Engaging our Youth

FANs introduces youth to their neighbors in nature at CRR summer recreation program
By Robin Galloway, FANs President
Youth who signed up for Crooked River Ranch’s annual summer recreation program were given the opportunity to participate in several hands-on activities as they learned about some of the wildlife that calls central Oregon home. Nearly 100 youth participated in two day-camps held in July, with Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) offering four different educational stations for the kids to learn more about their neighbors in nature.
By far, the messiest activity was the “Introduction to Animal Tracks” station, where students were able to select life-size rubber tracks of local wildlife to make an ink impression on a paper. They labelled each track stamp with the name of the animal. The tracks included bear, jackrabbit, eagle, bobcat, deer, elk, cougar, raccoon and coyote footprints.
At the “Wildlife Bones, Scat and Bird Nests” class kids got to handle items such as deer and elk antlers, deer legs and feet, jaw bones and a coyote skeleton while learning about the animals in their natural environment. Students were also introduced to a real beaver skull, along with examples of chewed tree stumps and wood chips, illustrating the power of their iron oxide beaver teeth.
The “Bat Station” featured real (deceased) specimens of local bats with the kids learning some fun and fascinating bat facts. The students also checked out a bat house and sprayed a pheromone on the bat house to attract them.
The “Wildlife Pelt Collection” proved to be a popular exhibit where the kids were invited to feel and explore the differences in hide thickness, hair/fur growth, as well as gain perspective on the actual size of various animals including: deer, elk, river otter, beaver, fox, cougar, skunk and raccoon.
These educational classes were possible thanks to the volunteers who worked hard for two weeks to make CRR’s 2024 free camp happen. They include camp director Ara Erdekian and his competent helpers Annalycia and Ajax Erdekian; Cheryl Gieler, Earleen Arthur, Fran Davis, Sue Thomas and Vicki Burt. FANs is proud to be a participant in this fun learning event.
By Robin Galloway, FANs President
Youth who signed up for Crooked River Ranch’s annual summer recreation program were given the opportunity to participate in several hands-on activities as they learned about some of the wildlife that calls central Oregon home. Nearly 100 youth participated in two day-camps held in July, with Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) offering four different educational stations for the kids to learn more about their neighbors in nature.
By far, the messiest activity was the “Introduction to Animal Tracks” station, where students were able to select life-size rubber tracks of local wildlife to make an ink impression on a paper. They labelled each track stamp with the name of the animal. The tracks included bear, jackrabbit, eagle, bobcat, deer, elk, cougar, raccoon and coyote footprints.
At the “Wildlife Bones, Scat and Bird Nests” class kids got to handle items such as deer and elk antlers, deer legs and feet, jaw bones and a coyote skeleton while learning about the animals in their natural environment. Students were also introduced to a real beaver skull, along with examples of chewed tree stumps and wood chips, illustrating the power of their iron oxide beaver teeth.
The “Bat Station” featured real (deceased) specimens of local bats with the kids learning some fun and fascinating bat facts. The students also checked out a bat house and sprayed a pheromone on the bat house to attract them.
The “Wildlife Pelt Collection” proved to be a popular exhibit where the kids were invited to feel and explore the differences in hide thickness, hair/fur growth, as well as gain perspective on the actual size of various animals including: deer, elk, river otter, beaver, fox, cougar, skunk and raccoon.
These educational classes were possible thanks to the volunteers who worked hard for two weeks to make CRR’s 2024 free camp happen. They include camp director Ara Erdekian and his competent helpers Annalycia and Ajax Erdekian; Cheryl Gieler, Earleen Arthur, Fran Davis, Sue Thomas and Vicki Burt. FANs is proud to be a participant in this fun learning event.

RPA students experience Smith Rock State Park
By Robin Galloway, FANs President
On October 11, 2023, twenty middle school students from Redmond Proficiency Academy (RPA) participated in a field trip to Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne. Five of the youth reported that they had never been to the park which is famous for its geological rock formations and considered to be the birthplace of modern American sport climbing.
The field trip gave RPA educator Julie O’Neill’s photography class an opportunity to practice camera skills at the park. Additionally, volunteer park ranger and FANs member Amy Sue Matthews led a hike to view the rock which inspired the image found on CLIF Bar packaging. Each student received a CLIF Bar to remember and share the experience.
FANs Secretary Cindy Murray then showed the students how to adjust binoculars to spot birds in the rocky canyons of the park. A collection of weathered bones was available for up-close examination and photography. Board member Rod Miller and OSU Extension Master Naturalist and FANs member Barbara Reynolds Mayo were also on hand to share their knowledge with the students.
All in all, it was a great opportunity to expose local youth to the natural world of Central Oregon.
“Getting youth to appreciate the wonders of where they live is one of FANs’ goals,” stated FANs President Robin Galloway.
By Robin Galloway, FANs President
On October 11, 2023, twenty middle school students from Redmond Proficiency Academy (RPA) participated in a field trip to Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne. Five of the youth reported that they had never been to the park which is famous for its geological rock formations and considered to be the birthplace of modern American sport climbing.
The field trip gave RPA educator Julie O’Neill’s photography class an opportunity to practice camera skills at the park. Additionally, volunteer park ranger and FANs member Amy Sue Matthews led a hike to view the rock which inspired the image found on CLIF Bar packaging. Each student received a CLIF Bar to remember and share the experience.
FANs Secretary Cindy Murray then showed the students how to adjust binoculars to spot birds in the rocky canyons of the park. A collection of weathered bones was available for up-close examination and photography. Board member Rod Miller and OSU Extension Master Naturalist and FANs member Barbara Reynolds Mayo were also on hand to share their knowledge with the students.
All in all, it was a great opportunity to expose local youth to the natural world of Central Oregon.
“Getting youth to appreciate the wonders of where they live is one of FANs’ goals,” stated FANs President Robin Galloway.
Redmond Proficiency Academy Students Learn About Nature Activities for Mental Health
By Robin Galloway, FANs President
In June 2022, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) provided two days of educational field trips for high school students from the Redmond Proficiency Academy taking the elective course The Call of Nature, which focused on nature as therapy for physical and mental health.
Students participated in a variety of activities, from clearing out invasive flannel mullein weeds at Borden Beck Wildlife Preserve, being introduced to birdwatching, as well as hiking at Crooked River Ranch where they learned about local geology and the history of the area, along with basic trail etiquette.
At the end of the second day, students were asked to reflect on what they had learned from the experiences. One youth said that he wanted to get outside more to hike and get his family involved in camping. After hearing that, one of the FANs leaders quietly said, “Mission accomplished.”
By Robin Galloway, FANs President
In June 2022, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) provided two days of educational field trips for high school students from the Redmond Proficiency Academy taking the elective course The Call of Nature, which focused on nature as therapy for physical and mental health.
Students participated in a variety of activities, from clearing out invasive flannel mullein weeds at Borden Beck Wildlife Preserve, being introduced to birdwatching, as well as hiking at Crooked River Ranch where they learned about local geology and the history of the area, along with basic trail etiquette.
At the end of the second day, students were asked to reflect on what they had learned from the experiences. One youth said that he wanted to get outside more to hike and get his family involved in camping. After hearing that, one of the FANs leaders quietly said, “Mission accomplished.”