family friendly

Join the 17th year of the Columbia Slough’s paddling festival and canoe in search of eagles, otters and fish. Launch into the safe slack water of the slough and enjoy hands-on nature activities and tasty snacks for purchase. Meet at the St. Johns Canoe Launch at 9363 N. Columbia Blvd. in Portland. T-shirt provided. $7 suggested donation. Bring your own boat or make a reservation for a 45-minute rental through the council. For more information, visit www.columbiaslough.org. Hosted by Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Wilsonville Sunday Streets is a special event that will focus on connecting neighborhoods, parks, and people: bicyclists, walkers, runners, seniors, adults and children will enjoy traffic-free streets filled with fun and interactive entertainment, music, physical activities, and food.

For more information, please visit: http://ridesmart.com/sundaystreets

Join us as we celebrate National Pollinator Week. What is pollination? Why is it an important part of the food web? What kinds of insects and animals facilitate the pollination process? All these questions and more will be answered when you attend the Pollination Celebration on Saturday, June 23rd from 10 am to noon at Howell Territorial Park on Sauvie Island.

We’ll search for pollinators in and around the native hedgerow on the Sauvie Island Organics farm. Using our looking glasses, we’ll get a closer look at pollen on a variety of plants and see how bees gather pollen. We’ll even make Mason Bee Houses to take home and participate in a honey tasting. Don’t forget a picnic to enjoy after the event.

Join Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District for an afternoon of recreation, environmental education and activities for kids and adults at various spots along this Fanno Creek Regional Trail.

Sunday Trailways is scheduled for June 24 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. It will be a free event with activities for kids and adults at various points along the Fanno Creek Trail. The trail, which extends 4 1/2 miles within THPRD boundaries from Garden Home Recreation Center to Greenway Park, features some of Beaverton’s most scenic areas, including the Koll Wetlands, Fanno Farmhouse and Vista Brook Park.

The event will begin with a grand opening ceremony to commemorate January’s completion of the “missing link” of the trail, a half-mile segment extending from the intersection of Scholls Ferry Road and Allen Blvd to the end of 105th Court (near the intersection of Denney Road and Highway 217).

After that, trail neighbors and patrons of all ages and fitness levels are invited to walk, run or bike the route, meet neighbors and enjoy activities throughout the trail.

Planned activities include:

• Body fat/fitness assessments by THPRD personal trainers (Garden Home)

• Kids station with face painting, games and activities (Garden Home)

• THPRD Rec Mobile with activities for kids (Vista Brook Park and Greenway Park)

• Natural Resources education with park rangers (Vista Brook Park)

• Food/beverages for sale (Greenway Park, Garden Home)

• Historical guides/performances (Fanno Farmhouse)

• THPRD Nature Mobile with opportunities for kids touch real animal fur and feathers (Koll Wetlands)

• In-depth info on THPRD trails (Greenway Park)

• Free basic bike repair (Greenway Park)

THPRD encourages patrons of all ages and activity levels to join us for a new summer tradition on the trail. Ditch the car for a day and celebrate nature with friends and family.