Blog Post written by Willow Bend Intern Xander Wille

Over the weekend, Willow bend hosted its monthly event, Science Saturday. The theme of this month: The Colorado River, including its fish and surrounding watersheds! We spent the day learning about the water cycle, as well as native and invasive aquatic species. This is important information that we are happy to share with the public because Flagstaff is located on the watershed lower basin of the Little Colorado River!

Families familiar with Willow Bend, as well as some passersby, were excited to see some visitors from just out of town. The guests included a variety of small fish, a 30-pound catfish (which will grow 3x its current size!), and even a painted turtle. After spending some time with the animals, kids could craft a nature journal, color some fish, and design a color coded paper watershed meant to educate the youth about how a watershed could potentially carry mine debris into a nearby city or farm. Additionally, many people volunteered to help outdoors for some upcoming garden projects.

Although it was fascinating to be able to look at and touch some of the creatures of the Colorado River, we learned there are rules against transporting animals around the state, especially invasive species such as the catfish. Why not keep them as pets? Well, because catfish are not from the Colorado River, so when they get too big to live at home, people might release them into the wild, which can have catastrophic effects on the delicately balanced ecosystem. The problem with catfish in Arizona is that they will eat the native species and eventually take over the environment, but the good news, humans can eat them in an effort to protect the native species.

Science Saturdays at Willow Bend are always very informative, and usually pretty crafty, they’re sure to be a great time. If you missed our September event, be sure to stop by between 9 am and 1 pm next month. October 5^th is all about Bats! We’ll have AZ bat displays, research information, and of course, lots of crafts!

Willow Bend Environmental Education Center has 2-4 NAU/CCC interns at any given time. Interns run our Science Saturday events,  help out in the Willow Bend gardens, assist with social media, and more! Formal NAU/CCC interns receive college credit for their internship.  We are currently full for the 2019 year, but accepting applications for the Spring 2020 semester. Please reach out if you’re interested in interning at Willow Bend.

Laura Sherrill

Hello all! My name is Laura and I am a Senior at NAU majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Civic Engagement. I am passionate about yoga, sautéing vegetables, and hanging out with dogs. I am so excited to work with kids in the Flagstaff community and to get to teach them about the earth that I love so much.

Adeline Gruber

My name is Adeline Gruber, but people call me Addy. I am about to start my senior year at Northern Arizona University and I am studying environmental science with an emphasis in communication. When I graduate in May 2020 I plan to pursue a career with Game and Fish Department. I am also have been the given the amazing opportunity to become an intern at Willow Bend.

I am very excited to be a part of this amazing team and to be able to spread knowledge of environmental sustainability to the Flagstaff community. Every program that Willow Bend presents brings new awareness about how the environment to the community and I am very happy to be able to spread my knowledge to the public.

Alexander “Xander” Wille

I am Alexander “Xander” Wille, and I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. I moved to Flagstaff about 3 years ago to get out of the big city and grow closer to the plant world. I’m going into my fourth year at NAU, where I’ve been majoring in environmental science with an emphasis in global sustainability, and working toward a minor in Spanish.

This summer I was accepted as an intern at Willow Bend and I am so excited for this opportunity. While teaching myself more about the environment, I get to engage with the Flagstaff community on a deeper level. I am especially looking forward to teaching children about sustainability through art and field trips. As humans, we have an obligation to care for the energy on this planet in all forms, whether it be our own bodies, our family, our furry or feathered friends, and beyond. I believe, ultimately, we are all one, and love is all there is.

Blog post written by Willow Bend intern Laura Sherrill

Last week, Northern Arizona University’s Summer Bug Camp was held at Willow Bend’s center for the fifth consecutive year. This week long camp allows participants aged 6-10 to explore the captivating world of bugs, and introduces them to skills necessary for young entomologists in the making.

A typical day at bug camp is jam-packed with activities. Bright and early at 9 am sharp, we began with some time in which the campers were able to interact with their new cockroach pets provided by the camp. The campers are able to take their cockroaches home at the end of the week, and they were so excited to spend time in the morning studying their new friends.

After spending some up close and personal time with the critters, we headed outside to collect bug samples along the trail bordering Willow Bend. Armed with nets and sunscreen, the campers captured everything from grasshoppers to paper wasps. There was certainly no shortage of bugs on this early morning summer day, and each camper left the field with a ziplock bag full of insects to be studied.

After heading inside for a quick snack, it was time to identify and pin the various bugs that were caught in the field. Paige, the camp’s leader, has been involved with NAU’s Summer Bug Camp for the past three years and values the camp’s ability to introduce campers to scientific skills. In particular, her favorite activity to do with the campers is pinning the bugs that were collected in the field. The campers take their collection of pinned insects home, which serves as a reminder of their entomology experience long after camp has ended.

Through data collecting experience and visually stimulating lectures, NAU’s Summer Bug Camp leaves campers with newfound knowledge of the importance of insects within ecosystems, and awareness of how vital biodiversity is. If you know a mini-entomologist that would benefit from this experience, keep an eye out for next years camp. There are two weeklong sessions, one in June and another in July, that will be happening during Summer of 2020 and for many years to come. Until then, check out Willow Bend’s upcoming events for adults, children and families alike.

Blog post written by Willow Bend intern Laura Sherrill

On Saturday at Willow Bend we learned all about amazing arthropod creatures. An arthropod is an animal that does not have a backbone, but does have an exoskeleton and a segmented body. There are many familiar animals that fall into the arthropod family. When you think of arthropods, imagine insects like cockroaches, arachnids like tarantulas, and crustaceans like crabs.

We were lucky enough to get up close and personal with all sorts of arthropods during this event. Our friends from Merriam-Powell NAU brought many creatures for us to meet, learn about, and even hold. Everyone got a huge kick out of being able to hold a millipede, who woke up and wiggled around to say hi to us despite being a nocturnal creature. If we listened closely, we could hear a faint “hissssss” sound coming from a hissing cockroach. We even got to see a live tarantula!

After getting to learn about our arthropod friends, we went outside with nets to catch and release insects that live near the Willow Bend center. Surveying the results of a few catching expeditions proved that so many different creatures live right outside of our front door. The world of arthropods is truly amazing, expansive, and there is so much to be learned about our animal friends! If you missed out on this event, be sure to keep an eye out for more upcoming animal themed events, like our Birds of a Feather Science Saturday!

Blog post written by Willow Bend intern Laura Sherrill

On Saturday, we spent the day learning about fire ecology during our monthly Science Saturday event. Since Flagstaff is nestled in an expansive Ponderosa Pine forest, it is important to keep in mind how wildfires can affect our home. This was such a fun day with a very special guest: Smokey Bear himself!

After saying hi to Smokey, people had the option of reading along to the story of Ponderosa Pete, making tree ornaments, trying on real firefighter gear, watching a demonstration of how fire can affect forests, looking at tree rings up close with a magnifying glass, or answering fire ecology trivia questions for the chance to win a prize. Smokey Bear themed erasers, pencils, bandanas, bookmarks, and rulers were up for grabs.

Did you know that Smokey is an American black bear? His brown colored fur can be a bit misleading to his true species. We had such a good day learning new facts on this jam-packed Science Saturday. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn about fire ecology. If you missed it, make sure to check out our calendar of upcoming events.

Blog post written by Willow Bend intern Laura Sherrill

On Saturday, we spent the afternoon celebrating Earth Day at Bushmaster Park. Willow Bend was among nearly 50 local organizations that came out to table for the day. It was so much fun to learn about planet Earth through watershed models from the US Forest Service, composting demonstrations, and even a “Climate Change Scavenger Hunt” organized by the city.

At Willow Bend’s table, we decided to showcase the wildlife of Arizona with a matching game. Passerby were able to match an animal relic with the corresponding picture and learn all about the animal in the process. Getting to hold a desert tortoise shell is a rare opportunity that made for wonderful hands-on learning.

The weather was beautiful, and when the sun came out from behind the clouds the party really got started. Live music had people of all ages dancing and hula-hooping in the field. Even those who would rather relax were able to lay down and sunbathe. There was something for everyone to do.

Thank you to everyone who came by our table to say hi, learn about wildlife in Arizona, and celebrate the Earth! Even though Earth Day has passed, we will continue to host events that promote learning about the planet, and we encourage you to get involved. Check out our upcoming event schedule and join us for Science Saturday or an Adult Workshop!

Blog post written by Willow Bend intern Laura Sherrill

Last Saturday at Willow Bend, in partnership with the Arboretum, 15 participants spent their morning learning how to start seeds for at-home gardens. Gayle Nance, horticulturist at the Arboretum at Flagstaff, facilitated the lesson, covering topics such as necessary supplies for planting seeds, which seeds do best in which climates, and conditions essential to growing resilient plants.

After learning about the essentials to seed starting, participants were able to get our hands dirty and plant some seeds. Participants split up into pairs, and filled up seed-starting trays with nutrient rich soil. By the end of the workshop, we started hundreds of seeds. The seeds were transported to the Arboretum where they will grow and eventually be planted.

Did you know Flagstaff’s growing season is only 90 days long? This growing season is distinctly short, so we are excited to get a head start on our gardens. Thank you to Gayle for all of the outstanding advice and information, and thank you to everyone who came out to help start seeds. Missed it? We have a bunch of great adults workshops coming up, click here to check our upcoming schedule.