Exploring the diversity of the Americas: Virtual Cook Along

Hola amigos!

As we journey from the Willamette to the Laja and from Cape Columbia to Cape Horn, we will have the opportunity to witness the amazing diversity that the Americas have to offer. From the tropical lush rainforests of the Amazon basin to the rugged glacial peaks of the Andes, and from the bustling cities of North America to the quiet fishing villages of the Caribbean, the Americas are home to an incredible range of climates, ecosystems, and cultures that make it one of the most fascinating and diverse continents in the world.

We believe that food is a powerful medium to connect people, celebrate diversity, and raise awareness about important issues. Over the coming year, we will be holding several virtual cooking events that highlight traditional dishes from different countries throughout the Americas. By doing so, we hope to not only showcase the amazing flavors and ingredients of these countries but also honor the incredible diversity in our world

Our first virtual cooking event will take us to the beautiful country of Ecuador, which is located on the western boundary of South America and is known for its incredible biodiversity and rich traditions. Ecuador is home to four distinct bioregions, each with its own unique flavors and ingredients: the coast (la costa), the Andes (la sierra), the Amazon (Amazonía), and the Galápagos (insular).

On the menu for this event, pictured below, are three delicious dishes that highlight the unique flavors and ingredients of Ecuador. From the crunchy patacónes with cheese and ají that are popular in the Amazon and highlands, to the rich encocado that is a staple on the coast, participants will be able to delve into the diverse and delicious cuisine of this beautiful country.

A chef from Ecuador will guide us through the process, sharing tips, tricks, and chef secrets along the way. All of the necessary equipment, ingredients, and recipes will be provided beforehand, along with a prep list and shopping list.

The virtual cooking event is not just about cooking, it's also about learning. As we cook, our Ecuadorian chef will share with us the historical and cultural significance of each dish, as well as interesting facts and stories about the natural history and humanities of Ecuador. If you prefer not to cook, you can still participate and enjoy the immersive cultural experience.

Registration is easy, and all proceeds from the event go towards supporting the Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership and our commitment to promoting watershed restoration through full lifecycle restoration, engagement, education, and economic development with rural and urban Latinx communities in Oregon and Mexico.

So whether you're a foodie looking to explore new flavors or someone who is passionate about supporting Latinx communities and environmental conservation, our virtual cooking event is the perfect way to get involved and make a difference. We can't wait to see you there!

Be sure to provide your email address during registration to receive menu updates and additional information leading up to the event on April 22. For more information about the Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership, please visit our website at www.willamette-laja.org.

click to learn more and rEGISTER NOW!

The Importance of Biodiversity and an Event to Celebrate

Globally, our habitats and ecosystems are degrading at an alarming rate, jeopardizing biodiversity— a term used to summarize the variety and interconnectedness of our planet’s organisms.

Biodiversity has developed over millions of years to form the complex landscape that we see today. While we often think about biodiversity in simplified terms, in reality, it involves several factors such as species diversity and interactions, habitat diversity, genetic variation, and the range of differences within the larger biological units that we call biomes. Without biodiversity, life on Earth would cease to exist; it provides us with oxygen, nourishment, clean water, medicine, science, and shelter, amongst countless other things.

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in the Laja. Photo by Paola Rangel, Aves Compartidas Program Instructor.

Life is resilient, intricate, and above all, delicate; biodiversity needs to be protected

The state of Oregon spans an estimated 98,000 square miles (250,000 km2) and hosts over 400 species of birds, 136 mammals, 30 species of reptiles, 31 amphibian species, 200 species of fish, and 3,300 species of flowering plants.

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The state of Guanajuato spans an estimated 11,818 square miles (30,608 km2) and hosts over 366 species of birds, 87 mammals, 81 species of reptiles, 25 amphibian species, 38 species of fish, and 2,786 flowering plants.

The states of Oregon and Guanajuato are over 2,000 miles apart, separated by diverse biomes and climates such as temperate rainforests, hot deserts, and extensive grasslands. Still, we are connected.

Using a platform of shared migratory birds, Our Aves Compartidas program celebrates both our similarities and our differences, appreciating the interconnected web of life.

In recognition of the interconnectedness of our ecosystems, we are now beginning a series of events where we appreciate the biodiversity and connections across the Americas through cuisine.

For our first virtual cooking event, we will transverse the varied cuisine of one of the smallest nations in the Americas: Ecuador. Located on the western boundary of South America and nestled between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador contains 4 distinct bioregions: the coast (la costa), the Andes (la sierra), the Amazon (Amazonía), and the Galápagos (insular).

To learn more information about this virtual cooking event and to register please visit the event page or scan the QR code in the flier above.

Bridging the Partnership - January 2023 Trip to the Laja

The Ignacio Allende Reservoir, Guanajuato

Carina Zehr, the Willamette Aves Compartidas Coordinator & Instructor, and Sebastian Witherow, Conservation Engagement Intern, recently took a trip to visit our partners in the Río Laja Basin. Throughout the fast-paced week, they had the opportunity to meet the lively conservation leaders and practitioners, teachers, students, and locals that are a part of the Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership.

El Charco del Ingenio botanical gardens and protected area

Seeing the smiling faces of the students as they received letters reminded us of the importance of promoting cross-border peace and watershed health for not only our migratory birds, but also our communities that rely on a resource as indispensable as water.

“Meeting teachers, students, and communities in person enriched my understanding of the stories I had read about that I share with my students. Now I can go back to Oregon and better explain what the communities and the Laja River basin are like to my students. I also left this visit with a renewed sense of hope for our environment and our communities, because I know that there are people working on conservation from afar and I can also work on my part here in Oregon. Working separately, but together for the birds and our communities”

— Carina Zehr, Aves Compartidas Coordinator and Instructor, Willamette Basin

“The experience of collaboration opens paths for understanding the cultural and environmental differences and similarities between watersheds. The students could perceive that although their pen pals are far away they share likes and interests.”

— Jalil Aragon, Aves Compartidas Coordinator and Instructor, Laja Basin

“
The children were excited to welcome Carina and Sebastian. They knew they came from afar, just like the birds. They happily read the letters and wrote a message back. Between basins, they share migratory birds and stories.”

— Grisel López, Program Instructor, Laja Basin

During this recent visit, we also observed how the complex challenges that the Río Laja watershed faces are becoming more apparent. From the invading water hyacinth, which first appeared in the Ignacio Allende Reservoir as recently as 2021, to the tree-smothering paxtle (Tillandsia Recurvata), the community of the Río Laja watershed is facing novel challenges never seen before.

Invasive water hyacinth at the Allende Reservoir

Native trees overrun with paxtle at Peña Alta

The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership began the year with an incredible experience that bridged our international basins. By enriching and strengthening the bonds between the Willamette and the Laja, we are setting the stage for successful and sustainable growth in the months to come.

Native plants at Vivero la Huerta,

El Río Laja

Check out our 2021-2022 Annual Report + Meet our new Team Members!

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Saludos from the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership, we are happy to announce that we have several exciting projects in the works! Our 2021-2022 annual report is also ready and can be found here!

We welcome two new team members Sebastian and Estefani:

Sebastian Witherow

Sebastian recently joined the team as the new Conservation Engagement Intern, working on engagement and communication projects with the rest of the Twinning Team. He is originally from Texas, however he now spends most of his time living between Ecuador and Spain. Sebastian is also currently studying Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Sustainability at Oregon State University’s eCampus and is very excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership.

Estafani Reyes Moreno

Estefani is our new Climate Resilience intern here with the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership. As a current electrical engineering student at Portland State University, her passion is to create solutions and tackle the environmental issues that our planet faces. Outside of her studies, Estefani enjoys working with underrepresented youth, and knows just how important education is for our coming generations.

With so much underway, we are excited to continue with new updates. Until then, be sure to check out our Instagram page where we will be posting more content!

Aves Compartidas - Student art!

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Fill out our survey!

Please join us in evaluating our twinning partnership by filling out this brief survey!

Your response will provide us with valuable feedback to help us thrive in the coming year. Thank you!

What have we been up to?

This year we celebrate our 4th year of Aves Compartidas, and we have had a blast! Our incredible team has created lessons to educate youth about the outdoors and the birds in our backyards. The Aves Compartidas lessons are taught in schools both in the Willamette Valley, Oregon and the Río Laja Watershed, in Guanajuato, Mexico. Enjoy a few of our favorite highlights from this year!

Student Artwork: Shared Migratory Species

The Willamette and Laja watersheds share over 40 species of migratory birds! Below are some of the most iconic!

Classroom Lesson: What makes a bird a bird?

Students started the year by learning about the five characterisitcs of all birds. 1) They have feathers, 2) they have beaks, 3) they have hollow bones, 4) they are warm blooded, 5) they lay eggs.

Classroom Lesson: Maps of North America from a Bird’s View

From a migratory bird’s perspective, there are no borders and no nations! Students learned about world geography and challenged themselves by drawing maps of North America to visualize the paths of migratory birds. Students exchanged artwork between Oregon and Guanajuato.

Classroom Lesson: What is a Watershed (Cuenca)?

We all live in a watershed! Students created artwork of their watersheds, showing that we are all connected to the water cycle and we all need to protect water resources.

Classroom Lesson: World Water Day

This year, World Water Day was on March 22. Building on what they learned during the watershed lesson, students created posters and other art projects with their ideas for protecting our water resources. Check out some of their amazing creations:

Letter Exchange

One of our favorite activities each year is the student letter exchange. This year, students talked about where they live and their holiday traditions.

Thank you! ¡Gracias!

Thank you to the incredible staff, students, volunteers and supporters for your hard work and dedication to Aves Compartidas. You help us thrive, amazing work! We are excited for more fun in the future!

Aves Compartidas Update - Celebrating our 4th year!

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We are Hiring!

Are you passionate about youth education? Outdoor learning? The environment?

We have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Willamette-Laja Twinning Project is seeking an education program coordinator for the Aves Compartidas Program. Our partnership is creating this new position to continue advancing the youth program and broaden the family outreach and connections with schools in the Portland-Metro Area. This remote opportunity begins at part-time employment with competitive wages and prorated benefits. Our partnership intends to grow this position to full-time by 2023.  

To apply, please email your resumé and cover letter to Tara Davis: willamette.laja@gmail.com

What have we been up to?

This year we celebrate our 4th year of Aves Compatidas, and we have had a blast! Our incredible team has created lessons to educate youth about the outdoors and the birds in our backyards. The Aves Compartidas lessons are taught in schools both in the Willamette Valley, Oregon and the Río Laja Watershed, in Guanajuato, Mexico. Enjoy a few of our favorite highlights from this year!

Field Trips

The best way to learn about the environment is to be in the environment. Check out some memories we made outside this year:

In June, students in the San Franco, Guanajuato community from Emiliano Zapata Elementary school culminated their Aves Compartidas with a field trip! They visited the Peña Alta Natural Protected Area, using binoculars to explore their local ecosystems.

In May, third graders from Lincoln Elementary and Garfield Elementary enjoyed a field trip to Bald Hill Farm in Corvallis, Oregon. Students participated in several stations: bird idenfication with binoculars, plant ecology, aquatic macroinvertebrates, terrestrial insects, and mammals skins and skulls.

According to our classroom teachers, the Aves Compartidas program “has provided science content that is meaningful and relevant IN SPANISH!” In May, students from South Shore elementary schools Albany, Oregon, learned how to use binoculars and field guides to identify local birds. They also participated in a silent sound map activity that encouraged them to listen to the sounds around them. The students enjoyed using their binoculars to spy on classmates!

In March, students from Candy Lane elementary school took a walking field trip to a wetland restoration area near their school. They had a fun time gettiing muddy and planting native sedge plugs! They also enjoyed using binoculars and field guids to identify local birds.

Students from Nueva Senda Elementary School in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato also spent time bird watching! They even found this cool nest!

School Gardens and Milpas

In addition to learning about birds, students from Justo Sierra in Agustín González, Guanajuato have also been hard at work building a milpa (small field for crops) and rain garden. As a result of their dedication and hard work the crops are looking amazing and will be beneficial for a long time to come.

Students at Emiliano Zapata spent a day planting their school garden, which includes vegetables and native plants.

With the help of parents and volunteers, students from Montes de Oca Elementary also planted and cared for their school garden, including vegetable and native pollinator plants.

Students at Nueva Senda Elementary in San Miguel de Allende also worked in their school garden, and explored all of the different types of seeds within their school campus. Here are some of their finds:

Community Event: World Migratory Bird Day(s)

This year, World Migratory Bird Day was on May 14th. We held several events to share our love of birds! In Mexico, the San Franco community went birding at Peña Alta Natural Protected Area. In the Orego, we partered with William L. Finley Natioal Wildlife Refuge and many other organizations to create family activities and birdwatching events throughout the month of May.

Community Event: Conservation Week

In June, we participated in conservation week! The San Franco community participated in a birdwatching tour of the Peña Alta Natural Protected Area.

Thank you! ¡Gracias!

We look forward to sharing more of our adventures and learnings from this year in future blogs!

Thank you to the incredible staff, students, volunteers and supporters for your hard work and dedication to Aves Compartidas. You help us thrive, amazing work! We are excited for more fun in the future!

We are hiring!

Lee el blog en español.

Are you passionate about youth education? Outdoor learning? The environment?

We have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Willamette-Laja Twinning Project is seeking an education program coordinator for the Aves Compartidas Program. Our partnership is creating this new position to continue advancing the youth program and broaden the family outreach and connections with schools in the Portland-Metro Area. This remote opportunity begins at 0.5-0.8 FTE (part-time hours are negotiable) with competitive wages and prorated benefits. Our partnership intends to grow this position to full-time by 2023.

We are asking that the Aves Compartidas coordinator engage in the following:

• Solidification of current and future participation for dual-language immersion schools in the Portland-Metro region.

• Engage all university partners) to continue a “cohort model” approach for assistance with school instruction.

• Consideration of professional development benefits to emerging watershed health professionals, including partner training opportunities that can be passed to folks, and enrollment in professional development.

• Provide leadership in the coordination of the Aves Compartidas group including planning meetings, strategic planning for the youth program, and maintenance of the exchange experience between students including student artwork, writing, videos, and photos using a shared drive with our Mexican partners.

• Outreach to students’ communities/families with assistance from the WLTP Partnership Coordinator, interns, and planning team.

• Support the WLTP Partnership Coordinator in pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities for emerging Willamette and Laja professionals.

Click here to learn more about the position!

To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume, and three references in a single PDF document by April 12th to Willamette-laja@gmail.com

Meet the New Team Members of the Twinning Partnership + Job Opportunity!

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The Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership is excited to expand its team! Get to know our new team members:

Grisel López

Sandra García Lona

Sandra will start with the Twinning Project in March as a Communications Intern. Growing up in Guanajuato, Mexico, Sandra spent a lot of time surrounded by nature. Following her love of the environment and passion for environmental conservation, Sandra is studying to be an Environmental Engineer at the University of Guanajuato and will be graduating shortly! As an intern with the Twinning Project, Sandra will be sharing watershed information with rural schools! In the long term, Sandra is interested in research on pollution control, natural resource management, and public awareness and engagement with environmental issues. She has worked with various science organizations in the past, including with the Conservation Corps Guanajuato, in which she used a drone to photograph and study soil rehabilitation and tree plantations. In her free time, Sandra enjoys creating music, painting and drawing. Sandra’s favorite birds are the barn owl for its mystery and the goldfinch for its unique song!

Grisel joined the team in January 2022 as a program instructor in the Laja Basin. As a program instructor, Grisel teaches third, fourth, and fifth-grade students in San Miguel de Allende under the Aves Compartidas program. She was born and raised in Mexico City and later moved with her family outside the city. Grisel is an experienced instructor, having worked with children for almost fifteen years, teaching in cultural centers and schools. In addition to teaching, Grisel is passionate about poetry and storytelling. The intertwinement of environmental education and bird conservation with her creativity makes Grisel the perfect instructor. In her free time, Grisel enjoys gardening and reading. Ever since she was a child, her favorite bird has always been a hummingbird.

Anna Nielsen

Anna joined the team in January and works remotely as a communications intern. As such, she is responsible for creating outreach materials and aiding in any other way that benefits the project. She grew up outside of Portland, Oregon, and later moved to Corvallis, Oregon for school. Anna is currently earning a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biology and minoring in Spanish at Oregon State University. She is passionate about environmental conservation and research. Following her love of research, she has spent time studying Sea Star Wasting Syndrome on the Oregon Coast. In her free time, she loves hiking, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Some of her favorite birds include hummingbirds and the Bufflehead duck.

Employment Opportunity - Aves Compartidas Program Coordination

Our partnership offers a remote opportunity, beginning at 0.5 FTE (halftime) with prorated benefits. Our partnership intends to grow this position to full-time by 2023. Applications submissions are due March 20th.

Who We Are

The Willamette-Laja Twinning Partnership (WLTP) is a binational peer-to-peer learning experiment developed in 2015 to bring together conservational professionals, university students, and youth. We have resources to specifically expand our Aves Compartidas youth education program in the Willamette and Laja watersheds. With newly formed partnerships in the Portland-Metro area, we are planning cross-cultural exchanges for professionals, university students, and primary school teachers.

Click here to learn more.

Why Our Partners Think the Twinning Project Is Special

Lately, as we’ve been meeting with our distinguished partners to hear tales of what inspired them to become rock stars of the conservation world, one thing has become abundantly clear: they all believe the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership is beyond compare. Here, we’ve shared a few snippets regarding why they think the partnership is so special.

“It’s a uniquely imaginative approach to building cross-cultural/bi-national relationships and the exchange of expertise that can transform lives, perspectives and landscapes. In a world grappling with declining resources, uncertainty and injustice, this program increases technical know-how and provides people, especially our youth, with hope and inspiration as they come to understand our interconnectedness and shared roles in caring for our environment, and by extension one another.”

— April Gaydos

“It is holistic in that it speaks to the restoration of relationships—both ecological and cultural. There is a strong commitment to equity, and making sure all voices are heard.”

— Katie Lynch

“It requires the gift of time from the volunteers who engage. It requires this effort from the individual organizations to give to something bigger than any one organization or any one individual can do. It’s a different social ecology than one organization with a hierarchy and an executive director, program directors, and boards of directors focusing on one mission. You have to have this grander mission that captures the interest of that group of collaborators. You may be the specialist on salmon, and I may be the specialist on birds, and someone else may be the specialist on fluvial geomorphology, but we have to have all these pieces communicating with each other over time. And at the core of it is relationships.”

— Chris Orsinger

“I think it's great that this program can incorporate language, culture, art, science, conservation, and environmental issues all in one program.”

—Alyssa Powell

In-Depth Q&A With April Gaydos, President of Audubon de Mexico

We recently interviewed April Gaydos for our Our Stories page. Her path to becoming president of Audubon de Mexico—and subsequently one of our invaluable partners—was so inspiring that we decided to share it in its entirety with you. Read on to find out about how April cares for orphaned wildlife in her free time; advocated for a 50-mile-long, car-free pathway that links seven desert cities; and became involved with Audubon de Mexico within one month of moving to San Miguel de Allende.

 In a few words—who is April Gaydos?

I am a person who is very grateful for my fortunate life, my family and friends, and especially the wonder of nature, which never fails to spark my curiosity, awe, and respect. I imagine a world where conservationist is a way of life—not a label—and plant the seeds so this may be so.

 Where were you born and raised?

Portland metropolitan area, specifically, Milwaukie, Oregon.

 What's your first memory of the outdoors?

When I was four, my family moved to a house surrounded by big trees and a stream running through our backyard. I don’t recall my very first memory, but I vividly remember lying on the lawn one day, looking up at the sky and watching the clouds, thinking I could feel the earth rotating. It was a moment of wonder.

“I imagine a world where conservationist is a way of life—not a label—and plant the seeds so this may be so.”

— April Gaydos

What’s one of your favorite memories of the outdoors?

Making moss-lined boats from tree bark at Campfire Girls camp and watching them float down the river at night, lit by glowing candles, as we sang songs about water. It was ceremonial and magical.

What parts of the natural world resonate most with you?

Wetlands, streams, and forests, and all the creatures they support. 

How did you become interested in conservation?

Personally and professionally, I became interested in conservation in the mid-1990s when I was working on managing the annual conferences for the Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board (now Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board) and the American Planning Association. This experience deepened my awareness of the increasing pressure on resources and habitat loss and the importance of stakeholder and citizen involvement. It was the catalyst for my returning to school to study community development and environmental sciences. 

Why do you think conservation is important for our planet and for future generations?

To me, it is deeply immoral that the ecological crisis and societal conflicts that we have helped to create will be passed on to our youth and future generations to solve. It is equally immoral that we are contributing to the suffering of species and perpetuating their extinction. It is this generation’s responsibility to actively conserve, regenerate, and restore our biological systems, and it is also essential that we actively facilitate the necessary transition to a conservation way of being…becoming ever mindful of our impact, conscientious in our consumption and waste, and nurturing in our behaviors as a way of life—which is why I believe we must extend every hand possible in helping to prepare and empower our youth for the challenges they face through encouraging environmental literacy, technical know-how, and opportunities for deepening their connections to nature.

Can you tell us a bit about your background in conservation work?

My conservation work began as the program manager for the Urban Watershed Institute, which offered professional development courses and conferences on emerging conservation practices. Topics included wetlands conservation, river conservation and restoration, erosion control, green infrastructure design and construction, and strategies for the protection of salmon. After moving to Palm Springs, California, I became involved in citizen initiatives that eventually led to the preservation of hundreds of acres of hillside land as a biological and scenic corridor. I also served on Palm Springs’ first sustainability commission, helping to lay the groundwork for incentive-based water and energy conservation programs, and was involved in advocating for a 50-mile car-free pathway, linking seven desert cities.   

What came first? Moving to Mexico or becoming involved with Audubon de Mexico?

Moving to Mexico, but within a month I was involved with Audubon de Mexico.

How did you become involved initially?

My neighbor, who was Audubon president at the time, invited me to a board meeting, and soon thereafter I accepted a position on the board.

As President of Audubon de Mexico, what does your role entail?

We’re a very hands-on board. As we do not have a director, I am involved in program development and partnership initiatives, outreach, fundraising, and government relations. I actively participate in our volunteer programs, such as helping to maintain our pollinator garden at Parque Juarez, removing invasive plants from native trees, and participating in periodic shoreline clean-ups. Administratively, I lead board meetings and manage day-to-day operations.

“To me, it is deeply immoral that the ecological crisis and societal conflicts that we have helped to create will be passed on to our youth and future generations to solve. It is equally immoral that we are contributing to the suffering of species and perpetuating their extinction. ”

— April Gaydos

 How and why did you get involved with the Willamette-Laja Twinning Project?

Audubon was invited to participate in the early days of the Twinning project because of our relationship with Salvemos al Rio Laja and our position as an environmental advocacy and conservation organization in San Miguel de Allende. We were interested in learning from the experience and expertise of conservation practitioners in the Willamette watershed and strengthening our local alliances and efforts. 

 Audubon became involved with the youth education program, Aves Compartidas, after the strategic planning session in 2018 helped us clarify how to successfully integrate the Aves Compartidas curriculum into our existing school-based Niños y Naturaleza program. We viewed Aves Compartidas as an opportunity to provide our students with a unique experience that would help them envision the world beyond San Miguel and build their sense of place as they explored the commonalities and differences between students in Oregon and their two watersheds. In addition, learning about the migratory journey of their shared birds helps them become aware of their landscape connection to distant places and people and to discover a sense of camaraderie and a shared purpose in caring for the habitats that support these birds.

Can you tell me about your involvement with designing the curriculum?

We utilized the themes from our Ninos y Naturaleza program in the design of the curriculum and I helped create our learning outcomes for the different grade levels. I also participate in education meetings as often as possible, as we continue refining the program, developing our relationships, and responding to the changes brought about by the pandemic.

If you ever get a moment to yourself, what interests do you pursue in your free time?

I read, get outside, enjoy time with friends, and travel. I also provide interim care for orphaned wildlife—most recently a pair of baby opossums—and I enjoy kayaking on the Presa Allende when the water level is high enough.