Blue Mountains Conservancy

Blue Mountains Conservancy Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Blue Mountains Conservancy, Nonprofit Organization, PO Box 1233, La Grande, OR.

Blue Mountains Conservancy is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the enhancement, conservation and public enjoyment of Heritage Pond Education Center. Blue Mountains Conservancy envisions a healthy ecosystem at Pete’s Pond that provides wildlife habitat, educational opportunities and a local place for the community to connect to nature and history.

ADULT Wild School! Help us raise funding to keep our youth nature-based programming free and learn a bit about local and...
05/15/2026

ADULT Wild School! Help us raise funding to keep our youth nature-based programming free and learn a bit about local and medinical plants 🌱 and take home some beautiful cyanotype prints.

Join us to learn a bit about local native and medicinal plants and forage a wild salad with us! We will also create cyanotype (sun print) artwork to document the plants we learn about while sipping on some elderflower cordial with bubbly water or champagne!

Cost is $35 to attend - all proceeds go towards our free youth Wild School programming.

Teachers: Amanda Welch and Meghan Ballard

Amanda Welch teaches art for the Elgin School District and has a master’s degree in Arts Education. Although her main focus is fiber art, she spends a lot of time working with various mediums such as painting, photography and ceramics. She is also a mom of four and helps coach the La Grande Swim Club.

Meghan Ballard holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and has done graduate-level coursework in Environmental Education. She has more than 20 years of experience in environmental education and is a certified Cedarsong Way teacher and a Certified Nature-Based teacher with the Association of Nature Based Education. She is owner and teacher of Blue Mountain Nature School, a member of the Blue Mountains Conservancy board of directors, and a mother of two.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adult-wild-school-ages-21-tickets-1989439931389?aff=oddtdtcreator

Location: Heritage Pond Education Center at 913 S Miller Drive, La Grande, OR 97850

Join us as we continue our yearlong journey exploring the 13 Moons. Each month, we celebrate a different moon and its se...
05/13/2026

Join us as we continue our yearlong journey exploring the 13 Moons. Each month, we celebrate a different moon and its seasonal symbolism across cultures.

In May, we honor the flower moon which pays tribute to the abundant blooming of flowers during this spring season. It symbolizes fertility, growth, renewal, and planting, representing the peak of spring’s vitality.

We will forage a wild salad of miners lettuce, waterleaf, lomatium and dandelion. Then we will get creative with water colors and ice cream salt that gives a special ✨ effect! Lastly we will sample the pond for possible tadpole sightings 🐸

Join us as we celebrate the spirit of the season with creativity, connection, and a little spark of adventure.

Wild School students create nature-based art using a variety of mediums, engage in hands-on science activities, and explore the outdoors at Heritage Pond Education Center.

Teachers: Meghan Ballard and Lexzi Hart

Meghan Ballard holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and has completed graduate-level coursework in Environmental Education. With over 20 years of experience in nature-based education, she is a certified Cedarsong Way teacher and a certified level 2 teacher through the Association of Nature-Based Education. Meghan is the owner and a lead teacher of Blue Mountain Nature School and serves on the boards of the Blue Mountains Conservancy and the Outdoor Early Learning Alliance of Oregon.

Lexzi brings warmth, creativity, and genuine care to every child she works with. Before becoming a Teaching Assistant with Blue Mountain Nature School, she spent four years as a local nanny, supporting families and gaining hands-on experience with children of all ages. She is passionate about early childhood development and believes deeply in creating nurturing, curiosity driven environments where kids feel safe to explore, grow, and express themselves.

Location: Heritage Pond Education Center located at 913 South Miller Drive La Grande

Register here - https://www.bluemountainsconservancy.org/heritage-pond-classes.html

🌿 Mud Kitchen Kids: A Summer Splash of Imagination & Messy Fun! 🌿Calling all little chefs, explorers, and mud pie master...
05/12/2026

🌿 Mud Kitchen Kids: A Summer Splash of Imagination & Messy Fun! 🌿

Calling all little chefs, explorers, and mud pie masters! Mud Kitchen Kids is a two-hour drop-off adventure designed for potty-trained children ages 3–7 who love to mix, mash, squish, and stir up some messy magic. Each session invites kids to dive into our themed mud kitchen, where nature meets imagination and creativity runs wild!

From mud muffins to leaf soup, your child will get hands-on with dirt, water, and natural treasures while building sensory skills, friendships, and unforgettable summer memories.

✨ $25 per session – all proceeds help support our free Wild Preschool program, giving more kids access to outdoor learning and play.

Spots are limited, so grab your boots and get ready to stir up some fun – because the best summer memories are made in the mud!

Children WILL get dirty, please have kids arrive with sunscreen already applied and a full water bottle and a snack.

Teachers: Tatiana Derichsweiler and Lexzi Hart

Register here - https://www.bluemountainsconservancy.org/heritage-pond-classes.html

05/10/2026

Wild Preschool: Flowers! We had 23 kids and their caregivers join us today to celebrate spring flowers over the past two days! 🌸

Let’s get outside this Friday and Saturday and explore flowers! We’ll start with fun songs and parachute or scarf time, ...
05/04/2026

Let’s get outside this Friday and Saturday and explore flowers! We’ll start with fun songs and parachute or scarf time, then listen to a reading of Waiting for Wings by Lois Elhert. After that, we’ll get creative by making flower crowns, trying some dandelion shortbread cookies and painting with flower pigments. We’ll wrap up our adventure with a color scavenger hunt around the pond!

Both days will be the same theme

Saturday Teacher: Rachel Rice studied Early Childhood Education at EOU and previously taught as a pre-k teacher at Heidi Ho. She currently homeschools her two children, and is passionate about getting kids outside (no matter the weather) to learn from the land and all that it has to offer.

Friday Teacher: Meghan Ballard holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and has completed graduate-level coursework in Environmental Education. With over 20 years of experience in nature-based education, she is a certified Cedarsong Way teacher and a certified level 2 teacher through the Association of Nature-Based Education. Meghan is the owner and a lead teacher of Blue Mountain Nature School and serves on the boards of the Blue Mountains Conservancy and the Outdoor Early Learning Alliance of Oregon.

Cost: Free but registration is required here- https://www.bluemountainsconservancy.org/heritage-pond-classes.html

Location: Heritage Pond Education Center located at 913 South Miller Drive in La Grande

This free class is made possible with a grant from the Gray Family Foundation and private donors.

Address

PO Box 1233
La Grande, OR
97850

Telephone

+15418056489

Website

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