Wolftree celebrates 15th birthday

"When I was a kid, I always wanted to throw a birthday party like this," said Janet Zuelke.

So she did - only it wasn't for herself; it was for the environmental education organization Wolftree.

Wolftree is turning 15; the organization has been active in Sisters for many of those years. Supporters gathered Saturday night at Three Creeks Brewing Co. to celebrate with a bagpiper, a clown, storytelling from Susan Strauss and music from Dennis McGregor, Patrick Lombardi and Peter Heitoff.

"It hasn't been fast; we've been here for almost 10 years," Wolftree executive director Dale Waddell told The Nugget. "One of our goals was to do outreach in rural communities. Sisters was a logical place for us to go because there were great opportunities in the schools, especially with our project-based learning program."

Wolftree's programs focus on hands-on, in-the-field learning in the fields of science and ecology, "providing opportunities for students to be in control of their education," as Waddell puts it. "This is real-world stuff. The students are treated like they're going to a job."

Wolftree has used its office in Sisters to expand further into the Central Oregon region, to places like Prineville. There, they recently put up funds to help the cash-strapped Crook County School District keep what Waddell calls a "rock star teacher." Brian Wachs is a gifted, innovative science teacher whose job was on the chopping block because of his low seniority. Wolftree made it possible for the district to keep him on.

Zuelke and her husband Forrest Babcock were instrumental in helping Wolftree create the 58-acre Whychus Creek Discovery Outpost adjacent to their property. Zuelke has been a key Wolftree volunteer and has organized fundraisers to support the organization.

On Saturday night, Zuelke and Waddell presented awards to people who have made significant contributions to helping Wolftree meet its goals. Those honored were attorney Ron Nelson, who helped with the land transaction that led to the outpost; Lynn Woodward, who has donated her photographic skills to support Wolftree; Pamela Jo Hunter, who has provided graphics services; The Nugget; and Bureau of Land Management resource officer Tom Mottl.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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