We’re busy hosting Nature Day Camp (learn more about camp here). 

Our annual Turtle Trot 5k Fundraiser ends July 16 – so there’s still a little time to sneak in a run! Learn more about the Turtle Trot.

And, we’re preparing for the upcoming Turtle Fest Celebration on July 23rd! Find more Turtle Fest details below.

We’re appreciating these days full of learning, community, and fun.

But, before we completely put spring out of mind, let’s hear more from Liz, our Education Coordinator, about how The Crest’s Outdoor School went in May. Read on below!

Come enjoy our event of the summer:
Turtle Fest on Sunday, July 23rd!

Savor a bring-your-own picnic (with local beer and wine available for purchase), listen to local bands, enter to win great prizes, and soak up the natural beauty of Willow-Witt Ranch! 

In addition to hosting school field trips this past Spring, we also hosted our first overnight Outdoor School in our new wall tents! 6th grade students traveled with teachers and chaperones to Willow-Witt Ranch from a wonderful Montessori school located in Eugene.

At The Crest, they studied regenerative agriculture and the importance of building healthy soil, compost, rotating animals and crops, and planting for biodiversity. During the farm lesson, each field study group used fresh Willow-Witt Ranch produce to make a plant part salad with their own special salad dressing that we shared at dinnertime. Students also studied birds, wetlands, forests, fire and indigenous land management. The days were packed with hiking, games, lessons, nature journaling, free time, amazing meals, time with goats, the land and friends. 

A particular highlight of the overnight program was the opportunity for the students to engage in special evening programs. They enjoyed astronomy night! Through a partnership with Science Works Museum, we coordinated with the local Skywatchers astronomy group and studied the moon and Venus up close with telescopes. Science Works also provided other educational activities and stories. On the last night, the kids enjoyed s’mores and silly theater games with our energetic instructors.  

We also hosted K-6 grade students overnight from our local Pinehurst Elementary School. During our astronomy night we had a special visitor. A Great Grey Owl flew across the meadow at dusk while hunting and landed on a tree. One of the astronomers used his telescope and phone to capture a beautiful photo of the Great Grey Owl. Many of the teachers and students did not see the owl and our interest was piqued. We already had an owl pellet dissection on the schedule for the following evening! A parent informed us he saw the owl hunting in the lower meadow. The students were lucky this time to be able to take binoculars and walk down to the meadow to see the owl up close! What an amazing owl lesson!

Overnight Outdoor School at the Crest this Spring gave students opportunities to engage in hands-on science outside. We are excited that students walked away with gratitude, smiles, new knowledge, special memories and new appreciations for nature.

–Liz Blanco, Education Coordinator at The Crest