Hello Watershed Supporters,

The South Santiam Watershed Council (SSWC) is excited to announce that our organization has been awarded $25,000 from the Oregon Community Foundation! Through their partnership with the BottleDrop Fund, OCF is providing these funds in support of our ongoing commitment to student-centered outdoor experiential education for students in East Linn County. We plan to use these funds for our fall program Salmon Watch, ensuring that we can  hire local environmental educators, who are crucial in making Salmon Watch an enriching and unique experience for students . This upcoming season will be our twelfth year offering Salmon Watch for students in the Lebanon Community and Sweet Home School Districts. 

Salmon Watch has grown and evolved over the years. In its current form, it thrives within a collaborative relationship between the SSWC and the Calapooia Watershed Councils outdoor education programs. Together, we share resources, support program and staff development, and provide educational experiences for over 1,000 5th and 6th grade students from across Linn County. If you’ve never been on a Salmon Watch field trip, think of spending an entire day centered around the life and ecology of Pacific Salmon, celebrating its rich cultural significance and helping kids explore the many ways that salmon are intertwined with river health. For students in our watershed, this field trip is often their first experience diving deep into the world of salmon. 

The South Santiam Watershed Council works closely with community partners to provide year-round outdoor education programming for youth in our area. Education is but one facet of our organization's mission “to enhance and protect the natural resources of the South Santiam River watershed for the social, environmental, and economic benefit of all those who live, work and visit.” For 30 years, our organization has worked in East Linn County to restore and protect the South Santiam River, working to ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of the river flowing through our communities.