Amazon Smile

Thank you for all of your support, this year! Don't forget to wrap up your holiday shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/93-1287717 and AmazonSmile donates to Willamette Resources & Educational Network (WREN).  

Wetland Wander

Join us for our next Wetland Wander!

When: Tuesday, December 11th, 9-11 A.M.

Where: Delta Ponds!

Meet on the footbridge across the Willamette River
in the parking lot behind the Valley River Center; 293 Valley River Center.

Walk Leader: Dave Bontrager

Owned by the city of Eugene, Delta Ponds features numerous ponds, channels, wetlands, and riparian areas. In the winter, it becomes a micro-habitat for birds seeking shelter and can be an excellent location for spotting a vari- ety of different ducks on the water, Cormorants, Bald eagles and possibly even a Great horned owl. Join expert birder from the Lane County Audubon, Dave Bontrager in this special Wetland Wander as we embark on a winter birding scavenger-hunt in the wetlands.

Are you a beginning birder interested in learning more about bird identification? Dave will be leading a Beginning Birding course this Spring with WREN. Join us to learn more about it!

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. Walks are free and open to the public. Bring wa- ter, binoculars, close-toed shoes and dress for the weather.

Play-in-the-Rain Day

Thank you to all of the families and friends who joined us for Play-in-the-Rain Day at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum last weekend. Although we didn't see any rain, we still had a lot of opportunity to play!

Annual Check In

If you aren't subscribed to our emails, click the link below to check out what WREN has been doing this year and what we are working towards for next year!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13WcTJJXWmaguHrDUOn4OABOXeXRVB3jg/view?usp=sharing

Wetland Wander

Wetland Wander

Date: Tuesday, October 9th 

Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Location: Golden Gardens

Directions: From Hwy 99, west on Barger, Right on Golden Gardens Street. Meet at the intersection of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive.

Walk Leader: Lauri Holts, Ecologist with the City of Eugene

Free Program!

Since 2009, the City of Eugene has been working with other local organizations to enhance and improve the area surrounding Golden Gardens for wildlife habitat. Please join Ecologist Lauri Holts to learn about the City's current enhancements and the invasive removal and habitat project.

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. Walks are free and open to the public. Bring water, binoculars, close-toed shoes and appropriate layers. 

Village School Walk-a-thon

Village School Walk-a-thon

Date: Thursday, October 11th

Time: 12:50 p.m. 

Location: South High School Track; 24th and Amazon, Eugene

Two hundred Village School students grades 1-8 will embark on their 7th annual Community Service Walk-a-Thon. Students raise pledges for 8 community organizations which were chosen for co-sponsorship due to their commitment to community values and ecological awareness. This year Village School 2nd graders will be raising funds to support WREN! 

To learn more about the Walk-a-thon and how you can make a donation, please contact the Eugene Village School at 

www.eugenevillageschool.org.

  

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who gave back to the land, this Saturday, during our National Public Lands Day event! Volunteers helped us plant native trees and flowers, remove invasive blackberry, and painted a wetland-themed mural! We all enjoyed a morning of comradery and tasty treats donated by local Grizzlies Brand and KIND bar. 

National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands day aims to get people connected with the public lands in their community and is the largest single-day volunteer effort in the nation. This year, WREN is partnering with the BLM to highlight the resiliency of public lands.

Date: Saturday, September 22nd, 2018
Time: 9 A.M.- 12 P.M.
Location: 751 S. Danebo Ave, Eugene

Bring your family and friends, students, and coworkers to spend the morning giving back to our community spaces! Volunteers will pull invasive species, help paint a mural, plant natives, pick up trash and more.

Please come prepared wearing close-toed shoes, pants, weather-appropriate apparel, and gloves (we can provide gloves to those who don't have them) . We will be working rain or shine!

All participants will receive a free t-shirt, parks pass, snacks, and refreshments.
This is a family-friendly event, no experience necessary!

To learn more, please contact WREN's Program Coordinator, Laura Maloney. Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place!

Wetland Wander

Thank you to all those that attended our Wetland Wander this Tuesday at Coyote Spencer Wetlands and to our guides, Don from McKenzie River Trust and local naturalist and master tracker, David Walp. We enjoyed finding signs of elk, black bear, coyote, beaver, and deer, learning about the history behind this land parcel, and McKenzie River Trust's restoration work to keep it beautiful. 

We hope you will join us next month on October 9th at Golden Gardens where Lauri Holt will walk us through some of the City's newest projects. 

September Wetland Wander

Wetland Wander

Date: Tuesday, September 11th 

Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Location: Coyote Spencer Wetlands

Directions: There is no parking available for the public at the Coyote Spencer Wetlands. Please meet WREN staff under the the tall fir trees in the Lowe's parking lot at 3595 W. 11th at 8:30 a.m. to carpool. We will be leaving for the site no later than 8:45 a.m. Please be prompt.

Walk Leader: Dave Walp, Volunteer at McKenzie River Trust 

Free Program!

Located where Coyote and Spencer Creeks come together in the Long Tom River Watershed, the Coyote Spencer Wetlands contains over three miles of streams and 158 acres of mixed forest and wet meadows. The exceptional variety of native plants on the property can be found in few other places in the Willamette Valley. Please join Naturalist Dave Walp in an exploration of this unique habitat.

Wetland Wanders are casual walks through the West Eugene Wetlands. Walks are free and open to the public. Bring water, binoculars, close-toed shoes and appropriate layers. 

California Mantis

Oregon native California Mantis spotted on the Tsanchiffin Trail "praying" for the smoke to clear!

Dragons and Damsels

Dragons and Damsels

Date: Saturday, August 11th

Time: 10:00-12:00 p.m.

Join Cary Kerst, co-author of Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Willamette Valley for a close-up look at these engineering marvels of the order, Odonata. Learn about dragonfly behavior and biology and get up-close and personal with these 300 million year-old creatures. 

Location: Meet at the corner of 5th and Wallis St. to explore Grimes and Sandpiper ponds.

Free Program! 

Pre-registration is required and opens Friday, July 27th. Space limited to 15 participants. Contact WREN Program Coordinator, Laura Maloney at info@wewetlands.org, or, (541) 338-7047 to register.

Family Exploration Day!

Join us this Saturday, August 4th from 10-2 p.m.at Meadowlark Prairie for Family Exploration Day!


Check-out nature exploration backpacks, binoculars, butterfly and pond nets and more. Embark on a self-guided adventure for the whole family! WREN staff will provide guidance for independent exploration. Parking off of Greenhill Road. Free program!

Butterfly Walk!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Great Copper Butterfly Walk this past Sunday! With the the expert guidance of David Hagen from NABA, participants learned about butterfly habitats, classification, and how to properly catch and release these delicate insects. During our time in the field, we caught a Hairstreak, Eastern tailed-blues, Whites, Orange Sulphurs, and Common Wood Nymphs. 

Register now for WREN's Dragonfly and Damselfly program on August 11th with Odonate Expert, Cary Kerst!

Butterfly Search

Join WREN and the North American Butterfly Association for a butterfly adventure!

Great Copper Butterfly Walk

Date: Sunday, July 22nd

Time: 10:00-12:00 p.m.

Location: Meadowlark Prairie; Greenhill Road parking lot.

Free Program!

Join David Hagen, from the Eugene Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, in search of the Great Copper butterfly. This butterfly was once thought to be extinct from Western Oregon, but has been recently rediscovered in our very own West Eugene Wetlands. Catch, ID, and release other lepidoptera, learn about nectar plants, and more! 

Common Wood-Nymph Coupling

Common Wood-Nymph's coupling in the West Eugene Wetlands. They can remain coupled for an hour or more. After, the female will lay her eggs one at a time on various grasses throughout the wetland.

Prime Day!

Prime Day is coming July 16! Make sure to visit AmazonSmile to help donate while you shop! Instructions:

1.) Visit AmazonSmile at: smile.amazon.com.
2.) Select "Willamette Resources and Educational Network" to receive donations from eligible purchases.
3.) Start shopping!

Family Exploration Days!

Come discover the West Eugene Wetlands with your family in a day of FREE unstructured, independent exploration! 

Where: Wild Iris Ridge, Bailey Hill Road parking lot

When: Saturday, July 7th, 10:00-2:00 PM  

Sound and Light

Join WREN Program Coordinator, Laura Maloney in an exploration of how predators and prey use sound and light for everyday survival. Hunt like a hawk and play a game of survival in this fun and FREE interactive program for children ages 3-8.

Where: Fern Ridge Library
When: Tuesday, July 3rd, 1:30-2:30 PM

Visit WREN at The Museum of Natural and Cultural History Summer Solstice Celebration!

Date: Thursday, June 21st

Time: 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Location: The Museum of Natural and Cultural History; 1680 East 15th Ave.

Get ready for a whole summer of water-themed adventures! Help us celebrate Oregon's diverse watery wonders and the vital role that water plays in our everyday lives. $5 general admission. Admission is free with a non-perishable food donation (per person) to FOOD for Lane County. For more details visit University of Oregon's calendar.

Join us at Papa's Pizza for a day of Fundraising!

Join us at Papa's Pizza for a day of Fundraising!

Bring this flyer into Papa's Pizza on Wednesday, June 20th and WREN will receive 50% of the value of the food you purchase! This fundraiser flyer will be valid all day, so don't forget it! 

Support WREN by putting the 'FUN' back in FUNdraising!

WREN relies on support from the community and donors to provide its environmental education programs. Not only is your gift to WREN tax-deductible but there are many ways to make giving an easy and fun part of your week:

Shop AmazonSmile!

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. How does it work? Visit AmazonSmile at: smile.amazon.com.

Sign-up for Fred Meyer's Community Rewards Program!

Fred Meyer Rewards Program where you can earn donations for your favorite nonprofit at no cost to you, just by shopping with your Rewards Card. How does it work?

1.) Sign-up for an online account at https://www.fredmeyer.com/
2.) Under "Savings and Rewards" click on "Fred Meyer Community Rewards."
3.) Next click on "re-enroll or link your rewards card now."
4.) Search for "WREN; Willamette Resources and Educational Network, or, #LJ786"

June Wetland Wander

This months wetland wander will be on June 12th, from 9:00 a.m-11:00 a.m at Oak Hill! Participants should park on Oak Hill Cemetery Road. Since parking is limited, car-pooling is recommended. 

Walk Leader: Sally Villegas-Moore; Natural Resource Specialist West Eugene Wetlands

Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month. These exciting opportunities are FREE to the public and provide observation, education and inspiration in our surrounding natural spaces. Please come prepared with water, weather-appropriate dress, and footwear that can get muddy.

Papa's Pizza Fundraiser!

Bring this flyer into Papa's Pizza on June 20th and WREN will receive 50% off of the value of the food you purchase! This fundraiser flyer will be valid all day!

Classroom Explorations!

Students from Ms.Bosch's kindergarten class learned about beavers, the importance of flowers and other wetland plants, and learned a Native American legend this last Tuesday!

Family Exploration Day

Family Exploration Day

Date: Saturday, June 2nd

Time: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Location: Golden Gardens Park

 

It's that time of year again! Come discover the West Eugene Wetlands with your family in a day of unstructured, independent exploration! We provide the backpacks, binoculars, field guides, bug nets, hand magnifiers, and critter boxes. You bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! Drop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to check out your backpack and pick up a scavenger hunt. WREN staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. This event is FREE and families are encouraged to attend!

Participants should park at the corner of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive. (From Barger turn north onto Golden Gardens.) Look for the WREN tent to check out your pack.

If you can't make it this weekend, don't worry! Our next Family Exploration Day will be held Saturday, July 7th at Wild Iris Ridge, Bailey Hill Road.

Welcome!

We are pleased to welcome our new Americorps volunteer, Brandon Self!

Brandon recently earned his B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in aquatic biology from Oregon State University. He has a true passion for the natural world and finds enjoyment in conserving and restoring habitats and wildlife populations. Brandon loves spending time outdoors, and many of his hobbies are centered around outdoor recreational activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, snowboarding, and outdoor photography. He is very excited to join the WREN crew and is ready to start making a true difference in wetland ecosystems and create a better community for us and the environment.

Wetland Wander at Dragonfly Bend!

Thank you all for coming to Tuesday's Wetland Wander at Dragonfly Bend!

The group spots a Savannah Sparrow

Rosy Plectritis, or Sea Blush is a nectar plant for the endangered Fender's blue butterfly!

May Wetland Wander

Date: Tuesday, May 8th

Time: 11:00am-12:30 P.M.

Location: Dragonfly Bend

Walk Leader: Diane Steeck; Wetland Ecologist with the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space 

Dragonfly Bend was historically a wetland prairie, converted in the 1930's to agriculture use. It was restored in 2005 and now includes approximately 32 acres of wetland prairie, 16 acres of vernal pools, 4 acres of upland prairie, and a one-acre ash swale.

Public Parking is available at the adjacent Checkermallow Access (on Meadowlark Prairie) located on the south side of Royal Avenue. 

WREN Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each second Tuesday of every month. These exciting opportunities are FREE to the public and provide observation, education and inspiration in our surrounding natural spaces. WREN staff and volunteers will guide this walk. WREN will provide binoculars. Please come prepared with water, weather-appropriate dress, and boots. 

Edison Elementary students investigating the Pacific chorus frog!

New WREN Program Coordinator!

We’re pleased to welcome our new Program Coordinator, Laura Maloney!

Laura grew up in northern Illinois where she spent her time exploring the wetlands and oak savannahs of her backyard. She graduated from Augustana College with a B.A. in World Religion and Art and from George Williams College with a M.S. in Environmental Education and Parks Administration. From there she moved around the country leading environmental and adventure education programs for youth in the states of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. She has worked as a professional Interpretive Naturalist for over 15 years and has recently returned from living in Amsterdam, one of the greenest cities in Europe and, coincidently, an urban wetland! Laura is passionate about using nature as a tool for learning and enthusiastic about sharing her love of the outdoors with people of all ages. When she is not working, she spends her time practicing kundalini yoga, Ayurveda, painting, dancing, hiking, and gardening. 

Welcome Laura!

Wetland Wander at Golden Gardens!

Join WREN for our monthly Wetland Wander at Golden Gardens next Tuesday, April 10th, from 9:00-11:00am!

Golden Gardens Park provides year-round water and protected habitat for the western pond turtle, and they are often spotted sunning on logs in its ponds as well as dragonflies and birds aplenty.

Directions to Golden Gardens Park: From Hwy 99, west on Barger, Right on Golden Gardens Street. Meet at the intersection of Golden Gardens Street and Jessen Drive.

WREN Wanders are casual walks through various West Eugene Wetlands sites each second Tuesday of every month. These exciting opportunities are FREE to the public and provide observation, education and inspiration in our surrounding natural spaces. WREN staff and volunteers will guide this walk. WREN will provide binoculars.

Volunteer with WREN!

We will be offering two new volunteer trainings! We will introduce you to WREN's programs, the volunteer opportunities available, and train you in our field trip content. Light refreshments will be served. We will also be offering a refresher for those who have volunteered with WREN in the past.

New Volunteer Trainings:

Saturday, March 10th, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

or

Wednesday, March 14th, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

Return Volunteer Training:

Saturday, March 17th from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

All volunteer training will be held at the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership Office (WREN Headquarters) at 751 S Danebo Ave., Eugene, OR 97402. Please contact Dave for more information or to RSVP at info@wewetlands.org or 541-338-7047.