Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship Program

SLEWS background

SLEWS began in 2001 Began in Napa in 2008 with classes from

Vintage High and Napa High Promotes a greater understanding of our

local ecology through field days of hands-on restoration work and environmental education

Fosters a connection to and respect for the environment while teaching leadership and communication skills

How does SLEWS work? Science department heads of Napa County high

schools are contacted to find interested teachers Each SLEWS class adopts one restoration project

on a farm, ranch or other natural area for the length of the school year

Projects are normally NRCS projects so we can easily partner to complete the restoration work

Mentors for the specific schools and project sites are recruited from the ag and environmental community to work with the students on field days

3-5 restoration field day dates are set with all involved parties

This year in Napa

Napa High School class worked at the Robert Mondavi Vineyard along Doak Creek

New Tech High Biology students worked at Scott Creek in Southern Napa

How many students have been involved?

2008-2009 --- 30 students 2009-2010 --- 52 students 2010-2011 --- 55 students

What kind of restoration work do the SLEWS students perform?

Planting of Native Trees, Shrubs, and Grasses

Planting of plants that attracts beneficial insects

Removal of Non-Native Vegetation Erosion control, such as willow wall

building Building and installation of bird boxes

What sort of educational activities do students take part in on field days?

Fish dissection Geology of Napa Valley presentation Salmon and steelhead life cycle talk Cover crops and Pierce’s disease talk Beneficial insect and pollinators lesson Oaks and oak diseases Environmental/Ag career panel

Accomplishments 2010-2011

200 native trees and shrubs planted100 grasses planted12 kestrel boxes built50,000 sq. feet of stream bank

cleared of invasive plant speciesMulching, and other maintenance

performed

What’s New for 2011-2012?

3 classes @ 25 students each = 75 students! 13-15 field days, instead of 8-10 Partnering with The Land Trust of Napa

County to work at the Archer Taylor Preserve and Wantrup Preserve

Thank you for your support!