Blog post written by Willow Bend intern Mackenzie Myhra

This month’s Science Saturday focused on Renewable Energy!

We had awesome activities such as windmill designing from Arizona Wind for School, power bikes made by Flagstaff’s very own Ward Davis, solar powered toys, a solar panel, and other solar activities from Prometheus Solar, sun art, and a solar oven to make s’mores (yum). This year we also had a Solatube on display from Flagstaff Skylights by JKC, to show alternative lighting methods for an energy efficient home.

Thank you to everyone who attended! And SPECIAL thanks to our sponsors, Prometheus Solar, Wind for Schools, and Flagstaff Skylights from JCK. We couldn’t have done it without your “energy” and enthusiasm!

Did you know that April is #WaterAwarenessMonth? Help highlight the importance and beauty of water through your art!

The City of Flagstaff Water Services is hosting an Art Contest to Celebrate Water on the Colorado Plateau.

Submissions must be 2 dimensional and can be entered in the youth (under 18) or adult (18+) categories. Submissions will be accepted through March 20th at the Water Conservation Office or via email: savewater@flagstaffaz.gov

Prizes galore, plus the opportunity to have selected art pieces hang in Firecreek Coffee Company – Flagstaff all month long during April 2018.

We are excited to announce a new program starting in March!

Through the Flagstaff Arts Council special Project Arts and Science Grant and the City of Flagstaff BBB revenues, we will be launching the “Art of Science” program. The program will run between March and June (2018) and include monthly art workshops. Each workshop will focus on a different topic, utilize a different art medium or technique, and feature a different lead artist and guest scientist.

Each workshop will start with a lecture or a hike led by a guest scientists, and continue with one-on-one instruction from the lead artist. Participants will get to create nature focused works of art and participate in Willow Bend’s monthly art exhibitions.

Topics and dates:

March 10th: The Art of Birds the Science of Birding

April 28th: The Secret Life of Bees (and Other Pollinators)

May 19th: Navajo Basket Weaving

June 30th: Plants and Colors, Fabrics and Dyes

More information on artists, guest scientists, times, registration and costs coming soon…

The Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnership (a branch of the Coconino Plateau Water Advisory Council), and Willow Bend Environmental Education Center are excited to announce this year’s winners of the 4^th Grade Water Ethic Contest. The 8th annual contest was open to all 4^th grade classes throughout Coconino County, including cities, towns, and tribal communities.

The contest creates a fun and rewarding opportunity to introduce children to the concept of ethical water use, including conserving, rainwater harvesting, and water reuse. It also provides an opportunity for the classrooms to discuss where our water comes from and the importance of healthy watersheds, clean waterways, and water for all living things and uses. Participating students demonstrate the principle of responsible water use through both artwork and essays.

Five schools participated in this year’s contest, and the winning students came from Mrs. Mimran’s class at Sechrist Elementary. An Award of Merit goes to Mrs. Federio-Carolus from DeMiguel Elementary, Mrs. Fisk from Marshall Elementary, Ms. Brosius from Montessori School, and Ms. Bolden from Thomas Elementary.

Contest Winners:

Best Overall- Isabella S., Sechrist

2nd Place Art- Lily H. and Lily S., Sechrist

2nd Place Essay- Camden K., Sechrist

3rd Place Art- Helena C. and Cora J., Sechrist

3rd Place Essay- Helena C. and Cora J., Sechrist

The winning class will be treated to an in-class pizza party, and all other participating classes will be treated to an ice-cream social. The winning students will also receive additional prizes and all participating classes will be rewarded with Water Saver Superhero Toolkits that include rain gauges, water conservation coloring books, playing cards, and a reusable bag that has the winning students’ artwork displayed on them, and other fun prizes like stickers and magnets. The teacher of the winning entries receives a $900 cash prize for their inclusion of award winning water education into their curriculum.

Another exciting aspect of the contest is that the 4^th grader’s submissions are utilized for promoting water stewardship throughout Northern Arizona. Posters are created for classrooms, events, presentations, and are developed into bathroom water awareness signs. The bathroom signs have grown in popularity and can be seen at several public places such as the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor’s Center, City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, City of Sedona, Northern Arizona University, Marshall Elementary, Grand Canyon School, and many more places throughout the community are in the process of obtaining the bathroom posters.

This year’s submissions will also be featured at the Coconino Center for the Arts Fall 2019 special water exhibition. The exhibit will incorporate professional artists who have participated in programs geared towards education on water awareness hosted by the Coconino Plateau Watershed Partnership and other community partners. This is an exciting opportunity for all participating students to have their art reach an even wider audience in an effort to educate visitors on water awareness.

The Willow Bend board is excited to welcome our newest board member, Whitney Tapia.

Whitney received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Master’s degree in Educational Foundations, and her Principal Certification from Northern Arizona University. Whitney has taught for 11 years, mainly in the Flagstaff Unified School District. Currently, she teaches Introduction to Education at NAU. Whitney was the 2010 recipient of the Sustainability in Education for the 21^st Century Award. In 2015, she was recognized as the Coconino County Teacher of the year, and was a semifinalist for the 2016 Arizona Teacher of the Year. A native of Flagstaff, Whitney has great pride in this mountain town, and she cannot imagine a better place to build a life with her husband, and to raise her two children.

We are excited to have Whitney on board!

Willow Bend would like to thank all the amazing partners, sponsors, donors, supporters, volunteers, students, teachers, families, community members, and visitors for making this an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G year!

Willow Bend tracks programs based on our fiscal year (July 1st-June 30th) but we release our year-end report in January (it’s coming soon!). In the mean time, here is a quick glimpse into our achievements this year: over 10,000 students and a total of 19,000 people reached through environmental education programs!

Looking forward to another great year, 2018 we are excited and ready! If you would like to help us start the New Year strong please consider making a DONATION. Your donation is tax deductible, and until Dec 31st, all donations over $50 receive a FREE limited edition Willow Bend T-shirt.

HAPPY NEAT YEAR from the Willow Bend team

2017 Program Report:

Hopefully you received our winter appeal letter in the mail. If not (are you on our snail mail list?), please click the link to read the pdf version Willow Bend Winter Appeal 2017, or scroll down to read below.

You can donate here today!

Dear Friends,

Make supporting Willow Bend a New Year’s resolution and give the gift of outdoor experiential education this holiday season. Don’t let science be silenced! With significant cuts to federal funding for environmental and science education, your contribution makes a big difference!

Willow Bend is Coconino County’s only year-round full-time environmental education center. Each year we deliver science based, outdoor experiential education programs to over 18,000 students, teachers, residents, and visitors.

Thanks to support from our partners, members and donors this year we led natural senses field trips for kindergarteners, tracked wildlife with 1st graders, taught 2nd graders about bats, took 3rd graders to Picture Canyon, delivered recycling programs to 4th graders, guided watershed field trips for 5th graders, went on expeditions with 6th graders, organized summer hikes for the Boys and Girls Club, planted a food garden with youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, hosted Science Saturday events and adult workshops and so much more!

Please consider making a tax deductible annual membership donation, or a one-time holiday gift. If you recently made a donation, please accept our gratitude.

Please help us reach our Year-End Appeal fundraising goal of $5,000*:
To make a contribution please use the enclosed envelope, visit our website willowbendcenter.org, or contact Moran Henn (928) 779-1745, moran@willowbendcenter.org.

On Behalf of Willow Bend, Wishing You Happy Holidays and a Meaningful New Year!

Moran Henn, Executive Director                                   Ariel Leonard, President of the Board

*Limited edition! FREE Willow Bend T-shirt with any donation/membership over $50
(pick up at Willow Bend, while supplies last). Willow Bend is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your donations are tax-deductible.

Don’t let science be silenced! With significant cuts to federal funding for environmental and science education, this year your support is not just important, it’s critical!

Make supporting science education a New Year’s resolution and give the gift of outdoor experiential education this holiday season.

Willow Bend is Coconino County’s only year-round full-time environmental education center.  Each year we deliver science based, outdoor experiential education programs to over 18,000 students, teachers, residents, and visitors.

This year we led natural senses field trips for kindergartners, studied wildlife with 1^st graders, taught 2^nd graders about bats took 500+ 3^rd graders to Picture Canyon, delivered recycling programs to 4^th graders, went on watershed field trips with 5^th graders, guided student led expeditions with 6^th graders, hosted free science Saturday events, guided summer hikes for the Boys and Girls Club, planted a food garden with youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, hosted adult workshops and so much more!

We know you can’t be in the classroom or in the field with us, but thanks to your support we were able to achieve all this and more! Please consider making a tax deductible annual membership donation, or a one-time holiday gift.

Please help us reach our Year-End Appeal (Nov 28th-Dec 31st) fundraising goal of $5,000*:

• Join at the Family Level ($50) and receive discounts or free admissions to many of our programs.
• Join as a Sponsor ($100) and provide a free program for an entire classroom!
• Are you a business owner? Join as a Business Partner! (More info on our website)
• Or, make a one-time donation. No amount is too small.

DONATE ONLINE TODAY or contact Moran Henn (928) 779-1745,moran@willowbendcenter.org.

On Behalf of Willow Bend, Wishing You Happy Holidays and a Meaningful New Year!

*Limited edition Willow Bend T shirts with every donation/membership over $50! Until supplies last.