hiking

Plant for the Planet Academy - Saturday, January 23rd

FREE for students ages 8-14; pre-registration required.

Plant for the Planet will host a free one-day academy for local students interested in taking action! Students will learn about the science of Climate Change & Recovery, how Climate Change impacts people everywhere, the importance and how-to of planting trees and effective presentation skills!

Register today, spots are limited! Go to http://www.columbiasprings.org/events/ to register as a student or volunteer. 

Day 2 of a 2-Day Training Session. Why should you become a Volunteer Lead? "I became a Lead because I believe strongly in the importance of educating ourselves and the next generation about the need to care for our environment. Columbia Springs is a hidden gem right here in our own backyard and it is a pleasure sharing it with others!" says Ellen, a veteran Volunteer Lead at Columbia Springs. Volunteer Leads receive training, rewards, and access to exclusive events including talks with local experts about various environmental topics. Leads are required to attend both 2/3 and 2/4 training and contribute 20 hours of volunteer service to Columbia Springs.  Volunteer service can be helping at field trips, events, restoration work parties, and more. Registration required. Go to columbiasprings.org/events for more information and to register. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided at the training. 

The Pacific Northwest is filled with geological wonders, and the densely populated metropolitan area is no exception. Newell Creek Canyon in Oregon City has layers of stories written into the landscape. Join a naturalist to learn about the geology in this steep canyon and the surrounding area.  

Ages: 12 and up

Venture forth into the night to listen for and spot local owls. We begin near dusk and continue until after dark in search of several species such as Pygmy, Saw-whet, Great-horned, Barred and Short-eared owl. Participants travel by carpool to Washington County sites. Meeting place to be announced.  Ages 16 -- Adult.

To register visit contact website (below) or call 503-681-5397.  Program #: 49504 

For general information on program contact Steve Engel via email or phone (below).            

Second Sunday event at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse:
"Celebrate Cedar" With Cowlitz artist and Weaver, Judy Bridges

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

When:    September 13, 2015
 

12pm - 4pm:

Plankhouse Tours and Children's activities

• Cedar Weaving and bark processing demonstrations by weaving and artist Judy Bridges
• Hands on demonstrations of Cedar Plank Splitting, Cedar bark pounding, and other hands on activities.

2:00 pm: Naturalist Led Hike "Cedar, Tree of life"

Cost:   Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle

Join us for a day of demonstrations and hands on activities celebrating an icon of the Pacific Northwest, the Western Red Cedar.  The Western Red Cedar tree is highly honored by many Native Peoples in the Northwest for the role that it plays in their lifeways and cultures. Since time immemorial, Cedar has supported the needs of people by providing homes, clothing, canoes, medicine, and many other items people need to thrive. Many of these Cedar traditions are still vibrant in Native communities today, and Cowlitz weaver Judy Bridges will be in the Plankhouse demonstrating cedar weaving and bark processing techniques. There will also be opportunities to try your hand at splitting a cedar log, pounding cedar bark for fiber, and at 2:00, a Refuge Naturalist will lead a hike around the Oaks to Wetlands trail, exploring the connection between people, wildlife, and cedar.

You can also check out the ample wildlife watching opportunities on the River 'S' Unit Auto Tour Driving Route. Check the Friends website www.ridgefieldfriends.org for maps of Refuge trails, or contact Plankhouse Director Sarah Hill at sarah_hill@fws.gov, or call (360) 887-4106.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, and the house will now be open weekends from12pm-4pm. Every second Sunday of the month from April - Oct the Plankhouse will host a special event with speakers, guided hikes, and children's activities. For more information on the upcoming events, visit www.ridgefieldfriends.org/plankhouse/programs . 

Funding for these programs has been generously provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, the Community Foundation for SW Washington, and Umpqua Bank. 

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a contemporary Chinookan Plankhouse built to interpret the Chinookan village of Cathlapotle that exists on what is now called the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. When Lewis and Clark visited Cathlapotle, it had 14 large plankhouses and a population of over 900 people.  The contemporary Cathlapotle Plankhouse is used to provide educational programs to youth and the general public through our Lifeways, Landscapes, and Wildlife Interpretive Program. To learn more about the Plankhouse visit www.ridgefieldfriends.org or contact Sarah Hill at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov or (360) 887-4106.