Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 3 - SPRING 2003

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Summer 2002 || Fall 2002 || Winter 2002 || Spring 2003

Adrienne Simpson

"I know my name is hard to remember, so I'd like everyone to say it with me a few times. 'Madrone.' Great! You've got it! Now look up, look around. Do you see a tree with orange bark, orange skin? When you find one point to it. Guess what kind of tree that is! You guessed it! It's a madrone!"

My name is Adrienne Simpson, but my Outdoor School name is Madrone. I've been working here since March, while Amy Aikman is on maternity leave. Some people who visit Outdoor School also know me as Miss Simpson, as I've been substitute teaching since October. I grew up in Ukiah and graduated a year ago from Principia College, a small liberal arts school in Illinois, with a degree in History. Since last June, I've been home trying to figure out where and exactly what to study next. I'm pretty serious about pursuing a doctorate in 19th Century European Cultural History.

In the meantime, I've been throwing myself into Outdoor School. Helen Menasian has been showing me how to combine my love of the natural world with guided experiences to create a day of magical education for every person that comes to our school. I don't have any previous experience in outdoor education, so I'm learning earth science concepts well enough to teach them and answer questions.

I'm grateful to be working out here. It's obvious in a lot of field trips that kids aren't spending a lot of time outside, and especially not with their parents. As a result, a lot of them don't know much about the world around them. We had an entire third grade class that didn't know what bark was. That's when I feel I'm doing an extremely important job, giving small people an introduction to the wonder that lies at their fingertips, and providing a concrete connection between their actions and the way they affect their world.

When I'm not at Outdoor School, I fill my afternoons by tutoring in math and writing, as well as singing with an early music group, pursuing a greater knowledge of native plants, striving to become a seamstress, learning historical dances, and happily tending my vegetable garden.

Jennifer Harris Honored As Mendocino County's Outstanding Volunteer of the Year

On May 1st, at the MCOVY Awards dinner in Willits, Jennifer's outstanding efforts on behalf of the RVOEP were recognized when she was presented with the Mendocino County's Outstanding Volunteer Of The Year Award by Congress Woman Patty Berg.

Jennifer Harris, RVOEP Board Chairperson and a retired Ukiah science teacher, hasn't been able to leave her concern for education our children behind. In 1992, with the help of Spencer Brewer, Jennifer conceived the idea of creating an Outdoor Education Center on 45 acres of undeveloped school district property in Redwood Valley. Over the next 10 years, under Jennifer's leadership, volunteers transformed the property from a poison oak patch with piles of old tires and toxic soil into the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project, which provides over 3000 district students with Outdoor Education field trips and related classroom programs each year.

Through volunteer efforts, these 45 acres now have almost three miles of hiking trails, a new covered gazebo, storage barns, composting toilets, picnic tables, and an amphitheater. Volunteers have been indispensable in creating the RVOEP and sustaining its activities. None have worked harder or longer than Jennifer Harris who, over the past 10 years, has easily donated 15 to 20 hours per week on a myriad of tasks. The grants and donations solicited by Jennifer have provided the funding necessary to build the these new facilities, hire a certificated teacher as Educational Coordinator, develop a web site (rvoep.org), and provide bus transportation for field trips. The use of the site by thousands of local students and their teachers, as well as its potential benefits for years to come are a tremendous legacy that Jennifer's volunteer efforts have given this community.

RVOEP Board Members Needed!

The RVOEP's Jennifer Harris is retiring from the board, and we are in need of three people to replace her! We are seeking active board members to serve as membership secretary, treasurer, or in a general capacity. Please contact Jennifer Harris (485-7935) for more information.

It has been a rainy spring, but Helen has managed to lead field trips regularly despite the weather. Somehow Mother Nature smiles on the RVOEP and lets us operate without the students getting wet; the gazebo certainly helps! Helen's new instructional assistant is Adrienne Simpson; you can read about her on the front page.

Our first fund raising event was held on May 17 with the assistance of the South Ukiah Rotary Club and their youth associates the Interact Club. The fund raiser was a car wash where students solicited pledges for each car washed and the car wash was free. All money raised goes to provide transportation for the students to get to the RVOEP for their field trips. Transportation is always the most difficult thing for which to raise money. We also want to thank the Sonoma County Water Agency which has made a significant donation to pay for the buses for students who come to the site for programs related to stream quality and stream science. We appreciate the participation of this new sponsor.

The restoration project at the river has been aided by putting down black plastic around the new trees to retard the growth of the invasive weeds which were previously removed. These were mainly perennial pepper weed, blackberries, and vinca. Our thanks to the volunteers who came to our work days and participated in this project.

We have new T-shirts with a silk-screened design done by Perkowski's. They are available in both youth and adult sizes for $10. If you are interested in buying one, call Jennifer at 485-7935.

We are welcoming at least two new members to our advisory board. We have lost Ellen Potter, Leah Middleton, and Jerry Cook, but welcome Damon Dickinson and Nancy Rudig. If any of you who read this are willing to help us out there are lots of things that need doing, and we need some new faces on the board.

We hope to see you at some of the upcoming workshops; be sure to check the monthly workshops.

Educational Program

While most students were grinding their teeth and trying to do their best on standardized testing, first grade and kindergarten children visited the RVOEP for an Earth Walk with "Mother Nature" and "Madrone". Much to their surprise, as the Earth Walk began, one of the first things they discovered was a tiny Leprechaun Trail complete with little flags marking fuzzy seeds, bits of moss, spit bugs, and tiny wildflowers. A small, red treasure chest waited at the end of the miniature trail, and squeals of excitement could be heard as it was opened, revealing a chest full of tiny flags and miniature telescopes. As students shrank down to leprechaun size to make their own "wee" Leprechaun Trail, they began to tune in to the natural world in a new way.

On an Earth Walk, participants immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, feels, and smells of our earth. They see the colors of the rainbow in a simple leaf, listen to the beautiful music of a spring symphony of bird songs, smell the fragrance of a bay tree, and feel the smooth bark of a madrone. Spider webs and cicada exoskeletons, squirrel nests and wood rat nests, holes and burrows are all treasures to be found and explored. The goal of an Earth Walk is to develop a special kind of relationship with the natural world; a relationship which centers on feeling the harmony, experiencing the beauty, and beginning to grasp the ways and means of our earth.

Visit the contact page to schedule a field trip, volunteer, or to make an inquiry.

We are in need of the following items:

"Treasures of Natures" such as bones, stuffed birds, skulls (not deer or cattle), etc.
Bookcases
Educational display for solar panels and composting toilet
Additional signs to be posted at the river
Hoes (heavy duty) for grubbing poison oak
Loppers
Wheelbarrow (good quality)
More docents!

Call Helen at 485-0690 to make a donation.

Spotlight || What's Happening || Wish List

Link to Previous Newsletters:
Summer 2002 || Fall 2002 || Winter 2002 || Spring 2003

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