More Than 500 Douglas County Third Graders To Take Part In Eastwood Nature Days

More than 500 third grade students from Douglas County are expected to visit the Eastwood Nature Trail next week for Eastwood Nature Days, an annual outdoor education program hosted by Umpqua Watersheds.

The program will run May 4 through May 8 and will give students a chance to learn about the Umpqua Watershed through hands-on field stations focused on ecology, history, culture, plants, animals, fungi, waterways, and the natural systems that support life in the region.

Eastwood Nature Days is designed to move learning outside the classroom and into a natural setting, where students can see and explore many of the concepts they are studying. Throughout the week, students will rotate through outdoor learning stations led by volunteer educators, naturalists, community partners, and local subject-matter experts.

Lessons will cover the plants, wildlife, fungi, and aquatic life found in the Umpqua Watershed. Students will learn how different parts of an ecosystem work together, how native plants and animals survive, and how changes to one part of a natural system can affect the rest of it.

The program also includes lessons on the human and cultural history of the watershed. Students will be introduced to the story of the land, past practices that helped sustain it, the effects of environmental change, and ongoing efforts to support a healthier future.

“Our goal is to help students see the watershed as a living system that supports an incredible diversity of life, and to understand that every part of that system is connected,” said Julie Lowe, director of environmental education and outreach for Umpqua Watersheds. “When students can experience these ideas firsthand, outdoors and in the places where these processes are actually happening, the lessons become much more meaningful.”

Umpqua Watersheds said the program is supported by volunteer educators who donate their time to lead the learning stations. Local organizations and experts are also helping bring the event together, including the Takelma Cultural Center, Umpqua Valley Audubon Society, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Talk About Trees, Mushstash Mushroom Foraging, and others.

Local businesses are also contributing to the week. Bob’s Deli is donating food for the teaching team, and Crystal Falls Water is providing water for participants.

The event is held with the use of the Eastwood Nature Trail property at Eastwood Elementary School, which provides an outdoor setting for the week-long program.

Organizers said Eastwood Nature Days remains one of the area’s long-running youth education traditions, giving local students a chance to explore nature, ask questions, and better understand the watershed they live in.