2014 SOLVE IT Presented by Portland General Electric Final Report

2014 SOLVE IT

Presented by Portland General Electric SOLVE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. The idea of people coming together from all over the world on Earth Day to take care of and celebrate our planet began in 1970. On April 22nd, 1970, over 20 million Americans worked in their neighborhoods and parks for a healthy sustainable environment. In 1990, SOLVE IT took root in the greater Portland-Metro area and has since grown into Oregon’s statewide Earth Day event. Over the past 25 years more than 100,000 volunteers have removed 15 million pounds of invasive plants and litter from illegal dumpsites, neighborhoods, and natural areas as part of this global event.

2014 Accomplishments More than 6,700 volunteers turned out on April 26th at over 180 sites, including neighborhoods, parks, school grounds and natural areas around the state to make a difference for Earth Day! With SOLVE support, volunteers accomplished the following improvements to Oregon’s environment:

• Removed 61 tons of litter, including 61 tires. • Cleared 28 acres of non-native invasive weeds. • Planted 2,651 native trees and shrubs. • Mulched over 5,400 hundred native plants.

Project Map

LETTER FROM THE SOLVE IT PROGRAM MANAGER Since 1990, SOLVE IT has brought together over 100,000 volunteers across Oregon for Earth Day to make a positive difference on our state’s environment. This year over 150 volunteer leaders stepped up to lead projects in their communities, identifying key environmental needs and spending countless hours organizing, recruiting volunteers, and securing sponsors. SOLVE is proud to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of this successful event. With the support of great sponsors like Portland General Electric, Metro, City of Beaverton and Skanksa, SOLVE volunteers have removed over 4,000 tons of litter and trash, planted 52,000 native trees and shrubs, and removed over 47,000 tires from our environment. We look forward to working with all of Oregon’s amazing volunteer groups, businesses, community groups, families and individuals for another 25 years!

Quintin Bauer Statewide Program Manager

Media Coverage

SOLVE IT received statewide media attention. The following is a sampling of the many newspapers, publications, television, radio stations, and web-based media that ran stories, notices, and calendar items. Print The Clatskanie Chief Curry Coastal Pilot Forest Grove News Times Hood River News Mollala Pioneer The Newberg Graphic Ontario Argus Observer The Portland Tribune The Record Courier Radio Fox Sports Radio 620 JAM’N 107.5 K103FM KEX 1190AM Oldies 106.7 Radio 102.3 The Brew 105.9 Z100 Web Vernonia’s Voice Willamettelive.com

Celebrating Global Youth Service Day For the second straight year SOLVE was selected by YSA (Youth Service America) as the lead agency in Oregon for Global Youth Service Day. This year the event took place between April 11th and 13th and also included all of the SOLVE IT projects through the end of April. Now in its 26th year, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is celebrated by hundreds of thousands of young people in more than 100 countries and recognizes the positive impact that young people have on their communities 365 days a year. Through youth-led service initiatives, young people address critical issues such as hunger and homelessness, childhood obesity, and environmental well-being. GYSD is a program of YSA (Youth Service America), which coordinates the event and offers grants, programs, and resources to assist in planning meaningful service-learning projects that improve the lives of young people and communities. This year 3,566 youth were involved in Global Youth Service Day events in Oregon, making a positive difference on our environment while demonstrating the incredible power of youth service!

Service-Learning: Students Making a Difference During this year’s SOLVE IT Earth Day event 1,461 students participated in 26 different service-learning projects with SOLVE. Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy integrating meaningful community service with academic study and reflective practice to enrich learning, build civic engagement, and strengthen communities. Students fulfill real community needs while meeting learning goals and content standards. Students at schools throughout Oregon were involved including: Mist Elementary School, Cedar Park Middle School in Portland, Tillamook High School, Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Gresham, Spring Mountain Elementary in Clackamas, and many others. Accomplishments include removing 545 pounds of trash, clearing over 2 acres of non-native invasive plants, and planting 335 native trees and shrubs. A big thanks to all of the students and teachers involved in these amazing events!

Event Coordinator Testimonial: Susan Barton 1. How long have you been involved with SOLVE, and how did you become involved? I participated in the coast cleanup in the spring of 1998 when I was taking an oceanography class at Portland Community College. Fast forward to “Take Care of Oregon Day” for the Oregon Sesquicentennial in 2009 when I organized a cleanup of the Welcome to Nyssa garden. Since that time I’ve led various cleanup projects in Nyssa. 2. With a myriad of wonderful non-profits to choose from in Oregon, why did you decide to become a project leader with SOLVE? SOLVE is such a great organization, getting people involved in beautification projects all around Oregon. Because I love this state and all the beauty we enjoy daily, I want to do my part to not only clean up, but get others involved in looking at what they can do to make an impact in their community. 3. How has the natural world impacted your life? The beach, the mountains, rivers and desert. I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy them all. My husband and I enjoy camping, and back country adventures. Nature around me has given me many moments of delight, whether it is the experience of climbing Eagle Cap or enjoying watching a butterfly land on a flower. The beauty of the natural world inspires, refreshes and invigorates me. Susan Barton Nyssa, OR Nyssa in Action Event Coordinator

Our Favorite Photos

Perkins Coie Employees having a great time at Pier Park in North Portland.

Beautiful scene at Cape Lookout State Park Sutherlin High School students following the cleanup event. made a huge impact at Tugman State Park near Reedsport.

A Cub Scout poses with his Blackberry Root trophy at McKay Creek in North Plains.

Project Sites and Coordinators

The success of each project depends on well-organized Event Coordinators. These are the volunteer leaders who, with support and technical assistance from SOLVE, identify community needs for projects, act as team leaders, contact local garbage haulers, help recruit and support volunteers, encourage the community to participate, order project materials, oversee the work and ensure the safety of volunteers, and much more. We couldn’t do it without them! Event Name 2014 Annual Alsea River Cleanup 2nd Annual Bay Area Brigade 3rd Annual Keizer Rapids Park Invasives Removal 4th Annual Cougar Mountain Riders Woods Cleanup A Clean McLean Park Alaska Airlines at Beaver Creek Alberta Street Earth Day Cleanup Alsea Estuary Clean-Up Alvah G. Cowan Park Cleanup Annual Oregon City Earth Day Event Azalea Park Litter PIck Up Beaverton Creek at Millikan Way Beck Kiwanis Park Clean-up Become a Friend of Mt. Tabor Park Weed Warriors Blandford Canyon Ivy Pull Bonneville Lock and Dam Broughten Beach clean-up Burnside Park Restoration Party Camassia Natural Area Volunteer Work Party Cape Lookout Earth Day Ivy Pull Care for native plants at Errol Heights Natural Area! Care for native plants at Foster Floodplain Carter Rest Area Cleanup Cedar Park Middle School at Trillium Creek Champoeg State Heritage Area Ivy Pull Cherryvile Cemetery Clean Up Chip-in At Tapiola Park City of Sherwood Trashpalooza City View Charter at Council Creek Clackamas High School at Rock Creek Troge Clackamas Middle College at Phillips Creek Cleanup Cascade Locks Collins Beach Earth Day Cleanup Sauvie Island Cottonwood Bay Cleanup

Location Alsea Coos Bay Keizer Otis West Linn Troutdale Portland Waldport Woodburn Oregon City Brookings Beaverton Ontario Portland Vancouver Cascade Locks Portland West Linn West Linn Tillamook Portland Portland Long Creek Portland St. Paul Sandy Astoria Sherwood Cornelius Damascus Portland Cascade Locks Portland Portland

Event Coordinator Christine Clapp Deborah Rudd Mark Caillier Belinda McElroy Mike Watters Stephen Kennett Sara Wittenberg Emily Bowling Patricia Hyatt Nancy Busch Scott Clapson Amanda Legernes Deanna Pobanz Alexa Todd Hailey Heath Timothy Darland Resa Allen Steven Miesen Molly Dougherty Travis Korbe Susan Hawes Ed Kerns and Susan Hawes Rebecca Deatsman Quintin Bauer Daniel Klug Joyce Yam Janice OMalley Galizio Jennifer Ortiz Dane Breslin, Tonya Mauk Rebecca Strohm Rebecca Strohm Debora Lorang Don Zirbel Amanda McAdoo

Project Sites and Coordinators continued Event Name Cottonwood Canyon Native Plant Restoration Crook County Cleanup Dahl Park Earth Day Deer Creek Ivy Pull Depot Park and Beaver Creek Earth Day Dog Walking Path Revival at the Oregon Humane Society Dunawi Creek Habitat Spring Cleaning Earl Boyles Elementary Courtyard Work Party Earth Day at Baltimore Woods Earth Day at Lot Whitcomb Elementary Earth Day at Willow Creek Earth Day Clean-Up Earth Day Cleanup on Deverell Road Earth Day in Bend Earth Day in Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Earth Day Litter Pickup + Food + Fun Earth Day on Indian Creek Earth Day Work Party Eola Ridge Trash Cleanup Estacada Spring Cleanup Day Fairview Woods Wetlands Park Earth Day Event Fishin’ for Litter at Casey State Park Force Lake Wetland Restoration Forest Glen Park Work Day Forest Park Elementary at Cedar Mill Creek Forest Park Invasive Ivy Removal Forest Park Ivy Removal with No Ivy League Forest Park Neighborhood Street Clean-up Fox Creek Trail Clean Up Frenchman’s Bar Park Beach Cleanup Gabriel Park Invasive Removal Garden relocation project Garlic Mustard Pull/ Trail Repair Gateway Green Cleanup Gladstone at Dahl Park Gladstone Clean and Green Project Glencoe High School at McKay Creek Glenfair Elementary Garden Cleanup Global Youth Service Day at Jackson Bottom Greater Helvetia Neighborhood Roadside Cleanup Green King Green Mountain Energy at Beaver Creek Ibach Park Earth Day Invasive Removal at Evergreen Park Ivy & Blackberry Removal Johnson Creek - Valley Catholic Earth Day Kerns-Buckman Neighborhood Cleanup La Salle at Phillips Creek Lents Town Center Green Street Cleanup

Location Wasco Prineville Gladstone Portland Troutdale Portland Corvallis Portland Portland Milwaukie Beaverton The Dalles Corbett Bend Portland Portland Hood River Monmouth Salem Estacada Fairview Shady Cove Portland Forest Grove Portland Portland Portland Portland Rainier Vancouver Portland Ukiah Rogue River Portland Gladstone Gladstone Hillsboro Portland Hillsboro Hillsboro Portland Troutdale Tualatin Hillsboro Beaverton Beaverton Portland Portland Portland

Event Coordinator David Spangler Richard Bonine Stephen Kennett Corrina Chase Michele Rosenberger Sasha Moyle Stephen McGettigan Dora Plancon Stephen Kennett Rachel Martin Stephen Kennett Emily Long Tomi ann Iler Cheryl Howard Marissa Dorais Cailin Bell Julie Burton Jessica Space Sarah Whitney Eric Jespersen Erika Fitzgerald Mandy Hellmann Dani Dennenberg Stephen Kennett Dane Breslin Mikala Soroka Kevin McWhirter Leslie Hildula Amy Poulos Tim Freeburn Jennifer Seamans Norma Barber Travis Tastove Linda Robinson Rebecca Strohm, Jerry Herrmann Dane Breslin, Celia Flaim Scott Crowell Jim Baggenstos Diego Gioseffi Stephen Kennett Jackie Konen Jacob von Borg Melissa Marcum Stephen Kennett Michael Petticord Rebecca Strohm Melanie McCandless

Project Sites and Coordinators continued Event Name Leo Adler Pathway Clean Up Lilly K. Johnson Woods Litter Pick Up Ma Olsen’s Garden Extension Maddax Woods Park Earth Day Make Vernonia Shine Day Mary S. Young Park Earth Day McKay Creek - Earth Day Mill Creek Cleanup Project Milo McIver State Park Meadow Restoration Milwaukie Downtown & Riverfront Cleanup Mingus Park Cleanup Minto-Brown Park Restoration Mist/Vernonia Collaborate Molalla River Cleanup & Corridor Enhancement Mosier Community Clean Up Nadaka Nature Park Cleanup Native Plant Restoration at William Tugman State Park NE 42nd Avenue litter patrol NE Park Ivy Removal Nearby Nature Alton Baker Park Clean Up NO MORE BUTTS! Northwest Portland Litter Pickup & Graffiti Removal NWDA April Third Saturday Cleanup Nyssa in Action OceanBlueProject & Earth Day Celebration Old Town Chinatown Streetscape Cleanup Pier Park Pick-Up Pleasant Valley School Pollinator Hedgerow Planting Polish The Jade Polish the Pearl Portland Development Commission Neighborhood Cleanup Portland Lutheran at Beaver Creek Portland State University Earth Day of Service Protect the precious forest in honor of Earth Day Pull out invasives at Blue Lake’s Disc Golf Course Rachel Carson at Willow Creek Raingarden Learn to Build at George Fox Rare Plant Care at Pascuzzi Pond Reedsport Public Spaces Invasive Weed Removal Remove Invasive Blackberry at Murrayhill Park

Location Baker City Beaverton Portland West Linn Vernonia West Linn Hillsboro Salem Estacada Milwaukie Coos Bay Salem Mist Molalla Mosier Gresham Reedsport Portland Beaverton Eugene Portland Portland Portland Nyssa Corvallis Portland Portland Gresham Portland Portland Portland Troutdale Portland Portland Fairview Beaverton Newberg Tualatin Reedsport Beaverton

Event Coordinator Johanna Sedell Melissa Marcum Rob Lee Claudia Davis Donna Webb Lorie Griffith Stephen Kennett Mark Babson Mark Shaw Beth Ragel Alexa Carleton Tibby Larson Rachel Wilcoxen Kay Patteson Matt Rutledge Lee Dayfield Chris Wiggins Julie Granger Greg Creager Erin Lamb Pedro Billescas Mary Ann Pastene Rob Fullmer Susan Barton Richard Arterbury Gwen Dulley Mary Ann Aschenbrenner David Scharfenberg Stanley Moy Jennifer Kirk Robin Raffety Nicole Poletto Felipe Ferreira Sarah Kreisman Bonnie Shoffner Dane Breslin Sonja Johnson Megan Garvey Susan Martin Kyle Spinks

Project Sites and Coordinators continued Event Name Rinearson-Boardman Wetland Earth Day Riparian Enhancement Action Party at North Regional Park Road’s End Beach Cleanup Rocky Butte Cleanup Rooster Rock Earth Day Tree Plant Salmon Creek Greenway Invasive Plant Removal Sandy River Cleanup Save a Salmon, Fix a Trail Scappoose Trail Grooming & Clean-up Silver Creek/Reservoir Cleanup Siuslaw Stream Team Skyline Ridge Neighborhood Cleanup SOLVE IT with Miller Education SOLVE-IT in Sandy South Waterfront Cleanup Spring Earth Day Cleanup in Columbia County Spring Moutain at Mt. Scott Creek SW 4th Ave Native Plant Release and Inventory Project Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Cleanup Target Shooting Cleanup Teen Outreach Program Beach Clean Up Tenmile Lakes Cleanup The Dalles Downtown Spring Clean Up Tillamook High School Beach Cleanup Tillamook State Forest Earth Day Cleanup TLC4MPC Tobias Elementary at Beaverton Creek Trib TOP Cannon Beach Cleanup TriMet and Stacy and Witbeck Earth Day at Kronberg Park Tub Springs State Wayside Clean Up Upper Fanno Wetland Valley Catholic Middle School at VCHS Wagon Wheel Park Ivy Removal Event Waterfront Park Earth Day Weeding Project Wilkes Park Earth Day Ivy Pull! Wingwatcher Trail Extension Wood Village Arboretum Project Woolen Mill Cleanup

Location Jennings Lodge Cottage Grove Lincoln City Portland Corbett Vancouver Troutdale Buxton Scappoose Silverton Reedsport Portland Hillsboro Sandy Portland Columbia City Happy Valley Portland Portland Estacada Gearhart Lakeside The Dalles Oceanside Gales Creek Coos Bay Aloha Cannon Beach Milwaukie Ashland Beaverton Beaverton Mulino Hood River Portland Klamath Falls Wood Village Bandon

Event Coordinator Terry John Gibson Jordan Cogburn Snahal Solanky Shawn Lewis Melissa Czinger Karen Llewellyn Russ Pascoe Steve Kruger Wyatt Stein Dawn Olson Jim Grano Cindy Banks Scott Crowell Nancy Enabnit Jim Luke, Lloyd Kendrick Helen Johnson Rebecca Strohm Aulani Johnson Mark Wensel Aaron Pedersen Ernesto Dominguez Cathy Reiss Trish Neal Eileen Aufdermauer Stephanie Beall Cricket Soules Dane Breslin Jenee Pearce-Mushen Melissa Carlin Beau Garrett Mel Schultz Dane Breslin Tracy Colgan Ann Frodel Hanna Davis William Wood Greg Dirks Michelle Hampton

Thanks to our Volunteer Groups, Partners and In-kind Supporters Alameda Elementary School Alberta Main Street Albina Community Bank Aloha High School sparrow club Americorps Hope Bakehouse Bagels Big Brother, Big Sister Boeing Boy Scouts Central Catholic High School Chemekata Community College Chipotle Mexican Grill City of Bandon City of Beaverton City of Bend City of Brookings City of Columbia City City of Corvallis Parks & Recreation City of Cottage Grove City of Fairview City of Milwaukie City of Newberg City of Salem Parks & Recreation City of Sandy City of Sherwood City of Troutdale Parks City of Tualatin City of Vancouver City of Vernonia City of Wood Village Claggett Creek Watershed Group Clark County Public Works Clean Water Services Columbia Gorge Community College Columbia Riverkeeper Columbia Slough Watershed Council Comcast Coos Watershed Association Corvallis Kiwanis Cougar Mountain Riders Association Crook County Parks Cub Scouts David Evans and Associates Elemental Technologies Estacada Development Association First Baptist Church Forest Park Neighborhood Association Fred Meyers Friends of Baltimore Woods Friends of Beaverton Creek Friends Of Force Lake Friends of Fox Creek Friends of Gateway Green Friends of Maddax Woods

Friends of McLean Park and House Friends of Mt. Tabor Park Friends of Pier Park Friends of Tryon Creek State Park Genentech Girl Scouts of America Glencoe High School Glenfair Elementary School Good Water Boat Works Green Lents Growing Gardens HB Lee Middle School Hewlett-Packard Company Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Hollywood Theatre Human Solutions Izaak Walton League of America - Silverton Chapter Kerns Neighborhood Association King Neighborhood Association Klamath Wingwatchers, Inc. Lents/Springwater Habitat Restoration Project Linnton Neighborhood Association Lower Columbia Canoe Club Madison Teen Outreach Program Club Metro Metropolitan Family Service Molalla River Watch, Inc. Mosier Community School Mt Hood Community College Nearby Nature Norse Hall North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council North Fork John Day Watershed Northwest District Association Northwestfirearms.com Oregon Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Oregon City Code Enforcement Oregon City Junior ROTC Oregon Clothing-Optional Beach Alliance Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Department of Forestry Oregon Humane Society Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Oregon State University OSU Center for Civic Engagement OSU Circle K Pacific Alarm Systems

Panera Bread PDF Engineering Pearl District Neighborhood Association Pleasant Valley Elementary School Portland Development Commission Portland General Electric Portland Parks and Recreation Portland Rescue Mission Portland State University Powder Basin Watershed Council Radio Disney Reeds SEEDS Reedsport Garden Club Resources for Health Rightside Art Ringo’s Lakeside Marina Rivers Edge Hotel and Spa Rogue Federal Credit Union Rotary Club Siuslaw Middle School Skyline Memorial Gardens Skyline Ridge Neighbors Southwest Airlines Southwest Charter School Springdale Job Corps Stacy and Witbeck Sutherlin High School Sylvan-Highlands Neighborhood Target Teen Challenge Teen Outreach Program The Forest Park Conservancy The Nature Conservancy The Wetlands Conservancy Tillamook High School Key Club Tri-Met Tryon Creek Watershed Council Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Ukiah School Upper Rogue Watershed Council US ACE - Bonneville Lock and Dam US Forest Service - Estacada Valley of the Rogue State Park Vernonia School District Walker Recycling and Garbage Washington County Master Recyclers Waterfront Community Park Association Watner Pacific College Wells Fargo Wilkes East Neighborhood Association William Tugman State Park Women in the Envioronment Young Life Zupans

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SITE SPONSORS Stacy and Witbeck Tri-Met Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District

2000 SW 1st Ave., Suite 400| Portland, OR 97201 503-844-9571 | 1-800-333-7658

www.solveoregon.org

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