Join us for a journey into the heart of the Columbia River watershed alongside others who care deeply about our shared future. We will step into the landscape that shapes our future as we camp under the stars and learn from the land, and each other, through this experience.
This September, we’ll gather and explore along the Columbia River through two field tours designed around interactive learning:
‘Upper Columbia’ (upstream and downstream of Revelstoke):
Friday, September 5 – Sunday, September 7
- Camping at Blanket Creek Provincial Park on the shore of the Upper Arrow Lakes Reservoir
- Curated visit to Stories Beneath the Surface Exhibit at the Revelstoke Museum and Archives
- Custom tour with BC Hydro at Revelstoke Dam
- Interpretive walking talks along the Columbia River / Arrow Lakes Reservoir
- Interactive learning and discussion sessions on a range of watershed topics including a focus on Arrow Lakes Reservoir water levels, the Columbia River Treaty and salmon reintroduction
- Fun camping, socializing, and sharing meals with a passionate group of people
‘Lower Columbia’ (upstream and downstream of Castlegar):
Saturday, September 27 – Monday, September 29
- Camping at Syringa Creek Provincial Park on the shore of the Lower Arrow Lakes Reservoir
- Custom tour with BC Hydro at Hugh Keenleyside Dam
- Interpretive walking talks along the Columbia River / Arrow Lakes Reservoir
- Interactive learning and discussion sessions on a range of watershed topics including a focus on Arrow Lakes Reservoir water levels, the Columbia River Treaty and salmon reintroduction
- Fun camping, socializing, and sharing meals with a passionate group of people
To register, please fill out this short application form. We will get back to you very shortly.
There are limited spots available: Apply today to reserve your place.
Who is this trip for?
This tour is ideal for adults who care about our region and want to better understand the pressures facing our landscape. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, community leader, professional or simply someone wanting to spend time on the land to find a deeper connection to place, this field tour is for you.
If so, we want you to join us and add your perspective to our collective learning!
Background:
We are living through an historical moment in the Columbia Basin. Especially with ongoing efforts to modernize the Columbia River treaty, reintroduce ocean-going salmon, and reshape dam operations, now is the time to understand the issues and impacts of this watershed that connects us.
Our desire is that all citizens are knowledgeable about the Columbia River watershed. In 2018, we launched the Columbia River Field School, a 15-day summer field course for students focused on youth education and engagement around watershed issues. In 2021, we released Teach the Columbia: a curriculum package that makes CRFS topics accessible to classroom educators. In 2024, we invited government and community leaders to gather with Field School alumni to share knowledge and find connection through this important topic. Now we are opening up the opportunity to anyone and everyone interested in learning more!
Cost: Early bird rate (apply by Thursday, July 31st): $450. Late registration: $550.
What’s included:
- Good food
- Guest experts
- Varied learning opportunities
- Group campsite
This programming is made possible by generous funders and donors. To help cover a minor portion of trip costs, we ask that participants pay a course fee. All food for the trip will be provided. Financial aid is available; please request financial support in the application form.
Meet your instructors
Join Graeme and Reanne in Revelstoke, or Graeme and Monica in Castlegar!
Graeme Lee Rowlands. Photo: David Moskowitz
Graeme Lee Rowlands:
Graeme manages Wildsight’s Columbia River Field School and Youth Climate Corps programs. He is passionate about relationships, rivers and the climate. Graeme was born in Honduras, raised in California and has since lived across the Pacific Northwest. He first came to the upper Columbia watershed in 2017 while on a 35 day bike and kayak journey up the Columbia River from sea-to-source. He is now based in Golden but enjoys visiting familiar places and faces across the region. Graeme’s written work on the Columbia River Treaty, salmon restoration, colonization and Truth and Reconciliation, climate change, and related topics has appeared in over 50 publications. He has worked on the same with dozens of organizations across the international Columbia River Basin.
Monica Nissen:
A passion for the wilderness and a gift for teaching have drawn Monica into the field of environmental education where she has worked both inside and outside the classroom. With a background in outdoor leadership as an Outward Bound instructor and through hiking and ski guiding, she has spent the last 30 years developing and delivering educational programs that inspire the next generation of stewards of the Earth. As a certified BC teacher and the Education Director at Wildsight, Monica and her team of educators have delivered environmental education programs to over 100,000 students throughout the Columbia Basin. Monica has worked on curriculum development for the renewed BC Science curriculum, and serves as an instructor with UBC’s West Kootenay Teacher Education Program. She is committed to supporting educators in building place-conscious practice.
Reanne Harvey
Reanne Harvey:
Reanne first came to Revelstoke in 2017, before spending several years in Nova Scotia working with environmental non-profits on marine conservation issues. She is thrilled to be back in the mountains, and is passionate about inclusive, community-led conservation and access to nature. Reanne hopes to use the skills and knowledge gained from her work on environmental advocacy campaigns, as well as her BSc (Hons) in Physical Geography & Master of Marine Management, to work with the community in advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use.