Instructor: Kolleen Yake

Biography: Kolleen Yake is the Education and Development Director for the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. Yake has led environmental education courses for educators, community leaders and students throughout Alaska, Washington and Oregon for over 16 years. She directed watershed education programs with the Alaska Center for the Environment prior to joining the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) in Bend in 2002. With a background in environmental writing, research and analysis, Yake has trained and coordinated staff, volunteers and teachers in watershed restoration, education and restoration methodology. A leader in place-based education, Yake has coordinated hundreds of stream stewardship projects, written and edited multiple watershed outreach essays and articles and has designed and implemented natural resource education programs for students of all ages. She authored UDWC's Upper Deschutes Subbasin Assessment (2003) and The Place We Cross the Water: Whychus Creek (2008) and seeks to integrate local watershed science and technical data into meaningful watershed education. Partnering with The Freshwater Trust in 2005, Yake played an integral part in developing place-based education programs and environmental curricula to distribute to community members, landowners, public officials and students around Central Oregon. She currently serves as the Board President for the Children's Forest of Central Oregon and brings skills and expertise in community collaboration, grant writing, marketing, fundraising and environmental education program coordination. Kolleen holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a M.A. in English Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Analysis from Western Washington University.

Classes by this instructor

Metolius Watershed Workshop Series

The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council is coordinating the Metolius Watershed Workshop Series to raise community awareness about the Metolius River. The series will include four informative and inspiring evening sessions and two half-day field activities. Participants will learn about the incredible history of the Metolius watershed, its unique hydrology, native fish, conservation and restoration activities, water quality conditions and ongoing stewardship activities.
February 16, 2027 to March 30, 2027 | 5:30pm-7:30pm PST | Sisters