CC Newsletter - 02/17/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Supervised by teachers, parent volunteers, and parks staff, the students performed this week of service as part of their year-long curriculum of community service and experiential learning in the outdoors. "An integral component of the Montessori system of learning involves connecting with the land and earth and using the whole body," says Jennifer Wyld, middle school teacher at Ridgeline Montessori School. "Working in our parks represents an urban opportunity to work outside and contribute to the community." The VIP program supports citizen involvement in activities such as park beautification, litter control, trail development and maintenance, weeding, and other special projects in Eugene's parks. For more information about this and other park improvement projects, call Matt McRae in Parks and Open Space at 682-4845, e-mail him at volunteersinparks@ci.eugene.or, us, or visit www.ci.eugene.or, us/parks/maint/vip.htm. For more information about Ridgeline Montessori School, call 681-9662. Volunteers Plant Over 1,300 Native Trees and Shrubs Alonq Willamette River In just over a week, close to 80 volunteers from the community and 30 students from the Rachel Carson program at Churchill High School came out to help the Eugene Stream Team plant nearly 1,300 native trees and shrubs along the Willamette River. This diverse group of volunteers, ranging in age from 3 to 75, accomplished this feat cheerfully and in record time--in less than six hours over three work parties! The effort went a long way to realizing the long-term vision of creating a substantial riparian forest along the Willamette River in the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park. "It was amazing to watch several dozen people preparing and planting an area and then leap-frogging down the path to the next available site," says Stream Team Coordinator Lorna Baldwin. "They all appeared to be having a good time, and one participant commented how nice it was to be able to contribute her time to a project with a known positive outcome." The project was made possible through a team effort by City parks staff with contributions ranging from grant writing, outreach and coordination to mowing the site in preparation for the volunteer work parties. Stream Team provides the opportunity for people to do hands-on environmental work, restoring and caring for the city's waterways and natural areas. For more information about this or other restoration projects across the city, contact Lorna Baldwin in Parks and Open Space, at 682-4850 or Iorna.j.baldwin@ci.eugene.or. us. Healthy Weight Initiative from National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute The Lane Coalition for Healthy, Active Youth (LCHAY) was recently selected as one of the country's 10 "Intensive Sites" for the Healthy Weight Initiative (HWI) by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). In fact, LCHAY was one of the two top applicants. The mission of LCHAY, which is only four months old, is working to strengthen childhood obesity prevention efforts in Lane County. Executive Director of Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Angel Jones, and Recreation Manager Sandy Shaffer, both recognize the importance of this initiative and are actively involved. The following benefits are just a few of those awarded this distinct honor: · Serving as a model community for obesity prevention efforts around the country. · Receiving national and local media recognition as a leader in this community. · Helping to lead the nation's fight against youth obesity. · Helping to reduce the burden of chronic disease in this community. · Receiving free material, partnership support, and training opportunities. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 February 17, 2005