Nature and Human Health

The Plankhouse is a very popular spring and summer destination, educating and inspiring visitors from all over the Nation and even the World.  Attend this training to gain skills to lead the public through this traditional Chinookan-style Plankhouse.  

Docents work on the weekends with visitors and/or during the week with school groups.  Topics include culture, history, and the everyday life of the indigenous people of the lower Columbia River.  

For more information contact the Plankhouse Coordinator Sarah Hill at 360-887-4106 or by email at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov. 

Connect with your community and your local Wildlife Refuge! Become a Volunteer Naturalist with the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and learn about the amazing wildlife who call the Refuge home while giving back.

As a Volunteer Naturalist, you have the opportunity to instill a sense of wonder for nature in youth and adults alike. Naturalists receive indepth training in environmental education basics, interpretive storytelling, and the history of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Lead and assistant positions are available based on your comfort level and interests. Additional educational opportunities are available to all participants throughout the year.

Help kick off the training series by joining your peers for an evening get together on February 25th! We'll discuss the upcoming training, introduce Refuge and Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge staff, and introduce you to the wonderful Volunteer Naturalists who will serve as your mentors throughout the program. The full day training series begins February 26th and continues March 5th, 12th, and 19th.

Once trained, volunteers commit to providing support to the Conservation Education program as field trip leaders, group guides, and classroom based informal educators. Field trip season begins in April and continues through July, with opportunities extending beyond the spring season. Additional opportunities to work with varying age groups (including adults) and at different venues are available.

For more information and to register, please visit www.friendsoftualatinrefuge.org or contact Jenna Mendenhall, Conservation Education Lead Coordinator, at jmendenhall@friendsoftualatinrefuge.org

Outdoor School For All is a statewide campaign to secure permanent public funding to send every Oregon 5th or 6th grader to a full week of Outdoor School!

COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT & HAVE FUN!  
Wear your wood cookies or make a new one, bring the family & your ODS stories, sing songs, enjoy fun exhibits & activities, and sign Timber Joey's giant wood cookie!

World Forestry Center's Miller Hall
4033 SW Canyon Road
(across from the Zoo)
Friday, Jan. 30
11am-1pm

Parking: Friday is a school in-service day -- consider riding the Max! Parking also available in the Zoo's overflow lot.
 

Saturday, March 7, 2015
Knez planting
Tigard, OR
10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Join TWC to kick off our planting season! We will be planting a variety of native shrubs and trees at Knez Wetland in Tigard. Dress for the weather, bring a friend, and get to know your local wetland! Snacks and tools provided.

Email our volunteer coordinator, Courtney to sign up, for questions, and for the specific meeting spot at courtneywilson@wetlandsconservancy.org. If you're under 18, ask for a volunteer waiver!

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, Februrary 21, 2015
Cedar Mill Planting
Beaverton, OR
10:00 AM-1:00 PM

We are kicking off our planting season and we hope you will join us!  World Wetlands Day is February 2 and we will be celebrating all month with native planting parties!  Snacks and tools provided.  

Also during the month of February, we will be co-hosting a worldwide wetlands photo contest for 15-24 year olds with the Ramsar Convention (an international treaty to ensure the conservation and wise use of wetlands everywhere).  Submit your wetland photo during World Wetlands Month and win a trip to a wetland of your choice, anywhere in the world!  Bring a friend, plant a tree, and take a picture to submit to the photo contest with us!  

To sign up, ask questions about the event, or if you are under 18, contact our volunteer coordinator Courtney at courtneywilson@wetlandsconservancy.org.

Hope to see you there!