Students from Newberg High School will be digging into the soil at Champoeg State Heritage Area 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 8 to plant native Oak trees and prairie plants in the park. Park rangers welcome volunteers to the event; meet the group at Champoeg’s Oak Grove Day-use Area anytime during the 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. window. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will provide 100 Oregon white oak trees for students and volunteers to plant that day. Andrea Berkley, natural resource specialist with OPRD, says the new oaks will play an important role in the area’s ecology. “Oregon white oak provides habitat for over 200 wildlife species including insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians,” said Berkley. “Even a single oak is important habitat for many species, especially when they are dispersed through various habitats.” Event participants will also be planting more than 4,500 native prairie plants, provided by nonprofit Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE.) The prairie seedlings are part of the OPRD and IAE partnership “Champoeg Prairie Restoration Project.” Champoeg State Heritage Area has a $5 day-use parking fee. More info about the park, including map and driving directions, is on oregonstateparks.org.
Learn more about the Institute of Applied Ecology: https://appliedeco.org/
