Check out the exciting news at The Crest!
Star Party!
Saturday, October 26th, 6PM-9PM
Come join us up at Willow-Witt Ranch this Saturday, October 26th at 6 PM for an educational and fun evening of exploring the night sky. Local astronomy group Skywatchers and SOU Astronomy Student Eleanor will show us the wonders of the night sky with their telescopes. Please also feel free to bring your own telescopes and binoculars.
Enjoy youth education and community connections as we observe the moon, planets, constellations and meteors!
Nights are chilly up at the ranch, and there is potential for rain so be sure to dress warmly.
Snacks will be provided, so we’d love it if you would RSVP to help us with planning by clicking the link below.
Please note no dogs allowed at Willow-Witt Ranch.
This is a free event so please come even if you don’t RSVP.
Field Trip Update!
The Crest is currently hosting fall field trips! Recently students have been learning about indigenous foods on the land such as wild plum, elderberry, Oregon grape, rosehips, and more. Our last field trip enjoyed learning about some of these wild edible foods and cultivated foods in the garden. Second grade students from Helman School enjoyed a snack of rosehip tea and also tasted kale, arugula, mint, borage flowers and tomatoes in the garden.
In the forest students have been sitting alone in observation as well as playing one of our favorite games, “Meet a Tree”. We have been taking time to notice the changing weather and the abundance of diverse seeds on the land as we hike the trails past the meadows. Nature continues to inspire connections as kids are bonding with each other over yarrow seeds or the dissection of a pinecone. New discoveries are happening as students are encouraged to slow down and notice, wonder and ask questions. We are excited to continue to welcome some new and some returning schools from the valley in the coming weeks.
The Crest in the Community
We’ve really enjoyed talking to the community at the recent outreach events, including the Talent Harvest festival and the Bear Creek Salmon Festival. Make sure to visit our booth at the upcoming Open Farm Day with Sanctuary One in Jacksonville this Saturday October 26th!
Welcome Our New Board Members
Jill Smedstad
Jill’s passion for connecting people to place through service and experiential education is rooted in her deep connection to Southern Oregon’s mountains and communities. In 1999, she joined the Regional Ecosystem Applied Learning Corps, an AmeriCorps conservation program at Southern Oregon University, which introduced her to the region’s landscapes and people, sparking a lifelong commitment to place-based education and service.
Jill has extensive experience in sustainability, conservation, and leadership. She spent nine years managing sustainability programs at Southern Oregon University, served as an agriculture development volunteer with the US Peace Corps in Ethiopia, and supervised AmeriCorps programs for the Montana Conservation Corps. She now serves as Executive Director of the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District.
Jill’s connection to The Crest at Willow Witt began through her children’s early field trips and summer camps. The mission and vision of The Crest align deeply with her values, and she is excited to contribute to this meaningful organization and place.
Matthew Reynolds
A focus on the performing arts has tuned his ability to reach minds and change hearts through multiple avenues of learning and processing. Matthew is a culture creator and a world architect. Matthew is a disruptor of that which keeps us from feeling worthy of living our Biggest Fullest Brightest life.
He is grateful to be here with you all cultivating the integral connection between people and nature.
Our new Community Workshop Program
The Crest is calling in community engagement
Bottle Drop!
The Crest has been selected as a recipient for BottleDrop’s Containers for Change Program!
This is how you can support The Crest through recycling returnable cans and bottles:
- Email us asking for blue bags and tags to fill with your recyclable returns. We will get those to you at your convenience.
- Take your full blue bag with our tag on it into any local deposit center.
The Crest receives the return funds. Everyone wins!
Email to request your BottleDrop bags and tags to benefit The Crest!
Camp at Crest Village
Thanks to funding through the Measure 99 Outdoor School Initiative The Crest has built heated, covered ADA-accessible wall tents at the gorgeous Willow-Witt Ranch that can hold up to 60 campers. The rental of the off-grid campground includes the use of a lovely, updated outdoor kitchen, a tent camping area, a bathhouse. Gender neutral bathrooms and a nurse’s station are being built, estimated to be completed by 2025.
We would love to share this wonderful resource with other organizations/groups who are looking for a safe, inclusive, wilderness site to host camps and events.
Rental costs are based on a sliding scale, please contact us directly for more information.
