12/18/2019
Feeling cheery? Please donate to support the great local conservation work and advocacy by Deschutes Redbands Trout Unlimited! Thank you!
All donations received through this year’s holiday ask letter will go toward the youth watershed education program.
https://www.paypal.me/deschutesredbandsTU
Happy Holidays & Best Wishes for Great Days on Our Rivers
from Deschutes Redbands Trout Unlimited Chapter
We’re excited to share this end-of-year update on current and future Chapter activities. We are also requesting your financial help in 2020. Donate now or read on for more about the amazing things happening with Deschutes Redbands TU:
Every year we toot our own horn and recap the things we have done as the Redbands Chapter to further the cause of protecting and restoring coldwater fisheries in the Deschutes Basin. 2019 was no different with activities ranging from road-to-trail conversions at Fall River, to riparian restoration at Canyon Creek Campground on the Metolius, to in-depth review and comments on the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. But this year’s “ask” letter is different. For this year’s donation request, we are focused solely on our youth watershed education program headed up by Darek Staab. Over the last ten years, Darek has built a model watershed education/stewardship program for students in the Bend-LaPine, Sisters and Jefferson County School Districts. This year the program engaged over 1,500 students (grades 2 - 8) during 56 field trips to places like Fall River, the upper and lower Deschutes and Metolius. This program has been offered at no cost to the schools and families. In the past, support has come from grants that Darek successfully secured. Unfortunately, many of the grant sources are no longer available and that means support must come from our Deschutes Redbands Chapter members. All donations received through this year’s holiday ask letter will go toward the youth watershed education program.
Why? Kids need to see and experience our rivers in the Deschutes Basin. They need to know how wild rivers work, why bugs matter and how fish populations survive. They need to get their hands dirty planting a willow stake, wax currant or sedge plug and see how that affects the health of the river. They need to be invested by understanding their role in protecting these special places throughout their lives. This education program gives them that opportunity. It is one of the most important things that our Chapter does, and we hope you will help continue this work through your contribution.
How much? When you tally the cost of personnel, travel for students and educators, journals, equipment and plantings, each field trip costs about $700 to run. A field trip has about 25 students, which allows for small, low-impact learning groups. Field trips are led by 3 educators with fish and wildlife backgrounds. Our Chapter also works with the STREAM Girls program under the Girl Scouts of America. This program is targeted at middle school-aged girls emphasizing river stewardship, conservation, fly tying and the serious art of fly casting. For many of these young women, it is their first opportunity to actually be in a river and will promote a better understanding of their role in protecting these resources…and yes becoming future fly anglers.
Please support these important and meaningful education programs. We are a 501 (c) 3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Donate online by clicking the button below or mail your check payable to: Deschutes Redbands TU, c/o Bend Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave. Bend, OR 97703.
