Welcome to the Hood River County Education Foundation

"Our playground is in need of major upgrades. At this time financially we are unable to make long term formal improvements. Our swingset was unsafe and had to be removed this year. The swingset was one of the most used pieces of equipment. With its absence we had a large area of playground with no structures to play on. The installation of the gaga ball pit brought life to our playground. Families and students were able to have a shiny new piece of equipment at an entry level cost in regards to upgrades. It felt fresh like a special treat to the students and brightened up the space as well. It provided an structured activity for large groups of kids to participate in vs. unstructured play which can often lead to disagreements and sometimes unsafe play." Thank you to Cascade Locks Alumni Association for making this grant possible.

"I love our games. Students get excited about them, it gives students something to do with their free time (that secretly adds to their learning), and it is so exciting to see students not afraid to try something new and be able to figure it out. I loved seeing different groups of students connect, but most of all, I love that the library can add to the many reasons why it is a great place to hang out and where students love to be."

"The musical each year unites students of all ages and from different back grounds and skill sets to create a group project of a full musical. Students design and create sets. They also have a chance to be leaders in the process of student directing. Students can choose to be on the acting or technology crew and the process lasts most of the school year. This year we [added] tap dance and choreography to the production process. We hosted three elementary schools and students were excited to watch and extremely engaged as they asked questions at the end of each show. We also performed four other shows for the community in both evening and afternoon matinees. The feedback was also extremely positive and each night students received standing ovations. … The tap shoes and skills will continue to be used in our after school program and in upcoming musicals at Wyeast Middle School and our high school."