Astoria’s hands-on, place-based programs connect children and adults to the local landscape, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
In 2024, Education Programming Manager, Bari Bucholz, led habitat restoration projects with local partner organizations and community volunteers to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem health in targeted areas of Astoria Park.
Three monumental community service projects engaged 120 volunteers, ranging in age from six to 72, in hands-on conservation work while providing meaningful learning opportunities and experiences. Astoria partnered with Teton County Weed + Pest and students from Teton Science Schools’ Field Education program to combat invasive species. This collaboration showcased community service at its best and demonstrated the power of out-of-school learning. In just one morning, over 80 middle schoolers removed 5,800 invasive plants and collected 544 pounds of seeds – preventing further spread while gaining valuable stewardship experience.
Astoria also engages adults in environmental initiatives and new park partnerships, expanding opportunities for conservation education and future programming. One late-August day, ten volunteers gathered at Astoria’s future park for a Manual Weed Workshop. In just two hours, they uprooted approximately 550 invasive plants – including Musk Thistle, Houndstongue, Common Mullein, and Spotted Knapweed – eliminating 45.7 pounds of seeds. Led by Teton County Weed + Pest, Habitat Heroes, and Teton Plants, the group included participants from Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, Grand Teton National Park, Senior Center of JH, and other engaged community members. Together, they learned how to identify and manually control a few of the county’s most persistent invasive species while also gaining a deeper understanding of the vital role native plants play in the ecosystem.
Even Camp Astoria’s youngest stewards also played a role! Six and seven-year-olds from Camp Jackson explored native plants and tackled invasive species through a hands-on scavenger hunt. After identifying the habitat’s worst offenders, they enthusiastically dug the plants – roots and all – creating piles to showcase their impact.
Astoria is proud to have piloted these programs strengthening connections to the outdoors and empowering participants to protect local ecosystems through habitat restoration, citizen science, and community-driven conservation.
This work is just one way to ensure Astoria Park Conservancy fosters ecological health achieving sustainability through conservation partnerships, hands-on projects, and environmental best practices.
These programs were made possible by funding from Teton Conservation District’s Partner in Conservation (PIC) Grant and the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole’s Youth Philanthropy Grant.
