Soon after graduating from college, I lucked out and landed my first job teaching outdoor education at OMSI's Cascade Science School just outside of Bend.

Inspiring wonder in kids who have wii's, camera phones, and credit cards might seem like a tall task.  However, places like the Metolius, Fort Rock, Mt. Thielsen, and Crater Lake made that part of the job pretty easy!  Getting 30 "inspired kids" to wash their dishes was another matter.

So while I'm not sure how much wonder destination resorts inspire, I can tell you that when kids see a river apparently bubbling up from nowhere, that gets them excited.  The Metolius is truly a unique and special place -- one that Oregonians of all ages care deeply about.

There are lots of places in Oregon where a supposed "green" destination resort might be welcomed.  However, it was clear that the Metolius is not one of them.

After a whole bunch of back and forth, yesterday the Oregon House passed a bill declaring the Metolius River Basin a Critical Area of Statewide Concern -- protecting it from destination resorts designed by multi-millionaires who themselves often sounded like children.  Said one; "I feel like someone shot my dog.  I'm totally not doing any more companies in Oregon if this fails.  I'll go ski and surf."

If you're on our action alert list, you likely hear from us from time to time asking you to contact So-and-So and tell them to do such-and-such.  If you ever wondered if those actions matter, the Metolius vote proves they do!

When I was young, and asking lots of questions about politics, someone once boiled it down for me.  I was told that there are two kinds of power in America -- money power, and people power.  It was clear yesterday that people power won the day.

Opposition to this bill was well-funded and well-connected.  After its opponents dealt it what appeared to be a major setback, citizens and members of groups across the state (including several hundred from Oregon Wild) sent e-mails, wrote letters, and made phone calls to their state representatives urging them to protect the Metolius.

Explaining his change of vote, Tigard Rep. Galizio cited amongst his reasons "an outpouring of letters and other contacts from the public" for his ultimate support.

Sadly, unless the Metolius is protected as wilderness, it may be threatened again.  You can be sure that Oregon Wild will be there to protect it.  While we'll never be able to come close to matching the money power of development interests, with your help and support, we can demonstrate that what we lack in money power, we make up for in people power.

Also, on the bummer side, sadly, the Metolius isn't the only wonder-inspiring place facing a serious threat here in Oregon.  The gateway to what is arguably Oregon's greatest gift to the world -- Crater Lake National Park -- is being threatened by one of the most destructive timber sales we've seen in a while.

It's not too late to weigh in and let the Forest Service know that places like the Metolius, Diamond Lake, and Crater Lake, should be valued for their scenic, environmental, and recreational value...and their ability to inspire wonder in future generations.  Not for their value as saw logs or biomass.

A clearcut inspires wonder for me, but not the kind we need more of.

Click here to learn more about, and help stop, the D-Bug Timber Sale on the doorstep of Crater Lake.

Photos: Metolius kayaker by Leon Werdinger, Ponderosas in snow by Justin Lee, and Crater Lake by Justin Lee.