Water Resources Education Center

Last week I went with Noah's class on a field trip to the Water Resources Education Center here (show them the pole mom!) in Vancouver. I have driven by this place countless times and can't believe that (the pole mom, tell them about the flood pole!) I've never stopped by before. It was fun, beautiful and very (where are the pictures of the pole?) educational. It was so much fun that the boys and I (the pole, the pole, the pole) stopped by again on the way home from the bike ride that Joel and Chris were in on Sunday. The center is open during the week with lots of fun (sheesh mom, get to the pole) activities for the kids, there is a walking path that winds around the wetlands (you know the one where I'm pointing at the numbers), the path can take you to a great picnic and play area or down to the waters edge on the Columbia River. A fountain that is (this is boring mom get to the pole) in front of the center was a huge draw (ughh you're driving me crazy) to the boys and I loved the gardens that surrounded the building. The Water Resources Education Center is having a Sturgeon Festival May 31-June 1 and I'll be bringing the boys down to check it out. If you live in the area and want to (mom, seriously, get to the pole) go with us let us know. So as you can see Noah, for some reason, was intrigued by the (are you finally typing about the flood pole) flood pole. The pictures below help explain what it's all about...

This is taken standing right next to the pole facing the water, you can see the Columbia River through the trees. The river is actually a bit swollen and up over the edges right now.

Oliver pointing to the plaque in the next picture...

Noah pointing to the plaque in the following picture...

Noah trying to point to the last picture...

As you can see the plaques mark the level of each flood. There have been more floods in the area but these are the only ones that were officially recorded by someone. Noah couldn't believe how much the river had come up and was even more baffled by the fact that people were building homes down that close to the river. "What if it does it again mom? Won't they get flooded out of their home? Why would you build your house down here if you knew it was going to happen again?" Smart kid if you ask me, I just asked him if he was going to build his house down that close to a river someday and his response, "Only if it floats or it's a boat!" He then proceeded to tell me that float and boat rhyme and named a bunch of other words that rhymed with those words. Anyway, if you make it down there, please check out the flood pole, it will make Noah very happy.

"About time you told them about the flood pole mom!"