During recent winters the folks in Lewis County have rediscovered the nature of their home watersheds. Known mostly for their beauty and familiarity, the regional rivers and streams can quite suddenly become destructive adversaries.

This summer people will continue looking at the forces that govern these watersheds as skilled Centralia College science faculty members lead a series of classes that provide insight into the character that makes these powerful watersheds––and other natural perils around us––act the way they do.

The "Discovery Northwest" series is perhaps the best opportunity for people to learn when, why, and how rivers can be transformed into deadly natural phenomena.

Each session includes a pair of two-hour classroom sessions and an all-day field trip for hands-on investigation.

Sessions include "Fire and Ice," the geology of a watershed, led by Pat Pringle, a former researcher at the Cascade Volcano Observatory; "Plants, People, and Watershed Health" with Dr. Lisa Carlson; "Let the Bugs Speak," biological communities in the watersheds as presented by Dr. Steve Norton; "Life on the Edge," surviving the marine intertidal environment at the mouth of a watershed, with Greg Hueckel, a leading habitat professional––and this summer Hueckel has added a second choice, “Fishes and Rivers in the Northwest,” in which students learn the 4-Hs of fishery sciences: habitat, hydropower, hatcheries, and harvest.

The "Discovery Northwest" series will explore the balances involved in geology, hydrology, energy, nutrient exchange, and the connections between local rivers and estuaries.

Those who take the "Discovery" series may want to also take a companion class, "Art Explorations," to learn to digitally record the character, behavior, and beauty of our native waterways and forests, taught by Vann Cantin.

For further details, check our online class schedule. To register for "Discovery Northwest" or any in the series, call (360) 736-9391, ext. 221. First class starts June 22 and the series concludes on Aug. 6. Please call as early as possible to avoid disappointment; class sizes are limited.