The Methow Conservancy, in Washington State's Methow Valley
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About our Education Programs

We take seriously the concept of being a community-based land trust, and education is a unique part of our mission. In addition to directly protecting land through conservation easements, we also provide the information and resources community members want and need to practice land conservation on their own.  Landowners in the Methow Valley want to do the right thing for their land, and we've found that educational resources are not only helpful and powerful tools, they are also invaluable ways for us to connect with and learn about our members and community.  We are committed to providing the most current and accurate information we can about some of the most pressing conservation issues in the Valley.  Please feel free to contact us with questions or information anytime.

One of our most popular education programs is our First Tuesday Lecture Series. On the First Tuesday of each month we host a free community lecture, presentation, or discussion focused on natural history, ecology, or conservation topics. The sessions are well-attended and create lots of discussion. For a listing of future First Tuesday Lectures, click here. Topics in the past have included: Amphibians of the Methow; The Ice Age Floods; Food, Farming & Independence; Restoration with Native Plants; Bats of the Pacific Northwest; Building Green; Cougars; and the History of Ski Mountaineering in Washington.

We also share conservation information through our Good Neighbor Handbook and our Restoring Shrub-Steppe in the Methow Valley Handbook. Originally published in 2000, the Good Neighbor Handbook offers helpful ecological and practical information for landowners to consider before building or living in the Methow. We received grant funding from the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation, the New Priorities Foundation, and the Community Foundation of North Central Washington to revise, update, and reprint a second edition of Handbook in 2005.

In 2005, we initiated an annual "Methow Conservation Course" for people who wanted a more in-depth study of Methow Valley natural history.  Our goals are to create a corps of educated land stewards who can help us encourage conservation of the Methow Valley; increase awareness about natural history and the unique habitats of the Methow Valley; inspire more observation of, interest in and connections with the natural world; and provide clear and sound information on specific topics while also creating a greater sense of the importance of conservation.  The six-week Methow Conservation Course is designed for both the novice and the experienced naturalist (and for everyone in between).  

In addition to these educational tools, we also offer a variety of field-trips, workshops and classes; have a conservation resource library with books, videos, and scientific reports anyone can check out; host a weed and native plant education table at the Twisp Farmer's Market in July; hold a Natural History Book Club; and send out a monthly E-Newsletter. 
  
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