Educational signage and benches for Kincaid Ravine aims to install 2 benches handmilled from leftover timber cut down by the campus arborist, and 3 12"x12" educational signs designed by UW Museology students and produced professionally by Fossil Graphics. This educational "nook" is located on the eastern perimeter of the Kincaid Ravine restoration site, and borders the Burke Gilman Trail (BGT). 

Environmental Impact

An educational nook will directly amplify the environmental impact of the Kincaid Ravine restoration project. Passersby will be able to connect the visible vegetation changes and flower blooming in the site, with written text and images that explain the purpose of these changes. It is also a technique for drawing more volunteers into the project as a way to channel the enthusiasm of the local community. 

The specific environmental themes that the 3 signs will elaborate upon include

1. Title Sign: Includes A) title "Welcome to the Kincaid Ravine restoration project", B) <50 words of text explaining  the concept of forest restoration, native vs. invasive vegetation, C) partner logos including the CSF, Earth Corps, King Conservation District, UW Botanical Gardens, Friends of the Burke Gilman Trail
2. Wetland Sign: ~100 words of text explaining the importance and wildlife potential of restoring this hydrologic feature. 
3. Pollinator Garden Sign: ~100 words of text explaining the importance of native pollinators (native bees, hummingbirds, songbirds) and describing the pollinator gardens that were installed underneath the power lines (colorful spring flower bloom will be aesthetically complementary to this sign). 

Student Leadership & Involvement

This will be an excellent opportunity for students from multiple departments to work with Facilities to successfully fund, design, produce and install signage and benches.

The lead on this project will be Andrew Jauhola, a Project on the Environment capstone student that will be interning in Kincaid Ravine this winter quarter. Other students connected with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) will be involved in supporting this project and installing the benches and signage. Matt Schwartz, the current graduate student Project Manager at Kincaid Ravine will be supporting Andrew and SER volunteers in this effort. Mueseology students Angela Mele and Kate Nowell will be designing the signs and facilitating production. 

Education, Outreach, & Behavior Change

Signage at this high visibility location will be an impactful tool to A) spread awareness about forest restoration ecology B) publicly recognize the partners and funders who have made this project possible.  Elisabeth McLaughlin, Architect of the Forest Segment of the BGT reconstruction, is enthusiastic about incorporating this educational nook into design plans for the new trail to optimize the chance for pedestrians and bicyclists to take a rest off the trail and learn about the restoration project.
Many Kincaid Ravine work party volunteers are used to students, local community members  and BGT users approaching to ask more about the project, or to comment on the visible success. Signage will legitimize the restoration by deeming it official, and the benches will be a chance to invite these curious passersby to become part of this natural oasis for a few minutes. This connection to nature can be invaluable for urban dwellers.

Feasibility, Accountability, & Sustainability

Precedence for bench production and installation by SER at the Whitman Walk restoration site has facilitated the process for connecting with the UW Facilities Maintenance and Construction department to implement this project.  Ed Mckinley of UW Facilities has met with Matt Schwartz and is setting aside hazard tree timber that has been cut on campus for this project. The sustainability factor of keeping dead wood on campus is marked. Rather than importing produced benches, or selling this lumber off campus, these downed trees will live out there life span on campus. We aspire to further smooth out this process in order to encourage more student projects to utilize UW timber for benches around campus.

This project was approved by Landscape Architect Kristine Kenney, with the parameters that sign size would be small, signs would remain low to the ground, and all installed items could be moved if need be.

A continuity of signage and bench design for Whitman Walk and Prairie Rain Garden will create an educational flow of environmental concepts throughout the campus. All three projects will be working with the same designers and production company to achieve this flow. In the case of future 'green tours of campus' this will create a connected culture of outreach.

The benches are fixed in the ground, each with 2 long galvanized metal stakes. The benches are extremely heavy but can be moved as necessary. A chain with I-hooks will ensure that they are not stolen. They will eventually decompose in their natural process but will maintain their function for decades.

The signage is made of phenolic resin with a 10 year graffiti proof warranty (Fossil Industries). The signs will be solidly mounted on a single post, and can be moved if needed.