The Yakima Rivers Festival 2008 Map and Exhibitor Guide

1. Yakima Valley Museum
   Track/footprint identification of native Yakima river animals and bird species. The students will get to touch and hold molds of tracks and then will get the opportunity to make prints of those tracks in a small booklet which they will then take away with them.
2. Dept. of Natural Resources
   Activities about the connection between rare plants, wildlife, and geology on the Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve in the Yakima River Basin.
   
3. Yakima County Solid Waste - Recycling
   Students will be provided with information and education about recycling and how it affects the environment in a positive manner.
4. Yakima County Noxious Weed Board (walkthrough)
   Yakima County Noxious Weed Control Board is very active in managing the noxious weeds along the Yakima and Naches rivers riparian areas. They will present alternative measures to week control and let the students know how they can be part of the solution to reduce the spread of noxious weeds.
5. Large fish Aquarium with local fish supplied by the Washington state Dept of Fish and Wildlife (Region 3) and the Yakima Greenway foundation. (walkthrough)
   Live native warm and cold water fish on display for the students to identify species and anatomy of the fish.
6. Bull Trout Radio Telemetry & Yakima Basin Fish ID Study (walkthrough)
   Poster display of 2003-07 bull trout radio telemetry research conducted by Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in the Naches Basin w/ hands on equipment demonstration.
7. Furs, Feathers & Bones - Yakima Basin Environmental Education Program
   Focus will be on the birds and mammals of the watershed.  Presentation will cover form and function, food chains, etc.
8. River Restoration
   A large table top model of a river system allows students to see examples of how organizations in the Basin restore the Yakima River and its tributaries.
9. Yakama Nations Fisheries
   This exhibit is still being confirmed and will need until Sept 19th to verify.
10. Pacific Power & Light
    An interactive and hands-on opportunity to learn why birds use power poles and see what Pacific Power does to make poles safe places for birds to perch.
11. Raptor House Rehab Center
    The Raptor House Rehab Center cares for sick, injured, and orphaned birds of prey. We also take care of the large aquatic birds such as Pelican, Herons, Fishers, Ducks, Swans, and Geese. We were established in 1998. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the care of wildlife.
12. U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers
    The primary goal is to teach youth about watersheds, salmon, human impacts on the environment, and the inter-connective nature of ecosystems.
13. Dept of Ecology – Sustainability and the World Around You
    Sustainability is meeting our needs now without taking away from future generations. One way to be sustainable is to practice the 3R\'s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduce how much you use, re-use what you have, and when it is used up, give it back to be made into something new!
14. Franklin and North Yakima Conservation Dist. –Hooks and Ladders
    Navigate through an obstacle course that simulates river and ocean conditions while trying survive predators, natural and man-made barriers.
15. Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (under the shelter)
    A discussion of shrub steppe: the geology of central Washington: and how watershed effects the major rivers.
16. Naches Ranger Station Impact Monster and Smokey the Bear
    A Skit the students participate in that helps teach the impact we all make when we are walking in or using natural areas.
17.  Rotary Riparian and Wetland Walk 
    This walk will take the students off the path and out next to the river so then can identify what a riparian area is and how to tell the difference in the classifications of a wetland.
18. WA D.O.T. Helping Transportation and Wildlife
    Come find out how the Washington State Department of Transportation actually improves fish habitat while building highways. Please visit this fun, interactive, hands-on booth!
    
    See WSDOT movie (click here) from the 2007 Yakima Rivers Festival (launches Windows Movie Player).
19. Yakama Fisheries
    Current studies on the White Pelicans and Cormorants along the Yakima River.