Clackamas Clinics and Events

REI Gives: 2009 Portland Area Grants Recipients

2009 - 2010

Annually, REI dedicates a portion of its operating profits to help protect and restore the environment, increase access to outdoor activities, and encourage involvement in responsible outdoor recreation. REI employees nominate organizations, projects, and programs in which they are personally involved to receive funding or gear donations. For more information on REI grants, visit http://www.rei.com/aboutrei/gives02.html.

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership:
The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (LCREP) provides outdoor experiences that connect students' classroom work to the river and estuary and incorporates volunteer and service learning activities. Service learning and field projects give students applied experiences and a lot more. Testing water quality, observing wildlife, and viewing the world from a unique on-water perspective strengthens connection to the river and heightens sensitivity to the intrinsic value and fragility of our natural world. Their Outdoor Service Learning Program helps young citizens build a lifelong commitment to service and demonstrates the power of volunteerism -- engendering the sense that we all have things to give to our community. Retrofitting their schoolyard to improve stormwater management, planting native vegetation for salmon or removing non-native, invasive plants are just a few things students do to improve their community and connect their actions with the health of the river and local environment. In the 2009 - 2010 school year, LCREP will reach more than 14,000 students and nearly 2,000 community volunteers.

Johnson Creek Watershed Association:
The Johnson Creek Watershed Council will use REI's grant in support of its expansion of volunteer restoration opportunities in response to a dramatic increase in volunteer interest in recent years. The Council is developing year-round volunteer opportunities, in addition to its signature annual Watershed Wide Event, to enable more people to become involved in the Johnson Creek Watershed and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council. As part of this expansion, the Council is designing events for youth, reaching out specifically to youth from the diverse cultural backgrounds representative of the communities within the watershed. Funding from REI will be used to support the outreach, planning and implementation components of five youth events, and provide nutritious snacks and rain gear for volunteers.

Madrone Wall Preservation Committee:
The Madrone Wall presents amazing opportunites for outdoor recreation and experiences of the natural world in close proximity to one of Portland's fastest growing areas. It contains Portland's best rock climbing crag with over 100 established routes and the opportunity for miles of hiking trails. This amazing civic treasure, with a completed County Park Concept Design is now being prepared for park opening as early as 2010. The purpose of the Madrone Wall Preservation Committee's project is to begin construction of a sustainable soft surface hiking trail system at the Madrone Wall. The new trail system will increase trail access, prevent unnecessary erosion from poorly located social trails, and create safe hiking lanes in the core high-use area of what will be the newest County Park opening in decades. REI's grant will be used to purchase trail building materials.

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve:
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve will provide overnight camping programs and will engage volunteers in ourdoor service to enhance Camp Madsen, a newly acquired recreation site. In close proximity to forest, wetlands and a pond, the Camp Madsen site offers the perfect setting for outdoor education and recreation. In partnership with local school districts, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve will use REI's grant to provide new hands-on programs focused on environmental science, natural resource stewardship and natural history. Exciting experiences like canoeing, hiking and camping will help build students' confidence and inspire youth to take part in preserving natural areas in the future. REI's grant will also support volunteer projects to continue to enhance the site for educational opportunities. Grant funds will provide materials for volunteer projects and will also supply outdoor gear to equip students for recreational activities.

Community Cycling Center:
The Community Cycling Center will use REI's grant to increase its capacity for outreach and program engagement to communities within N/NE Portland who may not traditionally choose or have access to bicycles. Through the Community Cycling Center's hands-on Bike Clubs and Holiday Bike Drive, it aims to introduce more youth and families to bicycling as a viable and healthier way to get around their community while building strong partnerships with individuals and organizations who are committed to improving community health. REI's grant will support program coordination and will provide equipment, tools and instructional materials to be used by program participants.

Forest Park Conservancy:
Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) seeks to preserve, protect and improve the City of Portland's Forest Park. Working in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation, the FPC field crew coordinates habitat restoration projects throughout Forest Park's 5,156 acres. The Conservancy effectively leverages the field crew to work with an increasing number of volunteers, expanding the impact of FPC's active restoration efforts. REI funds will support a six-person AmeriCorps FPC crew and will provide the necessary tools and materials to lead a series of 14 volunteer work parties that will be open to the public. The series of volunteer projects will include larger efforts that will be actively promoted throughout the community.

Oregon Zoo Foundation:
The Oregon Zoo's Urban Nature Overnights (UNO) program connects underserved, urban youth to nature through a 22-hour outdoor educational experience. UNO works with a spectrum of agency partners to involve youth from audiences who have not traditionally participated in outdoor recreation or experienced natural settings. UNO uses highly-trained teen mentors and program alumni to introduce urban youth to the basics of camping and outdoor recreation in a safe environment. UNO also increases participant understanding, appreciation, and respect of the natural world in the Pacific Northwest through a variety of fun activities and games. REI's funds will provide transportation for youth to access UNO sites and will also provide camping gear for youth to use during their overnight experience.

Friends Of Tryon Creek State Park:
The Friends of Tryon Creek (FOTC) delivers educational and conservation programs to the public with the goal of encouraging people to visit, conserve and restore Tryon Creek Natural Area. This project will support FOTC's mission to expand conservation efforts in Tryon Creek Natural Area by creating the Tryon Creek Ecology Field team for local under-served high school students. This program will engage students in the planning, execution and assessment of restoration projects throughout the Tryon Creek watershed. Additionally, student participants will be provided with the charge and the tools to engage their high school communities in volunteer urban restoration projects. REI's grant will support project coordination and will provide supplies for student restoration activities.

Girls Inc. of NW Oregon:
Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon provides girls ages 10-15 with an opportunity to experience a new relationship with wilderness and outdoor recreation. Through monthly programs know as Girls Take Off, Girls Inc. focuses on an audience of low-income girls and teaches them physical health and stewardship in a practical way that they can embrace for a lifetime. Programs feature an innovative combination of wilderness and urban wilderness activities. The purpose of Girls Take Off is for Girls Inc. girls to increase their experience of outdoor recreation options, locations, and stewardship actions. Girls Inc.'s goal is to engage girls in wilderness sports and outdoor recreation as a medium for self-care, exercise, confidence building, and civic responsibility. REI's grant will supply funds for transportation, food and other activity materials to suppor girls during their outdoor experiences.

Tualatin Riverkeepers:
Tualatin Riverkeepers (TRK) promotes public access to nature and offers opportunities to experience and learn about the Tualatin River watershed first hand through itsTrips and Tours program. The Trips and Tours program features paddle trips throughout the year for organization members and the public. Volunteer paddle trip leaders help convey the beauty, issues and enjoyment of the Tualatin River to participants. Paddle trips serve as an outreach tool for TRK to engage participants as long-term volunteer stewards of the Tualatin River and incorporate their efforts into large-scale volunteer events. REI's grant funds will support Trips and Tours program coordination and outreach supplies.