The Destination: Cedar River Watershed and Education Center
I’ve heard it said that “sometimes getting there is half the fun.” This is patently not the case when one of the kids gets car sick on the way to a field trip.
This particular trip, however, completely outshone any hardships in getting there. Since we live in the Northwest, surrounded by water, rain, inlets, rivers and streams, it’s a natural assumption that everyone has a watershed to visit. Imagine my surprise when I learned that there are only six cities in the country that use protected wilderness to provide clean and affordable water and we have two of them here in Washington: North Bend and Tacoma. We spent our One Day Vacation this month visiting the Cedar River Watershed located just outside North Bend.
My son and his friend enjoyed the opportunity to select ping pong balls that represented raindrops and then sending them through vacuum-powered tubes that represent the evaporation process. One of their highlights of the day was putting all the balls into the system at once and clogging it up. They got to take online tests to see if they would make good water managers and weigh themselves on scales that calculated each of their bodies contained 14.5 gallons of water (now I know why water weight is so important).
One display featured a 5-gallon jug of water for us to try to heave up onto our shoulders. This bucket represented a one-minute shower for us or one day’s supply of water for someone in the Sahara desert.
In the middle of the education center complex is the most compelling exhibit: An ongoing acoustical water performance. Rainwater directed through elevated pipes located throughout the courtyard dripped rhythmically onto various drums arrayed throughout the overgrown gardens, producing toe-tapping tunes and festive rhythms.
The education center ranger then provided us with backpacks that included compasses, binoculars, scat measuring charts and magnifying lenses. Thus equipped, we were sent down a trail to the shores of the Rattlesnake Lake to explore. We enjoyed the walk, the wildlife and the exploration.
While the full-length bus tours don’t become available until next week, we lucked into getting in on a sample bus tour into the actual watershed. Our boys ran for the front seats of the bus for which they were glad when we later saw an elk calf. The bus tour took us to an amazing waterfall and allowed us to see the spectacular forest that comprises the watershed. We also saw the elaborate structure that holds up the pipes to move the water away from the watershed and where it’s needed for tea water, showers, dishes and the myriad uses we find for water.
This adventure is part hike, part museum visit and part road trip. It offers something for everyone.
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Trip details — Cedar River Watershed Education Center 19901 Cedar Falls Road SE North Bend, WA 98045 206-733-9421 http://www.cedarriver.org/ — Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (April 1 through Oct. 31) — Watershed Tours run July 10 through Sept. 6. Tickets are $10. Pre-registration is required. Tours are geared for those who are 10 years or older. — The Cedar River Watershed Institute offers programs throughout the summer including bird watching, hikes, campfire sing-alongs, photography, and railroad history tours.
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