Chattermarks

Guest post by Lilly Nash

The first session of the Cascades Climate Challenge (CCC) is in full swing right now, with over 20 students from communities throughout Washington and Oregon learning about climate change and many interconnected over an intensive month of field studies in the North Cascades. Here’s an update on some of what they’ve been studying….

The CCC students learned early on about bear behavior, first in an amazing exploration of forest ecology, fire, habitat, mutualism and even interstellar dust with Mike Brondi at the Environmental Learning Center, and then again from Anne Braaten, a wildlife biologist for North Cascades National Park.  She drew gigantic bear prints in the dirt on a hike up Thunder Knob, as you can see here:

The next day, the students climbed like mountain goats up Sauk Mountain, reaching snowfields and stopping at a ridgeline.  We were fortunate to be joined by Don Mann, an incredible naturalist who helped us identify many flowering plants, including some wild edibles like glacier lilies. From our birds-eye view, students discussed the confluence of the Skagit and the Sauk rivers and what they could tell about the rivers from their riparian zones:

That evening we did an exercise on the sandy shore of Baker Lake, where students emulated glaciers, shuffling their feet back and forth across sand to embody the movements of lateral moraines:

The next day, our group divided up, with one half focusing on an amphibian lesson at Baker River (flat terrain, humid, replete with caves, snakes, Pacific Giant Salamanders and a toad):

and the other on a glacier lesson at Mount Baker with National Park Service geologist John Riedel tracking glacial melting rate in the North Cascades (steeper terrain, powerful water crossing experience, snowfields, visible moraines)

The next day, the two groups swapped locations.   Many people went beyond their own expectations for the more difficult hike and confidence was gained.  Both days were palpably fun.

After our return from Baker Lake, the group did laundry, took showers, made telephone calls and packed for future adventures. We also prepared to teach Kulshan Creek Neighborhood Project kids next week by sharing games techniques and ideas.  Next up: one group is setting out for canoeing at Ross Lake and the other group will be hiking Boston Basin.

It is beautiful where we are—to some extent, a reflection of these CCC students’ very fine hearts.

The North Cascades Institute Staff and Graduate students have spent weeks packing food, preparing curriculum, shuttling canoes, calling students, organizing camping gear and finalizing lessons in preparation for the first of two Cascades Climate Challenge Programs.  On June 29th twenty students from around the Pacific Northwest met for the first time at Sea-Tac Airport to began their three week journey through the North Cascades.

The first few days have been full of nerves, laughs, smiles and lots of questions as the group prepared for their first camping experience with their new community. Already these students have learned how to set up camp, use different types of media to capture their experience, explored trails on their own, and met with North Cascades National Park scientists and rangers focusing their attention on the impacts of climate change on this alpine ecosystem.

» Continue reading Introducing the 2010 Cascades Climate Challenge Team!! (Part 1)

How big is your social network? Use your e-powers for good and help Cascades Climate Challenge win a grant! Go to the  Brighter Planet Project Fund and vote up to 3 times. If we get the most votes, we win $5000.

The money will be used to buy new tents (our current ones aren’t going to make it through the summer), school bus fees (many school districts don’t have field trips because they can’t afford to hire the buses) and supplies for the students (we supply everything the students need for the summer—socks, long underwear, boots, water bottles, raingear, warm fleece, hats—you name it.)

Voting closes June 15, so please spread the word to everyone you know!

Photo (Above) Two Climate Challenge students enjoy Baker Lake in July.

For those of you following the progression of the Parks Climate Challenge 2009 participants, you will be glad to hear that the talented and empowered youth are in the process of fulfilling the third stage of this incredible new program. PCC students around the country are creating, implementing and leading service projects focused on engaging youth in their home communities on the issue of climate change in collaboration with a local National Park and Elementary School. On November 3rd, with the faithful guidance of North Cascades National Park, North Cascades Institute and Seattle Parks and Recreation, the five motivated students haling from the Seattle area facilitated an education field trip to Carkeek Park for over 80 rambunctious elementary students. Laura Humes, Sydney Jarol, Yvonne Chan, Sarah Salvador and Heather McPherson used their knowledge and leadership to inspire 4th/5th graders from from Parkwood, Whittier and Echo Lake Elementary Schools on a beautiful day in Seattle.

» Continue reading Taking the Lead

On October 24th 2009 communities around the world are taking a day to mobilize citizens and create a movement to stop the climate crisis.  Locally, North Cascades Institute will be joining others in Skagit and Whatcom Counties rallying toward sustainability in Bellingham, Mount Vernon and Anacortes.  Promoted by 350.org, International Day of Climate Action is raising awarness and taking action in over 150 countries, if you can’t join us here check out an event near you.

» Continue reading International Day of Climate Action, October 24th 2009

You know it’s serious business when you get a list outlining several different dress codes for the upcoming trip. Last week the Parks Climate Challenge team continued their odyssey, this time meeting in Washington D.C., where they substituted swimsuits for sport coats, hiking boots for heels, and PFDs for neckties. (See a “before” photo here.)

Colin, Jordan and Hannah prepare energy-saving kits.

Audrey and Yvonne plant seeds with students from Cesar Chavez Public Charter school.

Less than 24 hours after arriving, the students led other youth in a service project on the National Mall (radio story here), attended a reception on Capitol Hill, presented to Federal Agency representatives and met with Robert Stanton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy Management and Budget. In between engagements the students did some sightseeing, continued planning and developing their service projects and caught up with each other.

PCC students rehearse their presentations for the Federal agency representatives.

Somehow in the midst of prepping for DC, working on the upcoming service project and heading back to school, Sydney found time to create an entry for the KCTS Digital Storytelling Competition and won honorable mention!

Donya, Sydney and Araceli work the room.

“We are going to change the world”

They climbed up steep mountain trails into clouds; toured a dam powerhouse; bathed in freezing snowmelt streams; canoed across white-capped lakes; withstood a heat wave; taught fifth-graders about climate change; walked through old forest fire burns; sat out a lightning storm on Desolation Peak; interviewed scientists, rangers, firefighters, journalists and rodeo-watchers; and sang, hiked, documented and laughed their way across North Cascades National Park.

With many surprises, discoveries and ‘firsts’, the inaugural Parks Climate Challenge team completed the field phase of their experience in great style. After 33 days in the North Cascades studying climate change, what do the Parks Climate Challenge students have to say?

“We’re the ones who are going to influence the next generation. Once we get on track, they’re going to follow suit.”

“It’s our lifetime now and we’re the ones that are going to have to live with it. If we start early, then by the time we’re adults, we’ll be able to do something.”

“We are going to change the world.”