Wow, time just flies when you are having fun!
It has been a while since we updated our blog. But don’t mistake that with “nothing is happening over at Willow Bend”. Actually A LOT has happened and is happening on a weekly basis. Its hard to put 6 months into one post (really 6 months? has it been that long since we wrote a blog post?).
So here is a quick recap:
July-August: July marked the beginning of our new fiscal year. We kick started it with an appeal and a fundraising goal of $2,000. Which, thanks to the help of our amazing friends and supporters, we were able to reach. We also had our second Bug Camp in partnership with Merriam Powell Institute, had a Plants and Pollinators and Geology Science Saturdays, continued our Picture Canyon and Downtown Geology free community guided tours, led programs and field trips with the Boys and Girls Club, and had wonderful adult workshops with Mike Masek and Mike Dechter.
Bug Camp with NAU’s Merriam Powell Institute
Boys and Girls Club Summer Programs
Adult Workshops: Plant Walk with Mike Masek
Downtown Geology tours
September-October: Gosh these two months were super busy. We had over 100 participants attend our Colorado River Days Science Saturday. We co-hosted the Annual Back West Celebration of Stone Balancing, in partnership with the Coconino Center for the Arts and artist Pieter Schaafsma. We had lots of fun tabling at Science in the Park and had our special Science Festival recycling center tour. We had two teacher workshops, one focusing on Flagstaff Open Space, and the other on Alternative Energy, held in support from Winds for Schools and Prometheus Solar. We also launched a food focused Adult Workshop series with Foodlink, that included Canning, Acorn Processing, and a workshop that was All About Apples! But perhaps the highlight of our community events was the Bioblitz at Frances Short Pond. You can see a short video about that HERE. We also began working in the schools again (after the long summer break). In addition to the regular classes and field trips we offer, we also started a new invasive species focused program, in partnership with the Arboretum at Flagstaff, free 3rd grade field trips to Picture Canyon and recycling programs for 4th graders in a partnership and funding from the the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Section. And, we enhanced our Rio De Flag program through generous funding from the AZ Community Foundation of Flagstaff and partners.
Bio Blitz at Frances Short Pond, Photo Credit: Tom Bean
Live fish at Willow Bend during Colorado River Days
Back West Celebration of Stone Balancing
Field trip to Picture Canyon
November: This is usually our slow month. However, this November was packed with in-class programs, community events, and workshops. We started the month with our AZ Wildlife Family Science programs, hosting LIVE animals at Willow Bend with the AZ Game and Fish Department and Adobe Wildlife. We continued our recycling center tours, and had a beautiful endangered species art exhibition, featuring local artist Frederica Hall. We also had our annual Board Retreat, and between us, I think our board had way too much fun! Just before Thanks Giving, we also had to deal with an unfortunate incident. Our beloved Biobug was vandalized, but the community REALLY came forward in support!
Board of Directors Retreat
LIVE Animals at Willow Bend
Endangered Species Art Exhibition
Biobug on the way to get fixed!
Now we are in December (how did that happen?)! Our resolution for the New Year is to pick up our blog posting again and keep you updated with great stories from Willow Bend.