Columbia Basin Residents Invited to Explore Columbia River

Residents of the Columbia Basin are invited to participate in two educational field tours this fall, organized by the conservation group Wildsight. The tours, titled “Columbia River Conversations,” aim to engage participants with the region’s rich ecological and cultural history through interactive learning experiences along the Columbia River.

Scheduled for early September and late September, the tours will offer opportunities for camping, exploration, and discussions on various topics related to the Columbia River. These include dam operations, reservoir levels, ecosystem restoration, and the implications of the Columbia River Treaty.

Graeme Lee Rowlands, the program lead, emphasized the importance of understanding the complex issues facing the Columbia Basin. “The Columbia Basin is a vast and complex watershed with an even more complex future,” he stated. “To understand the issues we face, it’s essential to spend time with the actual places that are involved. And it’s equally important to learn from a wide range of perspectives.”

Field Tour Details

The first tour will take place from September 5 to 7, 2023, in the Revelstoke area, with participants camping at Blanket Creek Provincial Park. The second tour will follow from September 27 to 29, 2023, in the Castlegar area, with camping at Syringa Creek Provincial Park. These events are designed to foster connections among individuals who share an interest in the Columbia watershed, encouraging dialogue and knowledge sharing.

Columbia River Conversations builds on Wildsight’s eight years of experience in providing educational programs focused on the Columbia River. The organization launched the Columbia River Field School in 2018, a 15-day summer program aimed at students to promote awareness and engagement with watershed issues.

In 2021, Wildsight released “Teach the Columbia,” a curriculum package that made the field school’s topics accessible to teachers. The package has since facilitated professional development courses for educators. In 2023, community leaders and field school alumni gathered to exchange knowledge and forge connections, further enhancing the program’s impact.

Open to All

For the first time, these educational experiences will be available to the general public. Rowlands expressed the hope that a diverse group of participants will join, including local residents, community leaders, artists, writers, and natural resource professionals.

The tours aim not only to educate but also to inspire action and collaboration within the community regarding the challenges and opportunities associated with the Columbia River. Interested individuals are encouraged to register for the tours and engage in meaningful conversations that can shape the future of the watershed.