Oregon Community Trees Honors SW Oregon Non-profit As Organization Of The Year (Photo)
- 03/23/26
MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford-based non-profit Oregon Stewardship has been named Organization of the Year by Oregon Community Trees (OCT). Each year Oregon Community Trees honors one organization in the state for outstanding work to engage Oregonians in caring for their urban forests and natural areas.
This year’s recipient, Oregon Stewardship, works with school districts and teachers on watershed projects involving students in Jackson, Josephine, Curry, and Coos counties.
Oregon Stewardship leads students on hands on projects near their schools. On these projects they can plant trees and gardens and create nature trails. Students design and build the trails, create an informational brochure, and place sign along the trails. Projects that students create are maintained in following years by later students at the same school.
High school students mentor younger students on nature hikes and field trips, helping them with art or writing classes associated with the projects. High school students that work with Oregon Stewardship are eligible for scholarships for college or vocational education.
Oregon Stewardship’s focus is:
- Watersheds: river, stream and forest ecosystems
- The ecological cycles and functions that sustain these ecosystems
- Indicators of ecosystem health, such as salmon
An example of a recent project was the planting in 2024 by South Medford High School students of 180 native plants next to the Panther Pride Trail along fire-ravaged Bear Creek in Medford.
Jim Gersbach, President of Oregon Community Trees, said his organization wanted to honor Oregon Stewardship for the work they do to encourage the community to provide stewardship for Oregon’s land. “They do a great job creating opportunities for students and adults to participate in grassroots care for our environment. At the same time, they are helping young people learn about and practice environmental restoration and gain leadership skills,” said Gersbach.
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Oregon Community Trees Honors SW Oregon Non-profit As Organization Of The Year (Photo)
- 03/23/26
MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford-based non-profit Oregon Stewardship has been named Organization of the Year by Oregon Community Trees (OCT). Each year Oregon Community Trees honors one organization in the state for outstanding work to engage Oregonians in caring for their urban forests and natural areas.
This year’s recipient, Oregon Stewardship, works with school districts and teachers on watershed projects involving students in Jackson, Josephine, Curry, and Coos counties.
Oregon Stewardship leads students on hands on projects near their schools. On these projects they can plant trees and gardens and create nature trails. Students design and build the trails, create an informational brochure, and place sign along the trails. Projects that students create are maintained in following years by later students at the same school.
High school students mentor younger students on nature hikes and field trips, helping them with art or writing classes associated with the projects. High school students that work with Oregon Stewardship are eligible for scholarships for college or vocational education.
Oregon Stewardship’s focus is:
- Watersheds: river, stream and forest ecosystems
- The ecological cycles and functions that sustain these ecosystems
- Indicators of ecosystem health, such as salmon
An example of a recent project was the planting in 2024 by South Medford High School students of 180 native plants next to the Panther Pride Trail along fire-ravaged Bear Creek in Medford.
Jim Gersbach, President of Oregon Community Trees, said his organization wanted to honor Oregon Stewardship for the work they do to encourage the community to provide stewardship for Oregon’s land. “They do a great job creating opportunities for students and adults to participate in grassroots care for our environment. At the same time, they are helping young people learn about and practice environmental restoration and gain leadership skills,” said Gersbach.
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