Environmental Education
Educational Outreach Program
The Siskiyou Environmental Education Center (SEEC) and the Environmental Education master’s program at Southern Oregon University welcome you to the Educational Resource page.
Over the past decade, EE students have created curricula and assembled resources for the development of hands-on Natural Science Study Kits. Some of the kits were developed in partnership with the Bear Creek Watershed Education Partnership. The kits are designed to teach broad concepts in the study of the natural world and simultaneously provide local specifics that help students to develop their relationship with our region. In recent years, demand for the kits by area teachers has steadily increased. Currently, over 1500 students benefit from these activities annually.
To Reserve a Kit
Kits are scheduled on a first come, first served basis for a two-week period. The materials are available free of charge and delivery to and from public schools is provided by the Southern Oregon Education Service District (ESD) courier also free of charge. Because of the fragility of the insect specimens, we regret that the Insect Kit cannot be shipped by ESD courier and must be picked up and returned directly to the SEEC office. For those not served by the ESD courier, materials may be picked up and returned to SEEC in Science 219 on the Southern Oregon University campus.
To reserve a kit or other materials, contact a graduate assistant in the SEEC office at:
Email: seec@sou.edu
Phone: 541/552-6876
or
Mail: SEEC
Biology Department
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Educational kits available:
Birds
Mammals
Macroinvertebrates
Water Quality
Fire Ecology
Conservation Biology (in development)
Forest Ecology
Insects
Denman Wildlife Area
Geology
Streams and Rivers
Water Conservation Kit
Other Resources for Check-out
Amphibian Toolbox - This is a box of tools for collecting and identifying amphibians.
Binoculars – We have ten pairs of binoculars available for class field trips.
SEEC Library – SEEC houses a diverse library of natural science and environmental education resources. Our library contains science texts, nature-inspired novels and essays, educational journals, Master’s theses, educational videos, field guides, and a variety of curricula. The SEEC Library offers a variety of resources for any educator. If you would like to browse through our library, or just come by and say “Hello,” feel free to give us a call and set up a time with a graduate assistant.
Other Services
Graduate students are eager to take a class into the field or visit a classroom to deliver a program. However, please remember these are students at SOU and are taking classes. They may not always be able to work a visit into their class schedule. To maximize your chances of securing the services of a graduate student, please contact SEEC well in advance to try and organize a visit.
Upcoming Events:
Check back for updated listing...
Last update: 05/15/08
Community Partnerships
The Environmental Education program at Southern Oregon University actively works with the various environmental education providers throughout the region. We place many of our students in internships with these groups and collaborate on grants. Some of our students find employment with them. The following is a list of groups with which we have worked with over the years and their contact information.
Bear Creek Watershed Education Partnership – BCWEP: A non-profit group of educators from Jackson County dedicated to promoting environmental education in the schools. Members are largely teachers from schools in the area.
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Contact: Sam Whitridge, 541-773-1039, bcwep@yahoo.com
Bureau of Land Management – BLM: Provides organized educational hikes on the Table Rocks and presents programs at MacGregor Park in Shady Cove. The Nature Center at MacGregor Park is open daily from 10AM to 5PM Friday to Sunday to view the exhibits. The trails are always open.
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Contact: Leah Schrot, 541-618-2200, medford_mail@blm.gov
Ecology Club of the Siskiyous – ECOS: A student club on Southern Oregon University’s campus that coordinates a variety of educational and community activities.
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Contact: Amber, 541-552-8512, ecos@students.sou.edu
Jefferson Nature Center: Operated by the City of Medford, the Jefferson Nature Center offers a range of field experiences and classes to students mostly of elementary and middle school age primarily from the Medford and Phoenix areas. They currently offer classes and field experiences. Their facility along Bear Creek is due to open in 2009.
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Contact: Susan Cross, 541-773-1039, scross@mind.net
Klamath Bird Observatory – KBO: The Klamath Bird Observatory is a non-profit group dedicated to bird conservation through science and educational outreach. They offer field and classroom experiences regarding bird biology and conservation. Groups may arrange for a visit to a bird-banding station in operation.
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Contact: John Alexander, 541-201-0866, jda@klamathbirdkb.org
Klamath Inventory and Monitoring Program, National Park Service: This office of the National Park Service is housed on the Southern Oregon University campus and provides information to the public regarding its scientific efforts at its website.
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Contact: Daniel Sarr, 541-552-8575, Dan-sarr@nps.gov
North Mountain Park Nature Center: Operated by the City of Ashland, North Mountain Park Nature Center offers a range of field experiences and classes to students mostly of elementary and middle school age primarily from the Ashland area.
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Contact: Kari Geis or Linda Chesney, 541-488-6606, geisk@ashland.or.us, chesneyl@ashland.or.us
Northwest Nature Shop: A bookstore and shop serving those who are interested in nature. They sponsor occasional classes and trips in the region.
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Contact: Marie Uhtoff, 541-482-3241, birds@northwestnatureshop.com
Regional Environmental Education Leadership – REEL: A group of Environmental Education providers that promote environmental education in Jackson County through the sharing of ideas and coordination of efforts.
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Contact: The group can be contacted through the Jefferson Nature Center, North Mountain Park Nature Center, or the Bureau of Land Management.
Siskiyou Field Institute – SFI: A non-profit educational group providing year round field courses in natural history, art, wilderness skills, and other topics through its office at Deer Creek Center in the Illinois Valley.
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Contact: Sue Parrish, 541-597-8530, institute@thesfi.org
