that has not been the case and is something that the Partner-
Grant givers would like to know that investing money in
ship is working on. We are always looking for ‘spawnsors’ and
your event was a good thing, and may even consider doing it
outside grants.
again. Evaluations of different kinds can help with grants, as
It has been very helpful to have a non-profit organization,
well as planning for the next year.
OCEAN, be our overall partner. This allows us to apply for
We vary how we do evaluations and what we evaluate at
grants that aren’t open to agencies.
Tsalila, depending on our needs and where we want to focus our
attention. We usually do a written evaluation for the teachers
Step Four: Who Is Going to do All This Work?
about what their students got out of coming to Education Days,
and sometimes we ask the students as well. We track the number
Look at all things that you would like to offer at your event,
of people attending, and where they are coming from to see how
and think about where you are going to get the labor force.
our media strategy is working. We do simple surveys to ask
We have about 150 volunteers a day helping with Tsalila,
people their opinions about the event, and we ask the volunteers
which includes three Education Days and the weekend Festival;
as well.
we consider anyone who is not a part of the Partnership plan-
Shortly after our event is over and we have cleaned up, our
ning committee to be a volunteer. Most of these people are from
first meeting agenda will include setting a date for next year and
agencies and organizations that bring hands-on learning stations
going over a summary of the evaluations to help us get started
or informational displays. The rest are recruited from each of the
on our planning.
partners, the high school, retired school teachers and local civic
groups such as Rotary.
Step Seven: In Closing…..
We provide each volunteer with a T-shirt, some training,
and an appreciation dinner to thank them for all that they con-
It doesn’t look like much. A big dirt parking filled with boat
tribute, which can be helping to put up the maze, hanging signs,
trailers.
teaching learning stations, giving guided tours, etc.
In late September, large trucks arrive and tents start going
up: 4 large ones to hold the majority of the learning stations,
Step Five: Invite People and They Will Come
others for the salmon dinners and the ‘edutainment’ area. The
salmon story telling tent (shaped like a bright colorful fish) goes
Are you going to use posters, television interviews, news
up. Another crew works on getting the salmon life cycle maze in
paper ad, street banners, web sites or a combination of all these
place. Signs are hung, tables and equipment are brought in for
things to bring people to your event?
the learning stations – a giant fish tank, the river box, the hybrid
Over the years, we have tried all kinds of things to bring
car. A pit is dug for the alder wood fire for cooking the salmon.
people to the festival (schools are invited to attend the Educa-
From Wednesday through Friday, almost 3,000 students,
tion Days). We have varied our strategy according to what other
teachers and chaparones will be on-site for the Education Days.
events we may be competing against, what we can afford, and
Busses line up and students pile out, greeters arrive to help di-
what some of our simple surveys have told us. Attendance has
rect them to their first station. Noise, laughing, dust and excite-
increased each year (well, except for when it rained and rained)
ment fill the air.
and so has what we offer to entice the public.
Once the last group is gone on Friday afternoon, volunteers
take a break for an appreciation barbeque. Then stations are
Step Six: How to Do it Better Next Time? adjusted and moved, vendors come in to set up, more signs are
How do you know if you have reached success? Think
hung, and we get ready for the festival.
about how you want to evaluate your event.
The festival is on the Saturday and Sunday beginning with a
children’s parade and an opening ceremony that includes a tribal
blessing. Thousands of people of all ages will go through the Dis-
covery Center, try paddling kayaks on the river, play Migration
Golf, listen to a story teller, make a fish print, buy a piece of art,
and learn about the wonderful things that make up the Umpqua
Watershed.
At 4:00 PM on Sunday, all of the volunteers collapse – but
only for a short while. There are things to take down, which will
go on through Monday as well. Is it worth it? Come visit us and
see.
For more information on Tsalila, please visit the web site at
www.tsalila.com or contact any of the partners listed. Tsalila oc-
curs in Reedsport, on the southern Oregon coast.
Sharon Morse is an interpreter/environmental education specialist for the
Bureau of Land Management – Coos Bay District. She can be reached at
Above: Students investigate a giant salmon sculpture that is part of Tsalila, the
celebration of salmon and the Umpqua River on the southern Oregon coast.
(541)751-4222 or sharon_morse@blm.gov.
Photo: Sharon Morse.
Clearing - 2009 Compendium Edition http://www.clearingmagazine.org Page 25
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