OUR HISTORY

Founded in 2002, the mission of the Gorge Ecology Institute provides life-long learning opportunities which foster a sense of wonder and community stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge's natural systems. The school programs were first piloted in five upper-elementary classrooms in 1997. Seven years and more than 150 classrooms later, the school programs have reached more than 5,000 students in fourteen rural communities throughout the Colombia River Gorge.

The school programs were first piloted in five upper-elementary classrooms in 1997. Five years, and more than 100 classrooms later, the school programs had reached more than 2,750 students in nine rural communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge.

Since 1997, more than 30 staff and volunteers have worked to build and fine-tune the programs of the Institute. Many thanks goes to these fine educators:

Wendy Aleman Jen Barry Katie Baum Stowe Beam Christopher Beeson Kim Burkland Melissa Camasta Thayne Cockrum Carey Cramer Caitlin Cray Elizabeth Crosson Daniel Gagnon Jennifer Goldman Martha Hall

Ella Hamilton Elizabeth Kinne Leigh Hancock Kate Olsen Fritz Osborne  Tom Reale Cheryl Robinson Eileen Rock Gwen Thompson Jean Vercillo Kelly Wallis Sara Winkler William Weiler David Weiss