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The Dian Missar Memorial Education Fund
One of Forest Web’s missions is to support environmental education for children. By donating books and other materials to educators and environmental programs, we hope to help the next generation develop a stronger understanding and connection to forests and the role these ecosystems play in building a healthier planet.
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The first book we put on our list was Life in an Old Growth Forest by Valerie Rapp. Though the book is no longer in print, we continue to purchase as many copies of it as we can locate. The most recent addition to this list is The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge. As we move forward with this endeavor, we will add other titles to our donation list. We are also developing other educational materials such our Special Species Coloring Book, which focuses on the roles played by keystone and indicator species in forest ecosystems.
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If you are an educator and are working with an applicable study program in Oregon, please contact us to learn more and request a copy of one of these books for your classroom.
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Support our Education Efforts!
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Checks should be made out to Forest Web (with “Education Fund” noted in the memo field) and mailed to: Forest Web, P.O. Box 1026, Cottage Grove, OR 97424. Or via PayPal, and the donation will be allocated for this project.
Life in an Old Growth Forest by Valerie Rapp
Using the forests of the Pacific Northwest as an example, this book examines the physical features, processes, and many species of plants and animals that make up old growth forest ecosystems. Includes historical perspectives on how humans have used these forests and what is being done to ensure that old growth forests remain viable in the future. Visit a land filled with giant trees to learn what makes this environment so special. Ages 9 to 17
The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge
The author combines beautiful illustrations and poetry in tandem with scientific information to share the hidden language of trees. The story of a tree is a story of community, communication, and cooperation. Although trees may seem like silent, independent organisms, they form a network buzzing with life: they talk, share food, raise their young, and offer protection. Trees thrive on diversity, learn from their ancestors, and give back to their communities. Trees not only sustain life on our planet―they can also teach us important lessons about patience, survival, and teamwork. Ages 7 to 12
Dian Missar, Community Leader & Environmental Advocate
Dian Missar believed in creating partnerships and always thought her efforts would make a difference in her community. She was right.
A longtime resident of Cottage Grove, Dian gave her passion and energy to many
causes, including the Blackberry Pie Society (a local political action organization),
the League of Women Voters, and the Cottage Grove Library. Dian served as
president of the Cottage Grove Historical Society. She co-founded Parent
Partnership, a rural program to enhance parenting skills and healthy child,
youth and family development, providing support for local teen parents to
stay in school and graduate. She also co-founded Friends of Mount David, an
organization dedicated to enhancing and preserving the historic, recreational,
ecological and cultural qualities of Cottage Grove.
Dian was a friend and supporter of Forest Web of Cottage Grove, and we counted
ourselves blessed that Dian included Forest Web among the causes she
championed. Always ready with a forest-related question, she made us stay on
top of the issues to give her the answers she needed. She arranged speaking
engagements for us to give presentations on current environmental issues facing
Oregon, ensuring our voice was always a part of the local discussion. For over 30
years, she and her husband Chuck lived on property adjacent to Mosby Creek, where she conducted a wetlands restoration project. She worked with Forest Web and the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council to stop a Lane County logging project planned for Blue Mountain Park.
Among her many accomplishments, Dian held a degree in English, an elementary school credential, and was also a teacher. It was a job she never really left. Years ago, Dian presented us with a copy of a book: Life in an Old Growth Forest by Valerie Rapp. She felt it would be an excellent tool for teaching children about how special and important these native forests are to Oregon.
Dian passed away in February of 2016, but Forest Web wanted her memory to continue so we established the Dian Missar Memorial Education Fund in her honor, continuing the partnership she created with us.
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