hiking

Join Washington Trails Association (WTA) volunteers for a morning of giving back to trails with this 1/2 day work party.  WTA offers a series of Saturday events aimed at engaging youth and families in near-town stewardship projects. But the "Young at Heart" are welcome too. These events are on every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at parks and trails nearby.

This Saturday the crew will be at Whipple Creek Regional Park restoring and rerouting a trail.

WTA provides all tools and instruction plus post work party refreshments. No prior experience with trail work needed, just a willingness to lend a hand.

For more information or to register, click: http://bit.ly/1tZ28nY Or call Ryan at (360) 722-2657

Making sense of "Cathlapottle": How Chinookans made (and said) names on the land
Special Guest Presenter Henry Zenk

May 11th, 2014, 2pm.
Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge:  28908 NW Main Ave; Ridgefield, WA 98642           

Join us as at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse we explore how geographic names are formed in the Chinookan languages. The NW is covered in place names that come from local Chinookan Native American languages, and words like Memaloose, Skookum, Ilahee, and Tilikum continue to dot the landscape of our area. Henry Zenk, consulting linguist with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde will summarize what we know about how Chinookans themselves constructed and pronounced the names they bestowed on their lands and on its original inhabitants. He draws especially on records left by linguists who worked with some of the languages' last fluent speakers. Many of these sources remain unpublished to this day.

This event is part of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse's Second Sunday Series of events.  Children's activities will be available from 12-4pm as well as guided Plankhouse tours, and information on International Migratory Bird Day.  For more information contact Sarah Hill at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov or call 360-887-4106.   

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield WA 98604.  There is a $3.00 entrance fee per vehicle visiting the Refuge. To arrange wheelchair access to the Plankhouse, please contact Sarah Hill at Sarah_Hill@fws.gov or call (360) 887-4106.

Join WTA for a 1/2 day of giving back to trails. We're offering a series of morning events aimed at engaging more youth and families in near-town stewardship projects. But the "Young at Heart" are welcome too! This crew will be constructing a new trail that will meander between Vancouver Lake and Buckmire Slough.

For more information and to register: http://vols.wta.org/web/web.pl?sm+21299+YWP

Have some little owlets aged 5-11 that love to hoot at home? Bring them to our Owl Prowl to learn more about these amazing nighttime predators. An indoor presentation covers local owls and their adaptations. Then the outdoor night hike is our opportunity to look and listen for the Great Horned Owls (and bats, deer, and beavers) at Whitaker Ponds. 

Space is limited to only 20 people so sign up today! $5/person suggested donation.

Venture out with a park guide for a free, nature hike to explore the forest and stream ecosystems and natural history at Tryon Creek State Natural Area.  Topics will vary from week to week but will be appropriate for all ages.  Parents must accompany children on all hikes.  No groups please- if you are interested in bringing a group please call the ranger at least two weeks in advance to make arrangements for alternate time.   For more specific information, call (503) 636-9886 ext. 225.