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The Upstream Project

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We coordinate place-based projects to educate the next generation of watershed stewards and inspire youth to connect to the natural world in unique ways. Through meaningful educational experiences, students develop hands-on knowledge of their local, watershed. The Upstream Project focuses on K-12 students with half to full day activities, as well as some multi-day, year-long projects. Whether along a stream or in the classroom, the education projects in the program encourage critical thinking, science inquiry, creative writing, art, music, and stewardship of the natural environment.

The goals of the Upstream Project are to guide students to better understand and care for their environment through hands-on projects, empower students to become natural resource leaders, and bring community awareness to student-created watershed stewardship projects.

"As I sit here, the bumpy rocks a cushion for my time alone, I think about the power of the river."

Kyle, 8th grade, REALMS

By working collaboratively with teachers, school administrators, and community partners, the Watershed Council gives students the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities outside of the classroom walls and discover fundamental concepts through the exploration of a variety of disciplines with an overarching watershed theme. Participating teachers are well supported with curricular materials, high quality workshops, trainings, and small grants for outdoor education that best suit their teaching strategies and methodology. The Watershed Council is a non-profit that operates primarily on grants and private donors and because of this, all of our school programs are free of charge!

The Upstream Project offers half to full-day activities and multi-day projects year-round. Outdoor field trips occur primarily in spring and fall with in-class visits year round. Our program offers a variety of hands-on activities, catered to age levels and locations, and is free of charge and available to all student groups across Central Oregon. For more information about our programs or to sign up, Please contact our Education Director Kolleen Miller.

Contact Kolleen Miller
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Explore some of the Upstream Project's locations

Shevlin Park
Shevlin Park along Tumalo Creek is one of the amazing areas we work with students. At Shevlin Park, we do science activities like testing water quality and sampling macroinvertebrates, art projects by the creek, and writing activities. We have also done restoration projects along this section of Tumalo Creek with students.
Skyliner Lodge
The wonderful facility at Skyliner Lodge allows us to work with students year-round. Skyliner Lodge is located 20 miles west of Bend in the Deschutes National Forest. The lodge sits right next to Tumalo Creek and serves as a perfect location to gather and teach lessons, even in the winter. Students often do writing and art projects in and around the lodge, and participate in water quality testing and macroinvertebrate sampling in the creek.
Deschutes River
The Deschutes River offers many incredible riverside study sites for our students to learn about water quality, hydrology, wildlife, riparian plants, and much more! Whether at Ryan Ranch, Farewell Bend Park, Riverbend Park or beyond, our students can discover a sense of place and a sense of stewardship in beautiful and inspiring outdoor classrooms.
Whychus Creek
The Watershed Council has been working to restore sections of Whychus Creek for many years and it is a great place to learn about stewardship, create inspired works of art, or participate in riparian plantings! We bring students to sites all along the creek from upstream a few miles out of Sisters, down to ongoing restoration sites many miles downstream.
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"The river takes my breath away. It gives me peace and serenity. It’s as if the riffles on the water are whispering secrets to me. At this point in time, I feel as one with the river. It’s what I know; my home. My heart and soul flow with these waters."

Sisters High School Student