Stories from Supporters: Vicki Watson

Leading up to Missoula Gives, the Watershed Education Network brings you reflections from former volunteers, teachers, staff, and long-time friends of the organization. They share the impact WEN's programs have had on them and how our mission matches their values.

Vicki Watson in front of the Clark Fork River at Milltown in Fall 2006

Vicki Watson is a Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. She has been a friend to our director, Deb Fassnacht, and gotten involved with WEN's activities since the organization's beginning, and frequently sends her students our way to volunteer. In reflecting on her relationship with WEN, Vicki shared the following:

"WEN helps people of all ages learn about our streams and share their knowledge with others (another good way to learn). Middle school kids have fun learning stream science -- physics, chemistry and biology. Older students and adults learn how to share their knowledge with younger stream scientists. And some citizen scientists (the Stream Team) conduct useful studies of our streams that help us assess the health of streams and the need for any protective actions.

"I have been grateful for the opportunity WEN has provided to my students to get experience in sharing their knowledge and love of streams with younger folks. And the opportunity to work on citizen science projects -- some of those students have since set up citizen science projects elsewhere.

"I have also helped with some of the class field trips, and it is always a delight to see the kids on the stream -- some run around enjoying the freedom of the outdoors, while others are quite serious and focused on the science exercise. The diversity of responses is part of the magic.

"These learning opportunities have inspired some students to become stream scientists, and have inspired many more to become stream protectors. And our streams certainly need informed stream protectors.

So many thanks to WEN for providing stream access and training and fun."

You can help WEN provide more meaningful outdoor educational experiences for students of all ages by donating to WEN on Missoula Gives May 6 & 7, 2021: https://www.missoulagives.org/organizations/the-watershed-education-network

Stories from Supporters: Jeani Adams

This spring, the Watershed Education Network brings you reflections from former volunteers, teachers, staff, and long-time friends of the organization. They share the impact WEN's programs have had on them and how our mission matches their values.

Clark Fork + Blackfoot confluence. Former site of Milltown dam,
now Milltown State Park. Photo credit: Cassie Sevigny

Jeani Adams found WEN's work incredibly valuable during the removal of the Milltown dam:

"I have always believed that pairing in-class learning with an outdoor experience really works well with many topics. I was fortunate to work with WEN and help with the Milltown Dam removal project. We provided students with some background information in the classroom and then took them on a field trip to the dam overlook, where they could observe the actual destruction/remediation efforts. We then reinforced their learning and investigation of the changes the environment would undergo with the dam removal using a series of fun activities. It was wonderful to see how excited they were to witness history and many of them told of how they brought this information home to share. 

WEN truly focuses on providing students with an experience that they are not able to get in a traditional classroom. I believe it is a very important job that they do and they do an awesome job!"

You can help more local students experience outdoor education by donating to WEN on Missoula Gives May 6 & 7, 2021: https://www.missoulagives.org/organizations/the-watershed-education-network