The Environmental Leadership Program is run through the University of Oregon's Environmental Studies Department. The aim of the program is to give students an opportunity to apply the skills they have learned in their coursework out in the field. This is achieved by connecting teams of students to community partners, such as local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies, to complete environmental mapping, monitoring and education projects. In 2009 there were eight groups in the program: six environmental education teams, and two mapping and monitoring teams. 

     The monitoring work that our team is doing is building off the efforts of previous ELP turtle teams. For the past three years (2006-2008), ELP students have worked with the BLM to identify and map potential western pond turtle habitat along streams in the Upper Willamette Resource Area. This is the first year that ELP students have had the opportunity to assist the BLM with population monitoring, as the habitat mapping has been largely completed. 

To learn more about the University of Oregon's Environmental Leadership Program and past projects visit: 

Environmental Leadership Program Website