College of the Siskiyous

There is still time to enroll in fall courses for Resource Technology and Sustainable Communities Programs:

Forest Ecology ERRT 11 – 3 units

Study of abiotic and biotic variables in forest ecosystems.
Wednesdays 9 – 9:50 and Fridays 9 – 12:50. Started Aug 18th

Introduction to Surveying ERRT 22 – 3 units

Covers the use and applications of basic engineering equipment.
Mondays and Wednesdays 11 – 1:30. Started Aug 16th

Silviculture ERRT 30 – 3 units

Covers concepts of managing forests for establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests on a sustained yield basis, using varying techniques.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 – 11:15.  Started Aug 17th.

Introduction to Sustainable Communities ERSC 1 – 3 units

Examines the interactions between humans and global ecosystems.
Mondays 5:30 – 8:30.  Started Aug 16th.

Sustainable Communities Skills Lab ERSC 50 - 2 units

Emphasizes applied sustainability principles through integrated hands-on lab activities and field trips in various areas of Sustainable Communities.
Tuesdays 11 – 2:50.  Started Aug 17th.

Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills ERSC 3 – 3 units

Introduction to the history and philosophy of Outdoor Adventure Education with applications to current trends and opportunities for the future.
Fridays 10 – 1.  Starts Aug 27th.

Greening Your World ERSC 51 – 3 units

Students will research and implement strategies to incorporate lower impact practices at home, at work, on campus, and in their communities.
Mondays 2 – 4, Wednesdays 2 – 5.  Starts Sept 8th.

Renewable Energy ERSC 53 -1 unit

Offers participants an overview of efficiency and renewable living options for Siskiyou County, highlighting on solar power.
Four Wednesdays 6 – 9 and Saturday Oct 23rd 9-4.  Starts Oct 6th.

Exploring Business Opportunities BA 60 – 2 units

Explores the emerging opportunities within the business, nonprofit and government sectors for green jobs and entrepreneurship.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 – 10:50.  Starts Sept 21st.

It’s Your Business BA 86 – 2 units

Participants will be given all the tools and concepts necessary to complete a creative business plan for small business success.  Yreka Campus with distance learning to Butte Valley.
Tuesdays 5:30 – 8:30.  Starts Sept. 21st.

Please Call to Register 938-5555 or go to www.siskiyous.edu Late Registration Welcome.

Check out the website: www.siskiyous.edu/cte/er

Do you have program questions? Please contact Joy von S at vonskepsgardh@siskiyous.edu

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

We invite you to add your observations to this ever-growing database of observations via the GBBC website.  Explore reports coming in from across the continent, upload images for the photo contest, and tweet about the birds you see, adding the gbbc tag to have your comments appear in the Twitter widget on the GBBC home page. Just by participating in the GBBC you’ll be entered into a drawing for great prizes. The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with new Canadian partner, Bird Studies Canada and sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.

A few months ago, the federal government had a program called “Cash for Clunkers,” which gave rebates to the auto dealers for sales of energy efficient vehicles purchased by the consumers. Coming soon to consumers in late 2009 or early 2010 will be a federally-funded program run by each individual state to give rebates on purchases of “Energy Star” appliances; sort of a “Cash for Clunker Appliances” program.   The rebates will commonly range from $50 to $250 depending on the product being purchased.

The “Stimulus Bill” (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) provided $300 million to states for consumer rebates on the following ENERGY STAR qualified appliances:

• Central air conditioners
• Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
• Boilers
• Furnaces (oil and gas)
• Room air conditioners
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Refrigerators/freezers
• Water heaters

This appliance stimulus rebate is different than the recent “Cash for Clunker” vehicle program in that the federal government is not doing the paperwork for each consumer transaction, instead they have asked the individual states to run the program, and the federal government will fund it. Each state has been given the authority to decide which appliances and what level of efficiency of that category of appliances will be eligible for rebates. The states were required to submit their plans to the Federal Department of Energy by October 15, 2009 for review. The manufacturers of appliances are concerned that it will be very difficult for them to have their products ready for 50 different state strategies in the upcoming months.

Dollars for dishwashers and other appliances are coming soon, so keep in contact with your appliance dealer for further details.

The Siskiyou Land Trust (SLT), a 501(c)(3) with offices in Weed, CA, is seeking a one-half-time Executive Director to manage its affairs. SLT is a private conservation organization governed by an eight-member Board of Directors which is “dedicated to long-term stewardship of agricultural, forest and wildlands in Siskiyou County by working with willing landowners, agencies and organ-izations.”

Contact SLT at (530) 926-2259 for a position description and application information. The deadline for applications is November 13, 2009.

Classes will start September 8th!

The C.O.S. Department of Career and Technical Education offers three new programs:

1)  Environmental Resources – Sustainable Communities (ERSC)

2) Environmental Resources – Power Generation Technology (ERPG)

3) Environmental Resources – Environmental Resources Technology (ERRT)

Students can choose to complete an Associate of Science degree or a Certificate in the new programs.

For more information on ALL the new Environmental Resources programs please visit:

http://www.siskiyous.edu/cte/environmental/or call Christy Cummings Dawson at 530-938-5305 or email: cummingsc@siskiyous.edu

Door hangers are being distributed asking residents to follow these important water conservation tips:

• DO NOT allow water to run in the gutter.
• Do not water during the heat of the day. Set timers for early morning hours.
• Do not water one spot for more than 30 minutes. Use timers if possible.
• Hoses should be fitted with sprinklers or nozzles.
• Consult with a landscape specialist to learn about maintenance techniques & how to improve the health of your lawn by using less water.
• Water plants & lawn, not paved areas.
• Make sure hoses & faucets do not leak and connections are tight.
• Do not water out of habit, check dampness of soil.
• Please do your part. In the past, our community has responded to requests for conservation by reducing water consumption by as much as 50%

If anyone has any questions, please call City Hall at 926-7510

This award will join the previously received for 2006.