Work on the Oak Savanna - Photo by Ron Acob
Last Friday our team gathered on the PSU Oak Savanna for the Fall Seasonal Gathering. For the last few years these seasonal gatherings have been an essential part of the site’s growth, as they invite new participants in, take on larger projects, and measure the progress of developments on site. At these gatherings, participants are invited to support 3-4 projects led by project team members. This often includes maintenance activities like weeding and mulching, harvesting plants or seeds, shaping the willow dome, and participating in a design activity.
This fall gathering came with a healthy dose of rain and wind as a storm blew across Portland. Only one other gathering has been as wet, and like that time this gathering was still well attended by an enthusiastic group of supporters. While perhaps there were fewer in attendance than on a sunny day, the efforts and commitment of those who came to help made up any difference.
The event kicked off with a welcome from Emma Johnson, ITECK Coordinator. Emma introduced the team leading the main activities for the day before making space for 4th/5th grade students from the Cottonwood School to sing a song about Oak trees. Part of Emma’s work has focused on an ITECK-inspired social-emotional learning curriculum that pairs education about native plants with lessons that those plants teach us. She has brought this curriculum and her experience to the Cottonwood School where students have enthusiastically embraced the teachings. These lessons permeate ITECK teachings at PSU as well, serving to ground students and their education in a network of meaningful relationships with the land. Oak, in its contribution, teaches about patience.
Cottonwood School tablescape - photo by Emma Johnson
Also in attendance Friday were several Public Interest Design students who hosted an activity to support the design of an outdoor classroom on the Oak Savanna. The classroom is a student design-build project planned for Summer 2026. One of those students, Morgan Williams (B.Arch, 4th year) had this to say:
“It was pouring rain, but no one seemed to mind much, kids were laughing, teachers and ITECK students were talking plants and compost tea, and we all ended up huddling under trees between bursts of activity. There was this shared sense that the weather wasn’t a setback, just part of the lesson…Our group brought an activity using small colored flags to help imagine the layout of a future outdoor classroom. The fourth graders and guests placed the flags themselves, marking where they thought people might gather, teach, grow or rest. The rain helped with that, oddly enough. It showed us the natural paths, the sheltered spots, the puddles people avoided.
The rain made the need for covered space obvious, but it also showed how ready people are to show up for this landscape, no matter the weather. The weather didn’t interrupt the event, it revealed what’s missing. If the day taught us anything, it’s that the Oak Savanna doesn’t need perfect weather to bring people together, just a little more cover. A roof, maybe. Somewhere to sit with tea and talk about trees without having to apologize for the rain.”
The next Seasonal Gathering will come in the 2026 Winter Term, usually in early February. Before then, we at the Center for Public Interest Design will be hosting a large Community Forum where we will share design updates and hold discussions about design, process, and plans for supporting our ITECK Partners. Our target date for this event is December 10th from 4pm-7pm. Keep an eye out for more location information on the CPID Calendar and Instagram page—we hope to see you there!