About the Nature Network

PROGRA, MANAGER

Jane is a nature person at heart. As a landscape architect, ecologist and environmental educator, she has been helping communities build beautiful spaces to connect in the great outdoors for over 25 years. She has worked as a private consultant as well as a public servant in city and county governments in the parks, trails, open space and ecological restoration fields. Her current work focuses on greening school campuses and developing habitat for our neighbors. She supports work with national organizations on children and nature, as well as Green Schoolyards.

She has been told by many that she is easily distracted by birds and butterflies. Her passion is teaching others about the wonders of nature. She can’t wait to teach kids how to plant a plant, is happy to weed a school garden with students and loves the back country trails to explore and wander.

The USFWS Team provides financial support to connect more people to public lands. Serving the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan urban area, the Refuge staff coordinator and support nature connects, both on the refuge and in the community through volunteer stewardship, community partnership, programming and educational outreach.

Visit the Ridgefield NWR - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ridgefield
28908 NW Main Ave., Ridgefield, WA 98642-8366

Visit the Steigerwald Lake NWR - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/steigerwald-lake
34301 SE Lewis and Clark Hwy., Washougal, WA 98671

At the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex a variety of tools are used across the four refuges to ensure healthy habitats for native wildlife. These management tools include:  Habitat restoration; Cooperative farming; Agriculture; Invasive species management; Prescribed fire; Conservation easements; Inventory and monitoring; Water management. Through programs for education and outreach as well as hunter support, the refuge systems supports all community members to connect with nature.

The Firstenburg Foundation supports the LCNN through capacity building grant from 2025-2027. The Firstenburge Foundation envisions a community where strategic investment, collaboration, and empathy converge to create a lasting and transformative impact that enhances the well-being of all. They foster community strength and resilience in Southwest Washington and continues E.W. and Mary Firstenburg’s legacy of improving our community through giving.

Through the Cities Connecting Children to Nature and Nature Everywhere programs, LCNN has partnered to build capacity for nature connections in our community through the development of SW WA Green Schoolyards Action Plan and Ripple Effect Mapping. These grants brought in national expertise to work with our local and regional partners to identify opportunities to grow and reach more community members. We are grateful for their vision, leadership and financial support.