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.
In an arid landscape dominated by dryland grain production and rangeland, this pilot focuses on reducing soil loss, improving water availability, and supporting habitat health. By tracking conservation practices and applying watershed tools, the work helps partners better understand how voluntary conservation supports resilient working lands under changing conditions.
In a working lands landscape shaped by dryland farming, grazing, and irrigated agriculture, this pilot focuses on reducing erosion, keeping soil on the land, and improving stream and habitat conditions. By tracking conservation practices and applying watershed tools, the work helps partners better understand how voluntary conservation supports resilient farms and healthy watersheds.
Within a productive agricultural landscape shaped by dairy and crop production, this pilot focuses on improving water quality, managing nutrients, and reducing flood risks. Monitoring and conservation tracking help partners understand how voluntary conservation supports both farm viability and long-term watershed health.
