Boots in the Basin: New footing

Jenny Rieke (she/her) -

Each day I learn about even more that’s going wrong in the world. Scanning headlines, I practice paying attention without biting down hard on reality. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed day after day. I notice many people numbed into inertia.

If it weren’t for this humble acre we call home, a mature treelot surrounded by neighbors’ carefully manicured lawns and gravel patches, I don’t know how I’d maintain sanity. Boots is my attempt at offering optional paths forward. We are called to create and recreate ourselves at every turn.

I wish you the fortitude to find new footing.

—Jenny Rieke, Section Editor

Digging Deeper with Dana Ward
“My abiding theme is this: Be always mindful that you are part of nature and not above it.”
TumbleweirdJenny Rieke (she/her)

Come share your enthusiasm!

Columbia Basin Washington Native Plant Society

We’re looking for volunteers for the CBWNPS booth at Tumbleweed Music Festival,  August 29-31, at Howard Amon Park, Richland.

FREE ALL DAY!

Volunteers need not be there every day nor all day long. You don’t have to be an expert on native plants or the shrub steppe.

The festival has five stages with all kinds of acoustic music from across the Northwest. More information at tumbleweedfest.com

If you are interested, please contact Mikki Symonds at 509-303-3893 or syom4@protonmail.com

The sooner we know, the better. Get in touch for more details!

Priority Climate Action Plan

Bill Barlow 

The Washington Partnership of the Departments of Ecology and Commerce just completed a 254-page encyclopedia of future Climate Change impacts and mitigation strategies. It is a well-organized investigation, divided by sector, so readers can jump right into their particular interest. 

I was fascinated by ‘energy’ section which mentions nuclear fusion alongside small modular fission reactors. The sections on buildings and industry focus largely on energy upgrades and capture of carbon. I wheeled through transportation because that is my specialty; but I had to put on boots with spurs to wade through the broad opportunities to achieve climate friendly agro-industrialization. 

Land conservation thoughtfully praised Native American traditions. As a counselor for the Boy Scouts of America Sustainability Merit Badge, I look forward to the next segment on waste and recycling. I encourage you to dig in by visiting:
waclimatepartnership.org 

Bill Barlow leads Sustainable TriCities, a hub of regional resources, services, and events. 

Washington Climate Partnership / https://waclimatepartnership.org

BIRDING CLUBS: Binoculars, bonding, and budding scientists

North American Association for Environmental Education

North American Association for Environmental Education

Move over, robotics club! An elementary school birding club (Britton et al. 2024) showed remarkable results in building scientific literacy, social skills, and nature connection. Students learned to use specialized equipment, practiced observation  techniques, and developed identification skills in authentic contexts.

The magic happened when traditionally struggling students found their element. One shy student with reading difficulties gained newfound confidence through her uncanny ability to mimic bird calls. Her mother observed that birding “boosted her confidence because she struggled in school... she didn’t have something that was hers. And then once she started doing the birding thing... she was good at mimicking sounds.”

Western meadowlark / Jenny Rieke

Try this: 

Create opportunities for authentic scientific inquiry using your school grounds or nearby natural areas. Multi-age groupings allow younger students to learn from older ones, while hands-on tools like binoculars transform “just walking around outside” into serious scientific business.

BOOTS IN THE BASIN is made possible by a coalition of local environmentally-focus organizations, including: