Announcements:
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OSU Forests Reopen After Spraying
Both the Dunn Forest and McDonald Forest have reopened after being closed for herbicide spraying along the roads, ditches, and cutbacks.
Please see bright stickers posted on signs at trailheads for specific information about the herbicide application. These stickers will remain in place for one week.
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Sign up for E-Voting
The Sierra Club requires that each Group hold elections every fall for membership in its Executive Committee (Ex Con). MPG members may vote via paper ballot or via digital voting through an independent online company. Statements from the candidates will be available on both paper and electronic ballot. To save paper and costs for MPG, sign up to vote digitally. Contact the elections committee at maryspeakgro...@gmail.com. If you voted digitally last year, you are already on that list.
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2023 Champinefu Lectures are Now on YouTube
Closed-caption recordings on the first two Champineful Lectures are now available on YouTube.
Willamette River: Ancestral Highway
YouTube Recording
This recording begins with a film by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde on the topic of canoe culture. It is followed by a panel discussion about the importance of canoe culture to the Grand Ronde and their relationship to the Willamette River.
Fire is Life: Living in Relation with Indigenous Fire Practices of Western Oregon
YouTube Recording
Joe Scott (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians), winner of the 2023 Indigenous Place Keeping Artist (IPKA) Fellowship, was the presenter. He discussed how he is connecting local indigenous people to the sacred fire resources and practices that have sustained people of this place through the seasonal round since Time Immemorial.
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The three 2023 Liz and Bob Frenkel Environment and Hiking Spring Series webinars are now available on YouTube with closed caption subtitles.
Reviving the Wetlands at Finley National Wildlife Refuge
A high level of wetland restoration work has already established the Finley Wildlife National Refuge as a significant wildlife refuge that also attracts thousands of visitors each year. This webinar will show you a mature restoration site and how you can best enjoy it.
Reviving the Wetlands at Herbert Farm Natural Area
Herbert Natural Area is a little visited, beautiful natural area in the middle of a restoration process. Owned by the City of Corvallis and purchased to be restored as a natural area, the Institute for Applied Ecology has been managing the restoration process, assisted by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
Owens Farm/Jackson-Frazier Wetland Complex
This webinar will present a bold plan to restore the entire wetland and make it publicly accessible through a network of extensive trails. This will not only open up a new wildlife refuge area, but it will open up a whole new hiking experience in the region.
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All three of the 2022 Champinefu Webinars are now available for viewing on YouTube.
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General Notes:
1) Newcomers to MPG outing events, please view the GENERAL OUTING POLICY on our MPG website http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak before pre-registering for or attending an outing.
2) Contacting Marys Peak Group: Marys Peak Group contact information is obtainable at http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak Listed are the Executive Committee members and the Administrative and Program Coordinators.
3) Facebook: Marys Peak Group – Sierra Club is on Facebook. Check out MPG’s Facebook page to view pictures of past hikes and events, and learn about upcoming opportunities. Post pictures from hikes and outings you participate in! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marys-Peak-Group-Sierra-Club/159377960779
4) Minutes of the MPG Executive Committee can be viewed at the aforementioned website by clicking on the About Us/Ex Comm Meeting Minutes tab or by clicking on MPGMinutes_Jan2024 for the minutes of the last meeting on January 4th, 2024.
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OSU Forestry Recreation Updates: