Volunteers contribute their time to Save the Forest

Big thanks to Moss Adams volunteers!

A few weeks ago the slopes of ravines finally became dry enough that we could safely pull ivy there.  Since then a Saturday work party and three other groups have worked in the upper reaches of High Creek’s branches and the lower part of the first ravine north of High Creek.  Among these groups was a contingent from the accounting firm, Moss Adams, in a work party facilitated by SOLV.

Another area only recently dry enough to work in is the boggy middle of the North Horse Loop.  With blackberry removal accomplished first, groups of teens from Self Enhancement and Aspiring Youth have been making inroads on the ivy there.  Other individuals have worked scattered patches of ivy skipped last winter due to wet conditions.

At the same time three of our most active volunteers have been cutting ivy on trees deep in the area between Old Main and Iron Mountain trails, saving the forest there until the probably distant year when the ivy around the trees is pulled from the ground.  While covering that area we’ve found several patches of wild European clematis, which we dug out.

(Submitted by FOTC Board President and Volunteer Par Excellence, Phil Hamilton)

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)

Update on Invasive Species Removal at Tryon Creek

Thanks to volunteers from Waggenner-Edstrom for their efforts at Tryon Creek

Volunteer invasive species control efforts in the first half of June were varied.  As always, English ivy received the most attention, with three groups removing sections in the middle of the N Horse Loop.  Adding a group from Northwest Bank to our usual second Saturday turnout brought the number of participants that day to 30.  And on another day a dedicated group of ivy pullers from public relations company Waggener-Edstrom enthusiastically cleared a difficult site.

Some veteran volunteers, abetted by a ranger with a chain saw, began the season's cutting of holly and sweet cherry.  The holly, in particular, was removed only in places where ivy removal had happened first.  

A third part of our collective energy was spent removing garlic mustard, a non-native weed toxic to soil, which inhibits sprouting by other plants.  We'd like to think we've tackled all the patches in the Park, but I found a previously-unknown one on June 17, so we know better.

A company group and an individual each adopted a plot for ivy removal this month, and another individual expects to do so soon.  Our number of adopted plots is growing. 

We're on the verge of starting our summer project of cutting the ivy climbing trees, to save them, on the 70% of the Park where we haven't largely cleared the ivy from the ground.  Since we try to do that every 8 or 10 years (Ivy climbs trees at least ten feet every year), that means we want to cover about 60 acres each year, a major challenge.

(Submitted by Guest Blogger Phil Hamilton)

Junior Ranger training at Tryon Creek

On weekends from June through August, OPRD offers the wonderful Junior Ranger program to get kids out and about in the Great Outdoors while engaging them in activities and teaching them about the landscape and its flora and fauna, all in a fun hands-on way. The program is free and open to children ages 6 - 12 years old.

The 2011 Junior Ranger program at Tryon Creek kicked off the first weekend in June. Children excitedly signed up, got their official Junior Ranger passport and prepared to hit the trail with Park Ranger Patricia - but not before a quick visit to the back deck of Tryon Creek's Nature Center.

Relaxing Rabbit just in back of the Nature Center

This adorable critter was seen resting on a log. When it was first spotted, its front and hind legs were splayed out like a bearskin rug! We also saw an American robin nesting on her eggs under the eaves of the Nature Center.

Ranger Patricia took the troops out scouting for invasive weeds.

Removing Creeping Buttercup

Although there are native varieties of buttercups that pose no threat to park flora and fauna, the Creeping Buttercup is in an altogether different camp. It spreads quickly, crowding out and eliminating native plants. The newly appointed Junior Rangers took their roles very seriously and set to work eradicating these invasive weeds.

Next up: English Ivy.

Ranger Patricia pointed out trees choked by English Ivy. If the ivy is allowed to spread, it will eventually overtake the canopy of the tree, thereby preventing photosynthesis, and cause the tree to die. This is the tree she asked the Junior Rangers to help her clear of ivy.

Ranger Patricia explained that as long as the base of the tree is cleared of ivy (including the ivy's roots), the ivy remaining above the cleared portion will die. This is a comforting thought, as the idea of having to scale the entire trunk to remove the vine is daunting indeed (especially when kiddos are doing the dirty work!).

Ten - fifteen minutes later Ranger Patricia and her triumphant helpers revealed a healthy trunk, bare of ivy at the base. The tree is saved! Thanks Junior Rangers!

Junior Rangers show off the vines they removed from the tree

2011 Tall Tale Writing Contest Awards Ceremony "Why Woodpecker Make Holes"

Yesterday, May 15th, the Friends of Tryon Creek hosted our annual Tall Tale Writing Contest Award Ceremony followed by the fun "Celebration of Woodpeckers" family event. The writing contest has been taking place for the past 16 years and honors the memory of Daryle Seil, a dedicated member of the Friends who provided our organization with much inspiration and support.

It was a rainy spring day in the park and children from around the Portland Metro area gathered in the Nature Center to read their imaginative essays on this year's  writing theme, "Why Woodpecker Must Make Holes".

Over 400 students, ages 1st - 6th grade, participated in the contest. Out of these, nineteen winners were selected. Categories included Honorable Mention, Second Place and First Place for every grade level. The winning essays were based on creativity, scientific knowledge, observations, personal research, and narrative ability (misspellings and grammar counted!). 

The confidence, poise and pride displayed by the students as they read their stories was striking. It was clear that each and every budding writer had taken a great deal of time crafting his or her essay, a skill that will serve them for years to come. The large turnout of teachers, family and community members who came to support their students in this endeavor was also very impressive.

The goal of the Tall Tale Writing Contest is to provide a fun, engaging opportunity for young people to tap into their creativity and language skills while thinking about the natural world and their relationship to it. The joy and pride of this year's winners was wonderful to see.

Thanks to all who participated, and congratulations to the nineteen winners of the 2011 Tall Tale Writing Contest:

1st Grade - Millie Polzin, Capitol Hill, 1st Place
                   Katisyn Sweeney, Capitol Hill, 2nd Place
                   Zoe Olivia Elliot, North Plains, Honorable Mention

2nd Grade - Makenna Kellogg, Riverside, 1st Place
                    Alexis Nguyen, Mount Scott, 2nd Place
                    Wyatt Murphy, Maplewood, Honorable Mention
                    Bridget Brown, Maplewood, Honorable Mention

3rd Grade - Cristal Alfaro, McKinney, 1st Place
                   Mary Sherden, West Union, 2nd Place
                   Annie Deforge, West Union, Honorable Mention

4th Grade - Raven Wilson, Maplewood, 1st Place
                   Carmen Quintos, Riverdale, 2nd Place
                   Janey-Mae DeLaPena, Fairview, Honorable Mention

5th Grade - Jaran White, Durham, 1st Place
                   Tiffany Ong, Earl Boyles, 2nd Place
                   Katsumi Lew, Happy Valley, Honorable Mention

6th Grade - Jenna Jordahl, Forest Hills, 1st Place
                   Hilario Avalos Damian, W.L.Henry, 2nd Place
                   Johanna Selover-Stephan, Forest Hills, Honorable Mention