramatic.ridgelines;.in.short,.the. ideal.backdrop.for.serious.relaxation. Sub-Alpine.Lakes.Backpack......................................................................14 P.Our.comfortable,.streamside.accommodations.are.well.suited.for.large.family.gatherings. Fly.Fishing.and.Freshwater.Ecology...........................................................14 or.private,.quiet.weekends.. Cooking.&.Camping.in.the.Backcountry....................................................15 P.Our.location.eliminates.the.need.for.extensive.travel,.thus.lessening.the.cost.and. Adult.Backpack.in.the.Opal.Creek.Wilderness...........................................15 burden.on.the.environment..We.are.located.only.2.½.hours.from.Portland.and.Eugene. Membership...................................................................................................... 16 P.Jawbone.Flats.is.“off.the.grid.”.The.electricity.we.use.is.produced.through.hydroelectric. and.solar.power.. Volunteer Opportunities....................................................................................17 P.Our.wide.variety.of.workshops.range.from.moss.&.lichens.to.yoga.retreats.and.family. Facilities and Food........................................................................................... 18 workshops..These.educational.and.relaxing.weekends.offer.something.for.everyone. Cabin Rentals................................................................................................... 18 P.Cabin.rental.fees.fund.our.education.programs,.so.each.visit.directly.supports.our. OCAFC Staff and Board.......................................................... …………………..…20 mission.of.developing.and.implementing.environmental.education.programming.inspired. Opal Creek Trails............................................................................................... 21 by.Opal.Creek. Directions to Opal Creek.................................................................................. 22 P.Opal.Creek.Expeditions.is.back.and.in.its.third.year..These.6-day.adventures.give.10-16. year.olds.an.opportunity.to.fully.immerse.themselves.in.nature.while.learning.the.art.of. *Thecostofallworkshopsandcampscoverslodgingandmeals,beginningwith backcountry.camping.. dinnerthedayofarrivalandendingwithlunchthedayofdeparture. There.is.truly.something.for.everyone.at.Opal.Creek..The.tall.trees.and.crystal.clear.waters. beckon.with.a.promise.to.relax.the.busiest.of.minds..If.you.have.experienced.Opal.Creek,.you. know.what.makes.it.special.and.worthy.of.many.visits..If.you.have.yet.to.experience.Opal.Creek,. “ Great mix of education, ExPloration AnD relAxation!” now.is.the.time..You.won’t.be.disappointed. —WorkshopParticipant’10 4 history Opal Creek anCient FOrest Center 2011 CatalOg education 5 Teachers: Bring your students out to Opal Creek for an unforgettable experience! n.addition.to.the.wonderful.workshops.and.summer.programs.we.offer.at.Opal.Creek,.we. also.offer.school.year.programs..Our.programs.serve.2nd.—.12th.grade.students.and.all. university.levels.and.cost.$55.per.participant.per.night..Surrounding.our.education.center. Iis.the.largest.remaining,.intact,.low-elevation,.ancient.forest.ecosystem.in.Oregon’s.Western. Cascades..Students.will.be.exposed.to.an.astonishing.diversity.of.plants,.mushrooms,.lichens,. macro-invertebrates,.amphibians.and.many.other.organisms..The.living.laboratory.of.the.ancient. forest.provides.an.excellent.context.for.the.concepts.the.students.are.learning..Our.remodeled. solar-powered.classroom.is.equipped.with.microscopes.to.allow.students.to.closely.examine. the.intricate.details.of.the.forest..Students.will.also.have.the.opportunity.to.learn.about. sustainability.through.our.onsite.examples,.including.our.hydropower.system,.solar.panels,.. A brief history – and.composting.facilities. Our.teaching.philosophy.is.based.on.hands-on,.experiential.learning,.and.our.instructors. he.Opal.Creek.forest.was.first.inhabited.by.Native.Americans..Points.and.lithic.scatters. are.trained.in.various.field.education.techniques.and.hands-on.teaching.methodologies..We. dating.back.at.least.2,000.years.have.been.found.across.the.watershed..The.site.that.is. employ.a.professional.teaching.staff.with.natural.science.or.education.bachelor’s.degrees. now.Jawbone.Flats.is.believed.to.have.been.a.summer.camp.for.the.Santiam.Kalapuya. and.Wilderness.First.Responder.certification..We.work.with.each.teacher.to.individually.craft.a. Indians.T .The.Whetstone.Mountain.Trail,.which.climbs.the.canyon,.is.believed.to.have.been.a. program.that.ties.in.with.work.the.students.have.been.doing.in.the.classroom. frequent.trade.route.for.area.tribes.. Please.contact.our.office.at.503-892-2782.or.email.opalcreek@opalcreek.org.to.discuss. In.1859,.miners.arrived.in.the.valley.and.discovered.gold,.but.little.was.ever.found..The.Jawbone. opportunities.for.your.class. Flats.mining.camp.was.built.beginning.in.1930.by.“Grandpa”.James.P..Hewitt,.whose.daughter. Dolores.married.a.member.of.the.Atiyeh.family,.forever.changing.the.fate.of.Opal.Creek.for.the. The hands-On advenTures AnD activities were perfect. better. “ ” —AshbrookIndependentSchoolParent In.1992,.mining.ceased.and.ShinyRockMiningCompany.donated.its.land.to.the.fledgling.non- profit.FriendsofOpalCreek..The.organization.was.established.in.1989.by.George.Atiyeh.to.lead. the.effort.to.secure.permanent.protection.of.the.Opal.Creek.ecosystem..This.effort.culminated. in.November.1996,.with.the.establishment,.through.federal.legislation,.of.the.Opal.Creek. Wilderness.and.Scenic.Recreation.Area..Today.the.Opal.Creek.forest.has.received.international. attention.and.is.enjoyed.by.over.50,000.visitors.each.year.. In.2005,.FriendsofOpalCreek.changed.its.name.to.Opal. Creek.Ancient.Forest.Center.to.represent.the.distinct. education.mission.of.the.organization..Our.work.today. is.based.upon.our.mission.of.promoting.ancient.forest. stewardship,.and.we.invite.you.to.join.us.in.being.inspired. by.the.beauty.and.importance.of.the.ancient.forest. preserved.at.Opal.Creek.. 6 Workshops Opal Creek anCient FOrest Center 2011 CatalOg workshops 7 Mosses, lichens and liverworts Family Workshop Family Workshop yoga in the Ancient Forest of the Ancient Forest Exploring Opal Creek: An intro- Bugs & Blooms: Insects, July 14-17,.2011 duction to the Ancient Forest Wildflowers and Butterflies April 23-24,.2011 Cost: $350, includes meals & lodging Cost: $140, includes meals & lodging May 20-22,.2011 July 8-10,.2011 Come.join.some.of.the.Northwest’s.most. Cost: $200 per adulT, $100 per Cost: $200 per adulT, $100 per Which.forest.dweller.can.turn.rock.into.food?. enthusiastic,.nature-inspired.yoga.teachers.for. chilD 4-13: Free for kids ages 0-3. chilD 4-13: Free for kids ages 0-3. What.plants.store.water.for.dry.periods.and. this.wellness-focused.workshop.set.amidst.the.