family friendly

The annual Old Apple Tree Festival is a celebration centered on the oldest living apple tree in the Northwest, planted at Fort Vancouver in 1826.

Old Apple Tree Park, located on Columbia Way just east of Interstate 5 Bridge, hosts the festival on the first Saturday of each October.

Providing family fun, food and history of Vancouver's Old Apple Tree, the festival celebrates our community's legacy. Throughout the day Urban Forestry Commissioners give away cuttings from the Old Apple Tree; cuttings are limited and will be given out until they are gone. This is a free, family friendly event with activities for children, fruit tree pruning workshops, food, live music, apple cider pressing, tours of Fort Vancouver, and a scarecrow contest.

View the CVTV coverage of the 2012 Old Apple Tree Festival.

Love to snowshoe? Interested in the animals that live on Mt Hood? Join the Wolverine Tracking Project and develop animal tracking skills while helping us survey for rare carnivores such as wolverine on Mt Hood. Season cost is $50; family friendly. Four sets of training dates are available. The final training session is on November 26. 

For more information and to register, visit www.cascadiawild.org. Or contact us at info@cascadiawild.org or 503-235-9533.

Already know how to identify morels but having trouble moving beyond that? In the class, we will learn what those specialized mycological terms really mean, so that you will feel comfortable using keys to identify wild mushrooms that you find. Bring mushrooms you wish to have identified. The instructor will also bring a variety of 'shrooms so that we will be able to see first hand what the different terms mean. We will use various keys, but will focus the most on those in the popular mushroom guide for this area, "Mushrooms Demystified." This class is suitable both for beginners and advanced students.   

When: Monday, November 5th    Time: 6:00-8:30     Cost: $25

Dust off those boots and get your hands dirty planting native trees, removing invasive species, cleaning up litter, and helping restore critical habitat for native plants and wildlife.

• Dig in with SOLVE this fall at restoration and cleanup sites across the Portland-metro area. Over time, this work will improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and store carbon to slow climate change.
• Project dates and times vary and will happen rain or shine. All tools, gloves and supplies will be provided.
• Visit our calendar of events for a project near you!
• For more information or to register, visit: www.solv.org, email morgan@solv.org, or call 504-844-9571 ext. 332.

October 20th

• Dairy Creek Planting Day - Banks
• Beaver Creek Planting Day – Troutdale
• King Neighborhood Restoration - Portland

October 27th  - Make A Difference Day!

• Council Creek Planting Day - Cornelius
• Baltimore Woods Planting Day – Portland
• Rock Creek Planting Day – Damascus
• Protect Native Habitat and Wildlife at Mt. Tabor Park – Portland
• Murrayhill Stream Restoration – Beaverton

The Columbia Children's Arboretum is truly one of Portland's most hidden and private inner city parks.  Please join Friends of Trees to help restore the area!  Arrive around 8:45am to be registered and assigned to a crew. The planting will start promptly at 9:00am. We provide breakfast snacks and hot chocolate/coffee, as well as gloves, tools and guidance. Please come dressed for the weather and wearing sturdy shoes and get ready to have fun!

In partnership with Portland OIC and Portland Parks and Recreation, Friends of Trees is helping to restore wetland banks in the Columbia Slough Watershed. Come plant native plants and help increase the water quality and habitat value in this part of NE Portland.

RSVPs are not required (although we do appreciate knowing about groups larger than 5 members).  Please contact Andy or Jenny at (503) 595-0213 if you have any questions or need more information. We look forward to seeing you out there!