Our River

School is back in session! 📚🌊 Dive into these water-themed books to spark curiosity about our waterways during story time. Read about each book below ⬇️

Run Salmon Run by Charlotte Guillain
Based on the children's song, Run Salmon Run follows Pacific salmon on their upstream migration to reach their native spawning grounds. Bobs & LoLo highlight perseverance, Pacific Northwest hydrology, and the vital role salmon play in sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
This award-winning picture book honors Indigenous-led efforts to protect our planet's water. Through powerful storytelling, it shows young readers how sacred our waterways are and inspires them to protect the Earth.

The River That Flows Beside Me by Charlotte Guillain
This foldout book follows a river from its mountain source all the way to the sea, highlighting why waterways are essential to life all while exploring the changing landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems along the way.

Drop: An Adventure Through The Water Cycle
Follow Drop, a cheerful water drop as she leaps through clouds, trickles into soil, and journeys through the Earth's natural water cycle. Emily Kate Moon's lively storytelling turns fundamental earth science concepts into a fun adventure for young readers.

The 2026 Honoring Our Rivers Anthology is out! 🖼️ https://online.fliphtml5.com/hnjow/abzz/ =1

Honoring Our Rivers is a statewide environmental education and arts program that engages Oregon students in exploring, understanding, and celebrating their local watersheds. Each year, K–12 students submit poetry, prose, visual art, and photography focused on rivers and watershed stewardship. Selected works are published in an annual anthology distributed to schools, libraries, and community partners across the state.

Congratulations to all the students whose work was featured! Cover image by Sylvie Beers, Grade 11, Northwest Academy.

Clearing Magazine
Clean Water Services
The River Starts Here
City of Gresham - Government

This sounds like so much fun!

Learn to Paddle is currently full, but a waitlist is available. If you are interested in attending this event, please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist. We will contact you as space becomes available. Include your name, phone number, and how many people you would like to register. This event is open to adults only.

🐟 **Help students discover the wonder of salmon and local watersheds!**

Salmon Watch is looking for volunteers this fall!

Join Marion SWCD as a volunteer educator and help students explore salmon biology, water quality, macroinvertebrates, and riparian ecosystems through hands-on outdoor learning.

Never volunteered at Salmon Watch before? We’ll provide resources and support to help you feel prepared!
Returning Salmon Watch volunteer? Come refresh your skills and reconnect before the season begins.

🌿 **Volunteer Training Day: August 26**
🐟 **Field trips: September 14–October 2**

Our volunteer training day is a great opportunity for new and returning volunteers to get familiar with Salmon Watch, explore the teaching stations, and connect with other volunteers before students arrive.

No teaching experience required — just a willingness to learn and share with students.

A free background check is required for all volunteers working with students.

**Interested in volunteering? Learn more and sign up through our Salmon Watch Volunteer Training event page:**
www.MarionSWCD.net/Event/Salmon-Watch-Volunteer-Training-5/

Learn to Paddle is a beginner paddling workshop designed for adults who want to build confidence on the water and learn the fundamentals of kayaking and paddleboarding. Includes onshore skill building and on water practice with a professional instructor.
Thursday, July 23rd, 9:00- 2:00 at Keizer Rapids Park.
Registration required and spots are limited! This workshop is free, open to ages 18+ only, and includes use of boats, paddles, and lifejackets. Register now at https://www.marionswcd.net/event/learn-to-paddle-2026/

💧 Where does Salem’s drinking water come from — and how does it get clean enough to use every day?

Join us this Friday for our upcoming First Friday presentation, From Source to Tap, featuring Nenette Sequeira, Water Education Instructor with the City of Salem. Learn about the history of Salem’s drinking water system, where our water comes from, and the process used to make it safe and usable for our community.

📅 First Friday
🕛 12 PM – 1 PM
💻 Virtual (Zoom) Presentation

Whether you’re interested in local history, water resources, or the journey water takes before it reaches your tap, this is a presentation you won’t want to miss.

Visit our Events Page for the link to this presentation (day of) or to RSVP to receive a direct link and event reminders at: www.MarionSWCD.net/Events

Join the Clean Streams Team and the Mid-Willamette Outreach Group (MWOG) for a park service day to celebrate Earth Day! Earth Day events will take place in both Salem and Keizer. You can participate in one or both! Let’s show we care about the Earth by cleaning up and beautifying parks! Registration required.

Salem Earth Day Event: Sunday April 19, 11a.m. – 2p.m., Cascades Gateway Park, in partnership with CastawayWU. To register for the Salem event visit – https://volunteer.solve.org/opportunity/a0CVL00003ma9tD

Keizer Earth Day Event: Saturday April 25, 9a.m. – 10:30a.m., Wallace House Park. To register for the Keizer event visit - https://volunteer.solve.org/opportunity/a0CVL00003mESES/earth-day-litter-clean-up-in-keizer

The City’s Clean Streams Initiative is proud to partner with MWOG to help protect local waterways. The Clean Streams program is funded through utility fees and helps the City meet outreach and education requirements under its stormwater permit.