Here is an opportunity to give a quick shout out to our partners at the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program. We collaborate on a number of programs, including recycling and open space.

Most recently they also provided us with over 100 reusable bags for our plastic bag lesson with 6th graders at Alpine Leadership Academy. The students got to decorate and take home their own reusable bags.

Thanks Nicole Woodman, McKenzie Jones (in the picture), Betsy Emery, and AmeriCorps Member Libby Champagne, we appreciate working with you!

During a Collaborative Coconino Natural Recurse Conservation District meeting, Willow Bend’s Environmental Program Director, Cassandra Roberts, was recognized for her dedication to the organization.

Cassandra not only did her teaching and program management job well, but, during the time Rusty (former Executive Director) left in April, and Moran (the new director) was hired in August, Cassandra also acted as the Executive Director, managing the Center, applying for grants, and organizing events.

Recognition is well deserved!

Wow! November was SO busy that it just zoomed by!  We are only now sitting down to write about it.

We kicked off the month with our favorite community program: Family Science. This time the focus was AZ Wildlife, celebrating our State’s magnificent animals. The event was scheduled for November 4^th but a huge snowstorm forced us to postpone it to November 5^th. Even with last minute changes we had a full house and the event was a HUGE success! The event, held in partnership with AZ Game and Fish and Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, featured live animals including a Red Tailed Hawk, A Great Horned Owl, a Desert Tortoise, and a Snake. Our young participants asked great questions, and at the end, everyone had an opportunity to see the animals up close and take pictures with the owl.

During the first week of November we also partnered with an NAU freshmen class exploring the natural world through a different perspective. The students (and the instructor) practiced observing, and “being”, different things in the natural world, from plants to rocks to mighty Ponderosa trees.

The month continued with an exclusive behind the scenes recycling tour for our staff followed by our free monthly First Friday tours for the public. It’s always great to have community members, who want to learn more about the journey of waste and recyclables, join the tour.

Science Saturday, held at our Center every first Saturday of the month was focused on “Frances Short Pond”. Center environmental educator Val and intern Helena Van Winkle facilitated pond inspired art activities, and had pond water under a microscope for visitors to see.

We stayed late at the Center on November 13^th for the 4^th Grade Water Ethics Contest deadline. We still had entries coming in at 5:30pm! Over 10 Coconino County schools participated, including schools as far as the Grand Canyon!  Judging took place right before Thanksgiving and was very tough, since all the entries were beautiful and inspiring. 

After Thanksgiving we hosted Girl Scout troops at the Center, mostly focusing again, on the theme of the month: Frances Short Pond. They made beautiful art pieces.

Our ongoing programs continued throughout the month including our Boys and Girls Club afterschool program. Each week we did something different, including weather measurements, learning about bugs, and of course… the theme of the month: Frances Short Pond.

For our school programs the highlights were paper making with students at Kinsey, plastic bag discussion and activities with 6^th graders at Alpine and tagging along with MEMS 6^TH grade teacher Curt Craig and his class during their…you got it…Frances Short Pond visit.

Here is to another great month!

During the Month of December the City of Flagstaff and Willow Bend will be hosting an art exhibition at the City Hall Lobby celebrating Frances Short Pond. The Pond is a recognized Watchable Wildlife Site, a much loved urban outdoor space and a true community gem.

A reception with live music, food, and family focused activities will take place on First Friday Artwalk, December 4th 6-9pm.

Everyone is encouraged to submit pond focused artwork. Exhibition will feature professional and amateur artists, as well as a separate children and youth section.

Deadline for submission: November 24th at 5pm. Art work must be delivered to City Hall  Friday November 27^th through Tuesday December 2^nd, 8am to 5pm.

Information about artwork requirements, delivery, and reception can be found here: CALL TO ARTISTS. Download and sign the agreement here: City Hall Art Exhibition Agreement

Please contact Executive Director Moran Henn at moran@willowbendcenter.org or call (928) 779 1745 if you have any questions or to send the signed agreement.

Looking to Expand Your Skills as an Environmental Educator?

Willow Bend will be hosting the Arizona Association for Environmental Education’s “Excellence in Environmental Education” workshop on Saturday, November 14^th from 8.30am – 12.30pm at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center 703 E Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Workshop: Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education

The Arizona Association for Environmental Education is pleased to offer a half-day workshop to introduce the Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education to all those who teach about the environment.

Through this workshop, you will:

• Learn about the project, Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education: a product of the North American Association for Environmental Education
• Understand the six areas of environmental education as supported through the Guidelines
• Begin preparation toward your own Environmental Education Certification as an environmental educator and apply for a scholarship to waive the certification fee
• Receive the full five book set of the Guidelines to utilize in your work and a CEU certificate

This introductory workshop is designed for all those who consider themselves environmental educators, whether in classrooms, non-formal or informal settings.

Registration required. Call Willow Bend 928.779.1745

Join the City of Flagstaff, Willow Bend and multiple community partners for National Make a Difference Day. We will be restoring Frances Short Pond, Flagstaff’s beloved fishing, Watchable Wildlife, and Environmental Education site!

WHEN and WHERE: October 24th at Frances Short Pond (located at the very northern end of Aztec St in Downtown Flagstaff). The day will begin at 8:30 am with a safety talk and doughnuts and will conclude at 1:30 pm with a free pizza lunch and a raffle.

WHAT: Volunteer projects for the day include removing a chain link fence, trimming trees, removing invasive species, picking up litter, repairing the outdoor classroom and Veit cabin, and maintaining area trails. Bring boots, sunscreen, gloves, and water.

KIDS WELCOME: Willow Bend, together with Friends of Flagstaff’s Future, will be facilitating kids activities and art projects throughout the day! Kids art projects featuring of the pond, wildlife, and water conservation will be collected and displayed at City Hall during December First Friday (December 4th 2015).

To volunteer join us any time throughout the day or contact Betsy Emery at 928-213-2154 or eemery@flagstaffaz.gov with any questions! Check for updates and weather alerts on the event’s Facebook page.

The Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnership & Willow Bend Environmental Education Center are launching the 6^th Annual Water Ethic Contest!

Calling all 4^th Grade classes throughout Northern Arizona to participate in a contest demonstrating the principles of responsible water use through artwork and essays!

Submissions must be submitted by November 13^th, 2015. The Watershed Partnership’s Public Outreach Committee will choose a first, second, and third place winner, based on essay and artwork.

Winning students will receive prizes! Classes to which the winning students belong will be treated to an in-class party, including a pizza party for the 1^st place student, a ice-cream social for 2^nd place, and a popcorn party for 3^rd. Teachers of winning entries will receive an award of $300, $200, or $100.

In addition, all participating classes will be rewarded with “water super hero” tools and all submitted art work will be exhibited at Flagstaff City Hall during the December Artwalk event (December 4th 2015). Selected submissions will be used in promoting water stewardship throughout Northern Arizona.

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND FUN WITH YOUR STUDENTS

For more information download Poster Contest Guidelines 2016, Official Contest Entry Form 2016, and Water Ethic Contest Letter 2016.

Let’s get creative, let’s conserve water!

On September 21st the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff hosted its Annual Grant Awards Ceremony at High Country Conference Center. The room was packed with Flagstaff’s amazing non-profits, Community Foundation staff, and  program and grant partners.  One-by-one grants were awarded in each category, from K-12 Education to Social Services and Health.

Willow Bend was honored to receive a generous grant from the Community Foundation, the Geo Fund, and W.L Gore and Associates.

The funds will go towards our new “Urban Trails and Community Connections: Linking Flagstaff through Schools, Trails, and the Rio de Flag”.  The project provides 200 elementary and middle-school students with over 220 hours of environmental education programming. Classroom presentations, field experiences, and service-learning projects will engage students and teachers with local ecosystems found along the Rio de Flag and Flagstaff Urban Trail System.

Thank you!

On September 26^th the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program, in partnership with the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program, and Willow Bend Environmental Education Center hosted the Annual Sustainable Building Tour as part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science.
This year’s tour theme of “Exploring New Horizons with Sustainable Building,” provided a fun and unique opportunity to see homes and buildings that have implemented sustainability through design, materials, systems, and living practices.

The tour featured passive solar design, energy and water efficient systems and appliances, greywater and rainwater reuse, and construction methods such as local wood, cinder block, cordwood, insulated concrete forms and strawbale.

The annual, self-guided tour starts at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. The Center was hustling and bustling with curious visitors walking through and learning about our strawbale building. Jim Corning from Prometheus talked about our solar panels and energy.

Willow Bend staff and volunteers talked about the Center’s design, orientation, Xeriscaping, ventilation, and more. Kids and kids at heart had lots of fun participating in Willow Bend’s new scavenger hunt and the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program were on site with recycling information and games.

We had over 150 tour participants! If you missed it, make sure you come next year.

On September 26^th the Coconino National Forest, together with multiple partners, co-hosted an event celebrating National Public Lands Day.

The event included a volunteer service project enlarging the beach areas of Upper Lake Mary by spreading gravel in between boat ramps.

Willow Bend had a table with fun interactive activities including a watershed model complete with snow, rain, dams, houses, and animals. The model demonstrates how water flows in and out of the watershed. Kids had a great time putting snow on the peaks and melting it down the slopes with spray bottles, creating dams with clay to divert water to farms, and dropping cars into overflowing canals. We had a great opportunity to talk to other organizations in Flagstaff and inform local residents about Willow Bend’s programs and events.