Stephanie Wagner's contributions celebrated as she retires from the Friends of Tryon Creek

FOTC Education Coordinator Linda Koser toasts to Stephanie Wagner

On a warm evening in July people gathered at Tryon Creek’s Nature Center to raise a glass to Stephanie Wagner, an extraordinary environmental educator, and applaud her 27 years of service and achievements with the Friends of Tryon Creek.

Stephanie first became a part of the Friends in 1979, teaching nature education to children. In the years that followed Stephanie served in seemingly every position within the organization from FOTC Board President to Executive Director, a role she filled for nine years. She most recently served as Education Director and was responsible for overseeing the creation and implementation of the Friends’ education programs.

The celebration for Stephanie was billed as an “intimate fundraiser” and guests were asked to make a modest contribution on a sliding scale, starting with $10. Attendance was strong, with nearly 100 people on hand to pay tribute to Stephanie. Every dollar that was raised went directly to support the Friends’ education programs for children to honor Stephanie’s passion for inspiring a love and appreciation of nature in young people.

It was wonderful to see many familiar faces, and the positive sentiment in the air was palpable. Gratitude for Stephanie’s contributions over the years was abundant, as well as a sense of awe at the realization that Stephanie’s efforts touched literally thousands of people and impacted them for the good through her role as an outdoor educator.

The evening culminated with individuals toasting to Stephanie and sharing anecdotes that demonstrated her commitment to the Friends and to education. Words like “passion”, “dedication” and “engagement” factored prominently. Friends’ Executive Director David Cohen presented Stephanie with a gift from the staff, a framed photograph of the park, and Board President Phil Hamilton announced that that the classroom will be renamed in her honor as a gift from the board.

The Friends of Tryon Creek have been fortunate to have had Stephanie’s expertise over the past 27 years. We will continue to see her around the park, as she plans to remain on the education committee and will continue to produce programs for the Friends. We wish Stephanie all the best with her future endeavors and appreciate all she has done for the organization.

(For more information on Stephanie and FOTC please visit http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/06/stephanie_wagner_to_retire_fro.html)

Meet FOTC's New Summer Intern

This summer Maureen Traxler will be leading weekly Evening Guided Walks that take place every Wednesday from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Tryon Creek. As the Interpretive Education Intern with the Friends of Tryon Creek, Maureen has become an expert on nocturnal creatures so that she can educate hike attendees about the wonders of the nighttime forest and its occupants. The Evening Guided Walks are free, fun and family-oriented, so be sure to attend one and learn more about Tryon Creek if you have the chance.

Maureen is one of two interns who are working with the Friends this summer. Raised in Alabama, Maureen chose to make the Pacific Northwest her home and enrolled at Lewis & Clark College in 2007. Now a recent graduate with her BA in Biology, Maureen began volunteering at the park last fall after learning about our Volunteer Field Trip Training Program.

Although Maureen spent time helping out at Tryon Creek while in school, her activities were limited to assisting with ivy pulls and maintenance.  The Field Trip Training Program provided something new. Maureen enjoyed the opportunity to interact with park visitors of different ages and backgrounds and learn more about Tryon Creek’s plants, animals, history and ethnobotany. 

After graduating this spring, Maureen chose to expand her role at Tryon Creek by becoming the Interpretive Education Intern. In addition to leading Wednesday’s walks, Maureen assists with Kids in Nature classes on Thursday mornings and provides extended care for Friends of Tryon Creek’s summer day campers.

Regarding Maureen’s post-internship plans, as a “product of public education (she is) interested in making science and biology interesting for others” and hopes to become a formal or informal educator (engaging in academic research is also a possibility). The Friends are pleased to have Maureen on board with us this summer.

Update on Volunteer Efforts at Tryon Creek

As the ground in the Park starts to dry this summer the emphasis of our invasive species control efforts is shifting.

Most notably we have already cut the ivy growing on trees on nearly ten acres in the last few weeks, with a target of covering 50 more acres by the end of summer.  The recent work was accomplished on ridges and in ravines running from the bicycle path toward Tryon Creek, north of the houses that adjoin the Park west of Terwilliger.  The trees in that area were originally "saved" about eight years ago.  Since ivy, once cut, regrows about ten feet a year, it was time to save those trees gain.  Our small cadre of weekday and Sunday volunteers will continue working in the area between Iron Mtn. and Old Main trails for some weeks to come.

While cutting ivy on trees we found and hopefully eradicated two patches of mature clematis.  Although we've cleared most mature clematis patches in the Park, it's inevitable that we will find a few when we return to areas that we've ignored for eight years.  Since clematis may grow over fifty feet in a single year it can take over a site rather quickly in that time.

As the boggy area in the middle of the N Horse Loop has also begun drying, I've resumed digging up Himalayan blackberries there.  That project was halted early last winter when the site got too soggy.  Blackberry removal there is a preamble to ivy pulling, so that work will follow.  

One person has been helping me with with ground ivy maintenance (second pass) inside the N Horse Loop, while a few groups did initial pulling in the same general area, near the middle of the loop.  As the ground dries further most group work will shift to ravines until fall rains drive us off them.              

(Submitted by Guest Blogger Phil Hamilton)