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Our Programs

 

Amateur Naturalist Series

Climate Masters

Family Nature Night

Native Plant Garden Tour

Native Plant Landscape Restoration Site

Nature Kids Youth Naturalist Series

Straub Environmental Lecture Series

Summer Camp

Sustainability Workshops

 

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Amateur Naturalist Series
The Amateur Naturalist Series provides an introduction to a wide variety of nature and science topics. The programs slated for 2008-2009 cover naturescaping, wildflowers, marine life, geology, GPS basics, mushrooming, and entomology, among others.  The Naturalist Series is open to the public, and no previous knowledge of the topic is required!  Classes are $5 per person, registration is required due to limited space.  All classes are held at the Straub Environmental Learning Center at 7:00 p.m.  Call or email Lisa at 503-391-4145 or lisa@fselc.org to register.

 

2009-10 Amateur Naturalist Series

 

October 20 and 27, 2009

Tree Identification, Dr. Wilbur Bluhm

 

November 18, 2009

Animal tracking, Dorothy Brown-Kwaiser

 

January 21, 2010 (Held at Loucks Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.)

Family Friendly Hikes, Bill Sullivan

 

February 18, 2010

Green Landscape tips for the Home, Deborah Topp

 

March 11 and 12, 2010

Nature Photography, Joel Zak

 

April 2010

TBA

 

May 2010

TBA

 

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NEW! Climate Masters

Developed by the Climate Leadership Initiative at the University of Oregon, the Climate Masters Training program educates citizens about climate change and engages them in activities in their household and community to help resolve the issue.  Climate Masters participate in 30 hours of training on climate change science and action strategies on reducing personal green house gas emissions. Topics include transportation, food choices, home energy use, and waste practices, among others.  The Spring 2010 Climate Masters session has been postponed until Fall 2010.  If you have questions, please contact Lisa at lisa@fselc.org

 

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Family Nature Night

The Straub Center organizes an annual Family Nature Night at a local elementary
school.  Parents and children share a meal and participate in a number of fun
learning activities geared to the earth and  biological sciences. Past host schools of Family Nature Night have included Hallman Elementary and Bush Elementary.  This year's program will be held for Hoover Elementary School students in Spring 2010; details to follow.

 

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Native Plant Garden Tour

The Straub Center sponsors an annual tour of some of Salem’s best native plant gardens. The 2009 Native Plant Garden Tour included four public sites.  Check them out!

 

Straub Environmental Learning Center

1320 A Street NE (next to Olinger Pool)

Salem

 

Bush Elementary School (Naturescape)

410 14th St. SE

Salem

 

Oregon State Lands Building

775 Summer St. NE

Salem

 

Forest Ridge Elementary School (Naturescape)

7905 June Reid Place

Keizer

 

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Native Plant Landscape Restoration Site

The Straub Center is restoring the local grounds along Mill Creek with native
plants and shrubs. Volunteer restoration days will start again this fall on Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, October 17, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Straub Environmental Learning Center.

 

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NEW! Nature Kids Youth Naturalist Series
Through classes and field trips, students will learn about geology, the water
cycle, tree science, plant identification, Oregon wildlife, the food web, and 

careers in natural resources, among other topics.  Classes are divided into two groups: 2nd/3rd grade and 4th/5th grade.  Each group has one class per month, and classes are FREE thanks to our donors.  All classes are held from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at the Straub Environmental Learning Center.  Nature Kids 2011 classes will be announced soon!

 

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Straub Environmental Lecture Series

The Straub Environmental Lecture Series features noted scientists, naturalists, and environmental advocates speaking on environmental topics critical to Oregon and the West.  Past lecturers include renowned biologist Lynn Margulis and award-winning reporter William Dietrich.  Thanks to the support of our generous donors and sponsors, all Lectures are free and open to the public, held at the Loucks Auditorium at Salem Public Library at 7:00 p.m.

 

The 2009-10 Lecture Series is possible due in part to generous support from the Charla Richards-Kreitzberg Foundation, the City of Salem, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Marion County, and the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District.

 

2009-10 Environmental Lecture Series

 

October 22, 2009

Dr. Bill Ripple

Linking Cougars to Butterflies

 

November 19, 2009

Ron Pernick

Navigating Clean Tech: An Overview of Emerging Developments and Green Job Opportunities

 

January 28, 2010

Ron Hirschi

Serious Sand: Lessons from Midway

 

February 25, 2010

Dr. Michael Skinner

Environment and Disease: the Ghosts in your Genes

 

March 18, 2010

Dr. Luke A. Gascho

God is Green: Intersections of faith and environmental stewardship

 

April 22, 2010

Dr. Burke Hales

Oregon's coastal carbon cycle:  The good, the bad, and the acidic

 

May 27, 2010

Dr. Andrew Fountain

Glacier change and the future of sea level rise

 

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Summer Camp

The Straub Center offers a week-long nature day camp for 4th/5th graders and 6th/7th/8th graders. Students learn first-hand about ecology, forest systems, and watersheds through hands-on activities and field trips throughout the Willamette Valley and Coast Range.

 

Monday, July 19 - Friday, July 23

Summer Day Camp, 4th and 5th Grades

 

Monday, July 26 - Friday, July 30

Summer Day Camp, 6th, 7th and 8th Grades

 

Summer camp is currently full.  Please call or email 503-391-4145 or fselc@fselc.org to add your child's name to the waiting list.  Thank you!

 

DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION

 

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Sustainability Workshops

Straub Center co-sponsors a month-long sustainability workshop series every April organized by Willamette University students.  The 2009 Sustainability Workshops topics included Green on the Cheap, Green Investing, Green Landscapes and the ever popular Green Cuisine.