Yakona Learning Center

YAKONA LEARNING CENTER IS A LIVING LABORATORY THAT SERVES TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF OREGON'S CENTRAL COAST SPRUCE HABITAT AND ITS WILDLIFE THROUGH THE ARTS, EDUCATION, AND STEWARDSHIP.

FOREST & LANDS: IN THE PAST YEAR WE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH, RANGING FROM THE COMPLETION OF YAKONA'S FIRST FOREST MASTER PLAN WRITTEN BY SILVA SAUTERRA, TO THE NEAR-EMINENT CLOSING ON A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH MCKENZIE RIVER TRUST, WHICH WILL PROTECT YAKONA IN PERPETUITY. ONCE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS FINALIZED, OUR PLAN IS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH FOREST CARBON WORKS TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS UNDER THEIR CARBON CREDITS PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: YAKONA'S DOCENT PROGRAM HAS MATURED OVER THE PAST YEAR. WE HAVE ORIENTED 22 INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE A STRONG CORE OF 10 DOCENTS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN OUR ACCESS, FOREST & LANDS, AND NATURALISTS PROGRAMS. DOCENT PROJECTS INCLUDED TRAIL MAINTENANCE, INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, CULVERT MAPPING, TRAIL CAMERA OPERATIONS AND MONITORING, POLLINATOR PLANT CULTIVATION, AND SO MUCH MORE. OUR ACCESS AND NATURALIST DOCENTS SERVED 490 YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH YAKONA'S EDUCATION & ARTS PROGRAMMING AND PUBLIC TOURS. COLLECTIVELY, OUR DOCENTS VOLUNTEERED 775 HOURS IN 2023.

CREATING CONNECTIONS: IN 2023, WE SERVED 322 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, 94 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND ANOTHER 52 COLLEGE STUDENTS. BETWEEN EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS AND FIELD TRIPS, 235 EDUCATORS AND CHAPERONES AVAILED THEMSELVES OF YAKONA'S UNIQUE CURRICULAR EXPERIENCE. YAKONA CENTERS "STUDENTS AS SCIENTISTS" - ALL ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH CLIMATE SCIENCE MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION.

COMMUNITY ARTS: NATURE IS A LIMITLESS SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, AND ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL WAYS TO CONNECT WITH IT IS THROUGH ART. THE COMBINATION OF ART AND NATURE ALLOWS PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE NATURAL WORLD, CREATE MORE PROFOUND MEANING FOR THEMSELVES, AND DEEPEN CONNECTIONS THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES AND EMOTIONS.