Liedall Outdoor Learning Lab
Located at Ferndale Elementary School
53445 W Ferndale Road

Progress Report April 18, 2005 by Bob Chicken, STELLAR Coordinator

This is a project update since the January 5th, 2005 report. Again, I want to acknowledge teacher Karen Hendricks and Principal Jim Reger for their support and enthusiasm. Also, thank you to the other teachers for their cooperation and support in making students available.

The 05 winter-spring planting, site prep maintenance, and habitat structures was done by Ferndale’s fifth and sixth graders in crews of 4-6 in 45 minute periods on Tuesdays and Wednesday afternoons during school. The fourth grade math group installed the inventory plots.

I continue to be rewarded by the student’s contributions and sharing in their experiences. Recently, for example, a couple of kids became mired in the “muck” while planting willows adjacent to the water’s edge. One left both rubber boots in the muck and walked back to the school in his stocking feet. He handled it all with good humor. The other student in the process of getting unstuck added some creek mud to her pink outfit. While being pulled up the bank, she remarked that ‘this is really fun!’ For many, the work is their first experience in planting of any sort. For some, having tasks to do in a short time outside of a classroom also may be a new experience. I refer to the students as a crew and supervise them as I would employees-well, maybe with somewhat more patience. Safety and sticking to the task is expected. No one has balked at my requests.

Besides ducks on the pond or creek, snakes and a nesting killdeer pair are on site. There is evidence that birds are using the perch pole. The fish have not been sighted since early March.

Funding for my salary for this latter period has been provided by The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant, approximately 12 hours / week of direct student contact and additional hours for planning and preparation. The purchased planting stock used this winter/spring was from the Walla Walla Nursery Company and Plants of the Wild. Funding for the plants was provided by Trout Unlimited funds received last spring. Ocean spray bare root plants were donated by Columbia County (WA) Soil and Water Conservation District. Poplar and willow cuttings came from the river. Ferndale School has purchased gravel for the path; a tool shed kit, and a 6x8 greenhouse. The high school class of Mr. Jim Paulson will put the kit together for us.

The Ferndale Science Club has about 12 students this spring quarter, grade 1-6 with one 3rd grader and 2 first graders, that meet Tuesdays after school for 90 minutes. Teacher Karen Hendricks is co-leader. Students worked on the inventory spreadsheet, photography and some outdoor lab work. The club is now raising steelhead eggs as apart of a study of fish habitat needs. The fry will be released in Weston Pond. Zietel Gray, hydrologist technician from the WWBWC, was a guest at science club’s “What’s My Line” game. She also talked about how she kept her interest in science during the middle school years and what her future goals are.

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