Ever heard of "nature deficit disorder?" This phrase has popped up often in the conservation world lately. It's a fancy term for the negative impacts kids experience when they don't get to play and explore in nature.
Conservation districts across WA are working to create opportunities for kids to adventure and learn outside. Among them is Foster Creek Conservation District, which runs a free, overnight outdoor camp for middle schoolers every summer. Over three days, students go on nature hikes, train with wildland firefighters, explore shrubsteppe habitat, and more. Learn more about the program, here.
Generations of farming along Hangman Creek have faced erosion and water quality challenges. Through a partnership between the Spokane and Pine Creek Conservation Districts and the Washington State Department of Ecology, local landowners are restoring natural stream channels, planting native vegetation, and stabilizing creek banks, all while keeping working lands productive. Together, they’re proving that voluntary conservation benefits both farms and fish.
Generations of farming along Hangman Creek have faced erosion and water quality challenges. Through a partnership between the Spokane and Pine Creek Conservation Districts and the Washington State Department of Ecology, local landowners are restoring natural stream channels, planting native vegetation, and stabilizing creek banks, all while keeping working lands productive. Together, they’re proving that voluntary conservation benefits both farms and fish.
Established in the 1890s and donated to Washington State University in 2020, Vetter Farm is jointly managed by the Stevens County Conservation District and WSU Extension. This 158-acre property serves as a working demonstration farm, supporting soil health research, agroforestry trials, and educational field days that bring local producers together to share ideas and test new approaches.
