Activity Report Explorer

Willamette Valley • Entered by Cyndi Anderson on July 9, 2021

See the Trees, Save the Forest, Heal the Planet, a Broad Base Camp

June 27, 2021 – June 30, 2021

Key Issue: Multiple apply
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Key Partners: Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild, USFS Sweet Home Ranger District, South Santiam Watershed Council
Landscape/area: Willamette National Forest (1681674 acres)

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Event Attendees (25 people)
Outcome 2: Surveying proposed timber sale units (2 sites/plots)
Outcome 3: Comments written to USFS (20 comments)[/if 1231]

Short Description of Activity

This was a 3 day, 3 night catered campout structured like a Broadwalk with education and stewardship and fun. We asked attendees to attend a prerequisite Zoom presentation by Chandra LeGue on the Climate and Forests portion of the CES curriculum which she customized for our purpose. We did field surveying/ground truthing training including information about the NEPA process and then surveyed two units in the Quartzville Middle Santiam proposed timber sale, spent a day with the interdisciplinary team of 12 USFS staff from the Sweet Home Ranger District learning about what they do and why they do it and hearing each others perspectives on forest practices. We had everyone from the botanist to the roads engineer. Our last morning we had the executive director of the South Santiam Watershed Council talk to us about watersheds and their councils and the outreach and education they provide.

Reflection/Evaluation

Fabulous. One Great old Bro said that if he could give it a Yelp review it would get 5 enthusiastic stars. This event took place during the unprecedented heat wave in the Pacific Northwest and it was HOT. It’s a testament to the fortitude and toughness of Broads that just one particpant cancelled due to the heat.

Our goals were as stated in our overview and yes they were met.
1. Education: After the workshop, participants will:
• Understand the components of Old-growth forests (OWLS – Old trees, Woody debris, Layers, Snags)
• Recognize important features of forests such as riparian areas, signs of wildlife habitat, rare plants, biodiversity etc.
• Understand the connection between our forests and climate. Forest defense is climate defense.
• Understand the federal land management process including a brief overview of NEPA process including Environmental analysis (EA) and EIS Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process.

2. Stewardship: After the workshop, participants will understand how to be forest stewards by using the information they collect through field work to affect change through the planning process. Often the information included in timber sale proposals does not reflect the reality, or big picture of what’s on the ground. With hands-on field work, we can help land management agencies by verifying what is on the ground and then submit more informed public comment.

3. Sense of place: People work to protect the places they love. By getting to know the forests better, we hope participants will love our northwest forests even more and work to protect them. This love of place would result in the participants reaching out to other community members to train them also.

Photos/Uploads

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Photo Captions

#1 The interdisciplinary team of USFS staff from the Sweet Home Ranger District joined the Willamette Valley Broads and others for a day of learning and sharing. They were each given the Oregon Wilderness Area bandannas that the Willamette Broads created as a thank you.
#2 Lynn Humphrey speaks with Stef Gatchell, the recreation,visuals and trails manager with the Sweet Home Ranger District.
#3 Laura Ouellette speaks with Dock Chastain, the timber sales manager with the Sweet Home Ranger District.
#4 – The Great Old Broads and Bros that braved the heat wave of June 2021 to live, learn and love during See the Trees, Save the Forest, Heal the Planet – a Broad Base Camp.