Nature and Human Health

Join us for this unique volunteering opportunity!

Did you know that Smith and Bybee wetlands is the largest urban wetland in the United States? We'll be planting local bioswales with native plants. Bioswales are special plantings designed to filter city runoff after a large rain event. They help clean water of pollutants before it enters the wetlands. Cool! Learn more and help out today.

This event runs rain or shine! Be sure to dress for the weather and bring water, rain gear and sturdy shoes. Snacks, tools, training and gloves will be provided. Parents should note that there is a water body on this site. This opportunity is open to volunteers 16 years and older, unless accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied volunteers under 18 years old should contact the Council for a special youth waiver.

Interested?

Please register online at the Columbia Slough event page or call (503) 281-1132.

It's time to volunteer!

Volunteer to continue restoring Kelley Point Park with native species that provide habitat for native creatures and improve water quality! With your help, we've planted, mulched and cared for dozens of natives in the park over the last several years. For this event, we'll focus on removing invasive species and planting natives. We'll care for existing plants by adding mulch to help them retain moisture.

Students from our SERVE (Students Engaged in Restoring Vital Ecosystems) program have adopted this site and are actively helping us to restore the area while learning field science skills. Students and parents are welcome to join us as volunteers, too!

This event runs rain or shine! Be sure to dress for the weather and bring water, rain gear and sturdy shoes. Snacks, tools, training and gloves will be provided. This opportunity is open to volunteers 16 years and older unless accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied volunteers under 18 should contact the Council for a special youth waiver.

Interested?

Please register on our event page or by calling (503) 281-1132.

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council works to foster action to protect, enhance, restore and revitalize the Slough and its watershed. Learn more about our efforts to connect the community with this work by visiting our website, www.ColumbiaSlough.org.

Friends of Trees is seeking new Crew Leaders for the upcoming November-April tree planting season! Being a Crew Leader is a great way to meet neat people, develop valuable leadership skills, learn how to plant trees the right way, and contribute to greening Portland Metro area parks and neighborhoods. Learn more and register for our trainings HERE; space limited!  The trainings are Saturday, Oct 31st and Thursday, Nov 12th.

The Oct 31st training is with our Green Space program (http://bit.ly/greenspaceprogram). This program plants small native trees and shrubs in natural areas and green spaces to restore native habitat and improve watershed health. Many planting sites are located in greater Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas Counties and not accessible by public transportation; a personal vehicle is helpful to be a Green Space Crew Leader.

The November 12th training is for our Neighborhood Trees program (http://bit.ly/neighborhoodtreesprogram) which plants large 8-12' street and yard trees with homeowners and planting volunteers in eastside Portland neighborhoods, as well as in Vancouver, Beaverton, and Oregon City. Plantings are largely accessible by bike or public transportation.

Crew Leaders help teach Friends of Trees volunteers how to plant trees and work together as a team. Each Crew Leader commits to guiding small groups of planters at 4 or more Saturday morning plantings throughout the planting season.

You'll wear a Friends of Trees vest at weekend plantings and receive the respect and admiration of the volunteers on your crew, as well as receive a coveted Tree Team t-shirt and great food (a hallmark of all of our planting events).  To reach an account of a current Crew Leader after his first year with Friends of Trees, check out this fun blog post.

Join this fun and energetic team by signing up for a required training. For more information or to register, follow THIS LINK.  We look forward to working with you to plant more trees in the Portland Metro area!

Any questions?  Please don't hesitate to contact Jenny or Randi in the Volunteer & Outreach Program at Volunteer@FriendsofTrees.org or 503-595-0213.  We hope to work with you soon!

Join us for a day of fun and learning at Family Fun on the Farm day. School is out for the day and you're invited to Sauvie Island Center's Family Farm Day on Friday, October 9th from 10 am to noon. We'll explore the 16-acre Sauvie Island Organics farm and the grounds of Howell Territorial Park while learning about food, farming and the land. Our staff will guide you and your family through an exploration of our curriculum, designed for elementary school-aged children, including:

• Soil Exploration. Dig in and learn about healthy soil.
• Seed to Harvest. Plant, tend and harvest the Grow Lunch Garden.
• Healthy Snacks. Harvest fresh veggies and use them to create yummy snacks!
• Plant Parts Investigation. Explore the farm and plants we can eat.
• Wildlife & Food web. Who else has been foraging on the farm?
• Pollination Station. Meet these hard-working farm friends.

The event is free, but pre-registration is requested. Register here:

Help create habitat for the Endangered Columbian White-tailed Deer in the wild and beautiful setting of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. We will be planting 5,200 native trees and shrubs to provide cover and forage for the deer and other wildlife.

Perks of joining us for our events are:

*Getting to explore areas of the refuge not usually accessible to visitors

*Learning more about the local wildlife and environment.

*Snacks, hot drinks, good company, and outstanding scenery.

*Satisfaction knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of an endangered species for years to come.

Planting days are typically Wednesdays and Saturdays from the end of October to the beginning of March. Special days may also be arranged for groups. All work days are from 9 am to 12:30 pm rain or shine. Dress for the weather including waterproof boots. No Experience Necessary. Registration is encouraged but not required. All volunteers must complete a Visitor Service Agreement prior to volunteering which can be found here: http://1.usa.gov/1NzriIg.

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 to provide wintering habitat for the dusky subspecies of the Canada goose. Today, the Refuge is a place where people can share a bond with nature, and each other, by passing on outdoor traditions to new generations. As the population of the region increases, the Refuge will become even more important to wildlife and those seeking to connect with nature.