The Mount St. Helens Institute has been honored by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar with a Partners in Conservation Award.
The nonprofit institute, based in Vancouver, was nominated by the U.S. Geological Survey based on multiple and varied education and conservation projects around Mount St. Helens. The institute, which collaborates with USGS and the U.S. Forest Service, was one of four partnerships honored.
Specific projects include the regular appearance of volunteer interpreters around the volcano; the “Volcano Views and Brews” monthly lecture series; the Volcano Explorers Program, in which scientists connect to fourth- to sixth-grade students through video-conferencing; “Volcano After Dark,” an overnight opportunity for youth and school groups; group climbs up the volcano led by professional volcanologists; guided hikes and snowshoeing trips; and a family event, “It’s a Blast: Volcano Science in your Backyard.”
