Tumalo Creek Writings

REALMS is a public charter middle school and a member of Expeditionary Learning Schools, Outward Bound. REALMS is located in Bend, OR.

Ever since I saw the beauty of Tumalo Valley and its creek, I’ve been in love with it. I realized this just now as I sat upon my seat of snow. I watched birds play in and out of the trees, and the wonderful willows soak up the sun. The river and breeze singing a song of peace, with the snow covered mountains gallantly scraping the sky. We mustn’t let these places perish, for they are the heart and soul of the earth and life itself. Even though this is a place of beauty and life, people want to destroy. We people who say differently and want to preserve it forever must do what we can, with what we have, where we are.
by Hooper Lansburgh

As I look down, I can see ice hanging over the water. The beautiful blue sky is covered with dark fog. I sit here wishing that the sun could shine out of the fog. I take a break from snowshoeing. I write in my journal. I look around me, and to the left I see the upstream of this creek, the shallow running water, a couple of riffles and runs. The sound that comes from the creek is amazing. It makes me feel lucky to be out here in my backyard, twenty minutes away from my school. I look down at the water - no reflection of any sort, my eyes are blinded by the reflection of the snow. I look up at the sun. It’s here, it has finally broken out of the fog. The sun’s bright rays hit everything and bring life. The reflection of the river is brilliant now, and beautiful like a mirror in a fun house.
by Parker Daines

When you first get to the creek, you think it’s just a creek, but it is not. It’s our creek. I would compare it to something, but nothing compares to the creek’s gleaming waters.
by Travis

I’m sitting, writing in the snow near this creek, writing where no one else has ever written before. It is hard to find places like this, so untouched by civilization. It’s important to take care of land like this.
by Cody Mueller

My sight shows me an area that reflects on my own world - Pure unadulterated truth. Never knowing what’s gunna happen next. Ice by the water’s edge so clear yet foggy in the purest of beauty and the deepest of meaning. I look over to see and hear water falling over itself like a lovesick teen, giving me a sharp smack in the face as a reminder of what I once was.

Across the river I see a forest. Green and white remind me of envy and innocence in this palace of ice and trees. It’s hard to believe that in this world of pain, war, and hate, there is calm. Calm so unnatural, it seems unfair.

I envy this world of calm-wondering why every day, every moment, every instant can’t be like this. I wish I could live here even though I know in the back of my head that I have to go back. Back to the place I’m forced to call home. Forced to live in the deadly stereotypes people give me. Knowing some day I’ll come back here never to return to the outside world of pain, war, and hate.
by Alicia Emery

Tumalo Creek; calm, quiet and trying to be different by floating free. There are people who are trying to restore the natural touch of Tumalo Creek, trying to help it stay free and running in this world of theirs and ours. I feel glad that I have had the opportunity, along with others, to restore the creek.
by Dakota Weaver

It’s quiet, calm, and peaceful, and for once in my life, I feel at one with nature. If the world was not able to visit beautiful places such as this, the amount of peace here on Earth would be next to none. So, now it’s your moment, your turn, your opportunity, and it’s your chance to shine by getting up and on your feet and protecting the river here in OUR city of Bend.
by Devin Womack