Green Flag Ceremony

8th Green Flag School in the USA
2nd west of the Mississippi
1st in Oregon

Big thanks go out to all of you who have help Rieke become a greener school over the years!

For more photos of the celebration click here:

Rieke Green Flag

First Late Start Lounge of the 2012-13 school year!

EcoThink Late Start Lounge will be meeting on Wednesday, September 19th from 9:30–10:30. These sessions are designed for students K–5 who are interested in environmental topics. The theme of our first session will be field studies and map making.  To register, please complete the permission form and drop it off in the office’s EcoThink box near the volunteer computer by Friday, September 14 (drop-in sign up is not allowed). If you have any questions or would like to volunteer please contact jamie.repasky@gmail.com.

Portland just got a bit greener - 

Come celebrate the awarding of the first Green Flag School in Oregon! 

The National Wildlife Federation's Eco-Schools USA representative will be presenting Mary Rieke Elementary School the Green Flag Award on September 7th from 8:45-9:30.  To earn the top award in this program the school has developed and implemented three Eco-Action Plans - energy, biodiversity education, and consumption/waste.  The Rieke Student Council, EcoThink Club, and adult Green Team have conducted and reported audits of lunch waste, selectively delamped the facility to save energy, and participated in a full school planting to create the Wilson/Rieke Arboretum.  This effort has lead to financial savings for the school and increased environmental awareness in our community.  

If you would like to attend the event, please RSVP here.

Weed Watchers Update


During our last class the students learned about local invasive weeds.  Their favorite weed was the Giant Hogweed because the sap contains compounds that can cause severe burns when the effected skin is exposed to the sun.  They didn't find any at Stephen's Creek but this plant was found at a local school recently:  

Invasive weed that can burn or blind a person found at a school

Make sure to keep observing and exploring!

Summer Adventures

Here are some of our favorite hikes to try over the summer.  If you have any others you would like to recommend, let me know! 


4T trail in Portland - Trail/Tram/Trolley/Train.  Start at the Zoo and follow the 4T trail through the SW Hills to Council Crest and on to OHSU.  Enjoy the tram down to the river followed by the trolley to downtown and train back to the zoo.

Portland Audubon Trails - Take some time to meet the birds in the rehabilitation center before exploring the trails and birds in the wild.

Tryon Creek State Park - our old favorite - lots of trails, bridges (don't forget to try the 'bouncy bridge' - Terry Riley Bridge!), banana slugs, owls, and lots of nature programs.  They have Stewardship Saturdays every second Saturday of the month at 9am to help with pulling the ivy in the park.

Elk Rock Island - this 'island' is accessible during the dry summer months via a land bridge (great for a geology/anthropology lesson!)

Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area - great area for bird watching.  After hiking along the wetland trails, take your bike along the bike trail/side walk west to Kelly Point Park to play on the beach and watch the boats along the joining of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.

Springwater Corridor bike trail - flat paved bike trail with the bonus of stopping to hiking on Powell Butte

Sandy River - dog-friendly hiking area that lead out to the Columbia River.  See evidence of beaver work and play on the sandy beach.

Saddle Mountain - our boys' first 'mountain' hike (when they were 4 and 6) and their favorite trail.  It's a 2.5 mile hike up to the top where you have a great view out to the sea and of our surrounding mountains.  A few of the areas have steep inclines so I taught the boys 'mountain side' and 'down side'.  Whenever we entered an area with a drop I would call 'mountain side' and they learned to only walk on the high side of the trail. 

Wakeena Falls to Multnomah Falls Loop - a bit more ambitious, this 5 mile loop will take you up past Wakeena Falls to Fairy Falls (with an optional 100 yard side trip to see the Wakeena Spring!), over the Gorge ridge to the top of Multnomah Falls and back down to the road.

Wahclella Falls and Bonneville Dam - stop at the Dam to learn about the wildlife (and use the bathrooms!) before heading out on the trail on the other side of the highway.  It's one mile in and out, perfect for a picnic near the falls.

We are applying for the Green Flag Award 
through the National Wildlife Foundation's
Eco-School USA program. Here is a message from the Rieke Student Council Leadership Team:


We are the Student Council that wants to earn a Green Flag. What is a Green Flag you say? A Green Flag is a symbol that we are an eco-friendly school. We could be the first in Oregon!! So help us become a greener school by saving energy, recycling, and using the back of the paper when you draw. In order to life your spirits, we came up with a contest. Who can write the best Rieke Eco-Green Song? The winner gets a green Rieke t-shirt. SO WORK ON IT! Don’t forget the 5 Rs: Rieke, Reuse, Recycle, Reduce, and Replant (please include these in your song). The contest will take place over the summer. Bring in your lyrics in the first week of school next fall!


by Annika S., Madeline M., Sarah W., Eli M., Emily E., Thomas R., Luke H., Ike L., Luke G., Justine W., Rij D.

May Late Start Lounge

This week we met down at Stephen's Creek Natural Area to learn about invasive plants.  West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District loaned us some plastic examples of Purple Loosestrift and Garlic Mustard to help the students become 'Weed Watchers' and they took on the task of learning what to look for and how to report their findings.  Down at the creek the students conducted their own survey with a PVC survey square and water-proof boards.  Their favorite part was designing the symbols to represent the plants in their square.  Each team also had a chance to test the pH of the stream water.  They discovered that running creek water had a lower pH than stagnant water - true scientists in training!

Pictures from the May EcoThink class

Coming soon - hike recommendations for summer adventures!