OUR MISSION
The mission of The Waterfall Center for Bioregional Learning is to serve as a virtual information and community organizing hub which will facilitate collaborations, partnerships, and collective decision making for the protection of the land, water, ecology, cultures and communities of Skóhare (the Schoharie Valley) and connected bioregions.
The Center is currently a virtual community with regular in person gatherings that provides a trans-disciplinary workspace and knowledge networking hub for data collection from trusted local sources, civically engaged research, innovation, communication and meaningful local action. Our goal is to help catalyze a flourishing, climate-resilient bioregion as we engage and empower citizens to care for their unique environments.
With community input and participation, we have begun to explore what the designation of the Schoharie Valley as a bioregional sanctuary and unique protected ecosystem would look like; as well as identify and help develop appropriate programs and community stewardship for the protection of the culture, food, water, forests, and wildlife in the bioregion.
PHASE 1: SCOPE
The initial focus of the Center is to identify partnership opportunities, organize, connect and facilitate conversations between governing bodies, NGOs, education centers, faith groups, experts and community members to address community needs, ideas, and identity within the Bioregion.
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During this process we would also initiate a few small-scale projects which would create practical, hands-on opportunities to build an active community and work collaboratively towards our goals of ecological and economic resilience inherent in protecting and maintaining a flourishing bioregion.
LEARNING LIBRARY
We have begun compiling research on the Skóhare bioregion; mapping our watersheds and geological features; and understanding the culture, economy and history of the Valley. This is an evolving, collaborative effort and we look forward to community input as we define what constitutes our bioregion.
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