Gov. Bob and Pat Straub were the inspirations for the Friends of the 
Straub Environmental Learning Center, a non-profit organization, 
established in 2004 and dedicated to environmental education. The 
Straubs were renowned for their love of Oregon and their efforts to 
preserve its natural beauty. The Friends seeks to promote that spirit 
by fostering public awareness of the beauty and cultural history of 
the Willamette Valley. The centerpiece of the Friends’ activities is the 
Straub Center, a structure that provides a lab, classroom, and meeting 
space for local organizations. Throughout the year, the Straub Center 
offers a stream of programs for students and adults alike, all designed
to heighten concern and respect for Oregon’s environment. The Straub 
Center also functions as a showcase of sustainable building and 
landscape practices. The stream bank setting is an ideal site for 
students of all ages to learn about watersheds, riparian areas, water 
quality, and their importance to an increasingly urban environment.

Bob Straub's contributions to the people of Oregon during his terms as 
state treasurer and governor were considerable. Bob's unyielding efforts 
to protect the free use and access to Oregon's public beaches, especially 
at Nestucca Spit (not in Bob Straub State Park) and his tireless support 
for Oregon's statewide land use program, clean air and forested 
wilderness helped place Oregon at the forefront of the environmental 
movement. He also initiated the Willamette Greenway program, one of 
the most important conservation and recreation initiatives in Oregon 
history.

Pat Straub helped shape and support Bob's environmental views. She also 
served on the Oregon Forestry Council and wrote a book on organic 
gardening, a testament to her devotion to the health of Oregon's lands.

Their homestead included an organic garden and native woods which 
they donated to the City of Salem as a park.

The Straub Environmental Learning Center is a unique partnership 
between the Salem-Keizer School District, City of Salem, the Friends of 
Straub Environmental Learning Center.