We feel local communities should be involved in the caring of their lands. We support policies that support local efforts to be involved. Because of this, we work with landowners to improve forest, stream, and grasslands on public and private lands. We do this by providing you the tools, training, and financial assistance. In working with others, we helped restore nearly 30,000 acres of working lands.
Working with Wallowa County & partners, we bring people together through a Community Planning Process – which has become a national model. By working together, we create a shared vision for land stewardship and management. Our community has become stronger and more resilient to change since we started this process. On one project, this work created over $5 million in local benefit.
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We can not create change in rural communities alone. We do this with stratgic alliances and educating policy makers. We share our local knowledge by partnering with universities. And, bring fresh ideas to rural communities. Come join the conversation and get involved in improving rural communities!
We believe education is key to understanding land issues. You can only understand through direct contact with the land. Our programs connect you with the land and teach you critical skills in solving land issues. Young and old both have opportunities to explore and learn about this amazing place we call Wallowa County.
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We bring innovative ideas to economic development around natural resources. When the mills shut down, we had to a find a new way of doing business. We have helped launch several new businesses and work in renewable energy, small diameter logging, and land stewardship. Today, fresh life and vitality is growing in rural communities.
Wallowa County has been hit hard with hundreds losing their jobs when the mills shut down. We are still trying to recover from this. We have responded by creating family-wage jobs. As of today, we are supporting 54 jobs. We continue to find innovative ways to bring family-wage jobs back to Wallowa County.
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Weeds threaten the vitality of working lands. We work across state lines and with partners to stop the threat. Our goal is to work together using various techniques to control weeds. Neighbors helping neighbors to ensure weeds do not spread is a unique, innovative approach. In working with partners, we have treated over 15,000 acres in Oregon and Washington.
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Featured Program
Friday WREN Ends On A High Note
Our Friday Science Adventure Program, called WREN (Wallowa Resources Exploration of Nature), ended last Friday. We took 25 kids (5-8th graders) camping on the Snake River. It was quite an adventure. The kids hiked in 4 miles along the Imnaha River before their big campout. Luckily, they didn't have to carry too much gear since generous volunteers jet boated in our camping gear. Kids slept in the rain, roasted marshmallows and played team games at the campout.
30 kids participated in the 7 classes offered this spring. Kids learned about predator/prey relationships, built bows and arrows, and explored the canyon country. Click here to photos of the spring season. It was another exciting WREN season. Friday WREN will start again in October.
We believe thriving rural communities need strong economies, a commitment to land stewardship, and top-notch learning opportunities. Our mission is to develop, promote, and implement innovative solutions to help the people of Wallowa County and the Intermountain West sustain and improve their communities and their lands. We accomplish this by working together with you, our community, and partners. With success, Wallowa County provides a model for rural community revitalization.
We Support Our Community
We love where we live and work -Wallowa County. We value the heritage of make a living from the land that runs deep in Wallowa County. Because of this, we work with our community to support the productivity of Wallowa County's working lands - our forest, rangelands, and farmlands. We accomplish this by our commitment to land & watershed stewardship, to creating jobs, and educating the next generation.
Discover Our Programs
• Stewardship & Restoration Work - works in partnership with local contractors and land owners to design and implement forest, range, and stream restoration projects.
• Youth, College & Community Education - provides outdoor and hands-on learning for youth; host community presentations and workshops; and teaches university students about rural land issues
• Jobs & Business Development - promotes entrepreneurship by assisting business owners to start, improve, or expand ventures that create jobs and income from natural resources and renewable energy
Get Involved
We need your support! It takes all of us working together to create a vibrant Wallowa County. Your support will get kids outside and learning about Wallowa County's outdoors, stop the invasion of weeds, and create family-wage jobs, just to name a few. So join us today by donating or staying informed through our newsletter.
Upcomming Events
| Wed May 22 @10:00AM - 12:15PM Boise Cascade Mill Tour - Elgin |
| Wed May 22 @ 1:00PM - 05:00PM Wallowa Whitman Forest Collaborative - Boise Conference Room - Elgin |
| Sat Jun 15 @ 9:00AM - 02:00PM Recycle Your Leftover Paint |
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