Corvallis Science & Nature: A Unique Valentine, Spring Break Wilderness for Kids, and Two Valentine’s Day Talks

 Feed Your Valentine to an Eagle 

If you’re looking for an unusual, but helpful, Valentine’s gift, Chintimini Wildlife Center has you covered. Now through Valentine’s Day, every $5, $10, or $25 donation to the center comes with a digital Valentine’s Day card, informing your loved one that an insect, rodent or vegetable has been named after them and fed to one of Chintimini’s wildlife patients and animal ambassadors. For those looking for a more personal wildlife experience, every $100 donation comes with a personalized video of the eagle, owl, falcon or other center resident devouring the treat named for your beloved. Details and donation form available on the center’s website.  

Environmental Center Spring Program Registration Open 

It seems like kids just got back to school after the holidays, but Spring Break and the end of fall classes are just around the corner. The Corvallis Environmental Center has opened registration for two of its spring programs, including a pedal-powered pollinator tour of Willamette Park and a wetland-themed Spring Break adventure.

First, in mid-March, beginner and intermediate bike riders between the ages of 5 and 10 are invited to join Environmental Center staff for three days of rides and lessons about our local pollinators. The program runs from March 15-17 from 9 am to 3 pm each day. Depending on which skill level they choose, each participant will ride about 3 to 5 miles, with plenty of stops to check out the bees.  

This year’s Spring Break program is wetland-themed, taking kids between the ages of 5 and 11 on a guided tour of the plants and animals that call wetlands home, and why these threatened ecosystems are so important to maintain and conserve. The Spring Break program runs from March 29-31 from 9 am to 3 pm each day.  

Both programs are $65, and registration is available here while openings last.  

Tuesday: Rain Gardens for Stormwater 

On Valentine’s Day itself, join Oregon State Extension Master Gardeners for a Zoom lesson on using rain gardens to store water and protect our waterways from stormwater pollution. OSU professor and statewide watershed manager Derek Godwin will help gardeners assess their site, choose a layout and plants, and get technical assistance to set up their own rain gardens. This is the latest in the Master Gardeners Level Up series, helping experienced gardeners develop new skills and grow their gardening expertise. The seminar runs from noon to 1 pm on Tuesday, February 14th. Registration and more information on rain gardens are available here.  

Tuesday: Cleaner Home Fuel Lecture 

OSU’s College of Engineering is offering another option for Valentine’s Day learning, with the latest in its ongoing virtual faculty lecture series. Associate Professor Nordica MacCarty will be giving a talk titled “Reverse Innovation to Protect Health and Climate: Advances in Cleaner Biomass Combustion for Household Energy in the Developing and Developed World.” The news over the past few weeks has been filled with arguments over gas vs. electric stoves, but over 7 million Americans and nearly 40% of the world still rely on burning wood and woody fuels. Dr. MacCarty will talk about the work OSU is doing alongside the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to make wood-burning stoves cleaner and safer. The talk runs from noon to 1 pm on Tuesday, February 14th. Registration and more information available here. 

By Ian Rose 

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