Conservation Education

Join the Vancouver Audubon Society for a guided bird watching tour at the La Center Bottoms Wetlands along the East Fork of the Lewis River in La Center, Washington. These wetlands are home to wide array of song birds, waterfowl and wildlife. Bring your binoculars and enjoy a short hike down the trail. Meet at the trailhead just south of Sternwheeler Park at 3rd St. just east of La Center Road.

2pm: Spring First Foods Hike

Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642

Plankhouse Director Sarah Hill will be leading a walk on the Oaks to Wetlands Trail discussing traditional springtime foods of Chinookan Peoples and the seasonal cycles they live by. Participants should be prepared for a 2 mile hike on uneven terrain.  Meet at the Plankhouse. 

This hike is one of several activities that will be happening this day to kick off the Spring Opening of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, including a family nature hike at 1pm, and from 12-4 Plankhouse tours and other Children's activities. 

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a contemporary Chinookan style Plankhouse located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The house was built in 2005 as a partnership with the Chinook Indian Nation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Its mission is to share the lifeways, culture, and history of Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, and the natural resources of the Refuge. 

Plankhouse programs are coordinated by the Friends of The Ridgefield NWR. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodations needs to Eric Anderson, 360-887-4106, Eric_Anderson@fws.gov. TTY 800-877-8339 with your request by close of business one week before the event. For wheelchair access arrangements for this program, please contact Sarah Hill (360) 887-4106 or Sarah_Hill@fws.gov. 

1pm on April 12th
Carty Unit at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642
Just 25 minutes North of Portland, OR

Join a Refuge Naturalist and take a walk along the Oaks to Wetlands trail to discover the wildlife that calls the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge home.

This hike is one of several activities that will be happening this day to kick off the Spring Opening of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, including a spring wild foods hike, and from 12-4 Plankhouse tours and other Children's activities. 

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a contemporary Chinookan style Plankhouse located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The house was built in 2005 as a partnership with the Chinook Indian Nation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Its mission is to share the lifeways, culture, and history of Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, and the natural resources of the Refuge. 

Learn botanical Illustration using water colors. Ruth Williams will teach students the basics of botanical illustration so that they can complete one or two watercolors. This class is limited to 12 people (must be 12+ years old) $15 for Hoyt Arboretum Friends members, $20 for non-members. Registration is required. Sign up at http://www.hoytarboretum.org/events/upcoming-events1/ or contact Becky at info@hoytarboretum.org or 503.823.1649.

Wild animals are difficult to observe, yet are all around us.  Tracking provides a way to unravel their mystery, enabling us to discern their presence and learn about their lives.  In this class you will learn to recognize the common mammals in the Portland area, using clues from both their tracks and trail patterns.  You will also start to learn how to interpret an animal's behavior based on its gait.  The class consists of a  2hr classroom session, followed by a 3 hour field session to put what you learned in the classroom into practice. 

Date and Location:

Thursday, April 9, 6-8pm: classroom session at Cascadia Wild, 5431 NE 20th Ave

Sunday, April 12, 9-noon: field session at Oxbow Park