West Valley Outdoor Learning Center

Throughout the summer, Courtnie is doing birds of prey and reptile shows at local libraries. Some of the OLC resident animals join her. 🦉🦎🐢.

Courtnie was interviewed at one of her recent library presentations.

Kids learn about ecology of hawks Kids are learning about STEM subjects in the Spokane Public Library system.

Come see us at the upcoming Spokane Public Library events!

These reptiles are ROCKIN'. Register for our Rockin' Reptiles events for kids this summer with West Valley Outdoor Learning Center! 🦎🐍🐢 https://events.spokanelibrary.org/events

July 16 @ 2pm | The Hive
July 24 @ 2pm | Shadle Park Library
July 25 @ 11am | Indian Trail Library
August 2 @ 10am | South Hill Library

Thank you Jesse!

ABOVE AND BEYOND: Staff at the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center nominated transportation team member Jesse Torrence for his outstanding service and dedication as a field trip bus driver. Besides helping find Nelson the tortoise when he stops by the center, staff commented that they know it’s going to be a good trip when he shows up as the driver.

“His punctuality, professionalism and friendly demeanor have made our field trips so amazing,” OLC director Jami Ostby-Marsh shared. “We greatly appreciate his commitment to ensuring the kids safety and comfort on every journey.”

Thank you, Jesse, for your hard work and for helping in whatever ways needed. Your efforts do not go unnoticed!

We wrapped up hiking with first and second graders this week. We had 20 classes, over 400 students, great weather, and a beautiful location.

Thank you Hutton Settlement for letting us use your hiking trails and picnic shelter. We love partnering with you.

Join us for a weekday open house after school is out.

Stop by the OLC booth to say hi to Courtnie and some of our animals. 🐢🦎🐹

🎪 THE BLOCK PARTY IS TONIGHT (5/30)! 🎪
We look forward to seeing everyone between 5 and 7 at West Valley High School. Use an emoji or gif to tell us how you're feeling about the party. ⬇️

We had a fun day learning all about insects with Liberty Creek Elementary second graders. 🐜🐞🐝🦗🪲

Let us remember all our heroes who left us while fighting for our country.

Meadow Ridge Elementary
Third grade

Mark your calendar! 📅

The West Valley School District Block Party is less than two weeks away. We will have a booth with some of our animals. We hope to see you there! 🐢🦎🐍

Deer Park Elementary Kindergarten classes came to the OLC for a fun field trip. They met some of our education animals, played a game about the importance of animals collecting enough food, learned that caring for baby birds is a full time job, and explored the yard. (afternoon visit)

Deer Park Elementary Kindergarten classes came to the OLC for a fun field trip. They met some of our education animals, played a game about the importance of animals collecting enough food, learned that caring for baby birds is a full time job, and explored the yard. (morning visit)

Thank you Roosevelt Elementary second graders for two great days! We had so much fun learning about birds with you. 🦅🦉🦆🐦

Happy Teacher Appreciation week to our favorite teacher, Jami!

Thank you for:
❤️giving your all for students every day
🌱broadening the reach with environmental education
🔬teaching hands-on science to all ages
🌧taking kids out in nature, rain or shine
✏️continually growing and learning to be your best
🙋‍♀️always willing to help others and join committees to benefit students
🚌planning and ordering buses for all the OLC field trips (and more)
🦉running the day-to-day operations at the OLC
💰finding and writing grants to enhance the OLC and take students on adventures
🐶sharing your love for all animals with those around you
🐢educating the public about pet ownership
🌎making the world a better place
😀being you!

And so much more!

📣 DISTRICT TAKEOVER 📣 Today is ! Help us thank Tiffany for her commitment to telling the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center story on social media!

We joined 6th graders from Saint George’s School at Medical Lake to release trout that they raised from eggs in a program called Trout in the Classroom.

Take your family outside today! ☀️

📣 Shout to Arthur B Ness Elementary School fifth graders!

They have great field trip behavior - following directions, attentively working, being polite, respecting others and the environment, and having fun. 😊🌲🦆🪳

Thank you Ness fifth graders for a great day!

Come say hi to the OLC animals as you make your way through all the fun activities.

Come have a blast with us this Thursday 5:30-7:00!

Registration for Summer STEAM Camp is open! A variety of tracks are available for elementary students to choose from. Cost is only $80 per student which includes breakfast, lunch and all supplies. For more information or to register, go to bit.ly/WVsteamcamp2024

Thank you Orchard Center Elementary for braving the weather to meet us at Saltese Flats Wetlands. We hiked, found macro invertebrates, and spotted a bald eagle.

Today we had third graders from McDonald Elementary. They are a great group of students. We loved having them!

Pasadena Park Elementary fifth graders determined the quality of water by collecting macro invertebrates from the wetlands. 🪳

It was an insect kind of day! 🐞🐜🕷️🪲🪰🐝

Thank you Hayden Canyon Charter for bringing your second graders today.

Seth Woodard Elementary fifth graders spent the day drawing plants, identify birds, and finding macro invertebrates at the Saltese Flats Wetlands. ☀️🦆🌾🪳

It was a day of bird activities with first graders from Summit School. They met a saw whet owl, raced to feed “baby” birds, and compared different beaks and feet. They also created their own bird and learned the best ecosystem for it to live in based on the body structures they chose. 🦅🦆🦜🦉🦃

It was a great day to go on a hike with West Valley Virtual Learning Center. 🥾🌲🌼

Thank you Hutton Settlement for letting us use your beautiful trails!