conservation education

Dig Into Sustainable Gardening! Naturescaping is the practice of using native plants to create sustainable landscapes that are good for people, animals and the environment. Learn how to design a low-maintenance, chemical-free landscape that conserves water and minimizes pollution, all while saving you time, money and energy! You’ll get natural gardening and landscape design tips, take a field trip to a nearby naturescaped garden, and receive a comprehensive workbook anda native plant to get started!Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Register online at http://www.emswcd.org/workshops-events/register-for-a-workshop.  Information: 503-222-7645

We would love to invite you to this Saturday's Rewild Skill-Share, our afternoon rewilding social networking picnic.  Make new friends and hang out with old while sharing skills, ideas and strategies for creating new cultures based on humanities prehistoric past. We welcome all levels of experience.This month's theme is: Fire by Friction! We haven't had a fire-focused rewild skill-share in a while. We'll be playing with bow-drills, hand drills, maybe a fire plow and if anyone sh...

ows up with a bamboo fire saw, you'll get a dozen high-fives!Materials to bring:• Carving Knife• Nylon Cord• Natural Cord• Cedar, Cottonwood or other soft heart wood• Any other wood cutting and carving tools• Jute or other tinder materialOther stuff to bring is your family & friends, water, healthy paleo snacks to share, a carving knife, a blanket or chair to sit on, materials for your project, a musical instrument to play and a $5-10 suggested donation to support our efforts. Remember: “dress to impress”. This is a social event after all!See you there! http://www.rewildportland.com/educational-programs/rewildcamp/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/rewildportland   

Spicy scents of autumn trees, giant golden leaves on maples and the silvery chatter of American dippers in the river. These are the smells, sights and sounds of Oxbow Regional Park in the autumn. Witness the return of wild salmon to one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier rivers – the glacier-fed Sandy – just 45 minutes from downtown Portland.

Naturalists are on hand at the river’s edge to help spot spawning salmon and interpret their behavior and life cycle. Special salmon-viewing glasses are available on loan. Salmon viewing proceeds rain or shine. The trail is unpaved and fairly level; wear good walking shoes. Inquire at the entry booth for starting location of the salmon viewing then follow the signs to the salmon! Suitable for all ages.  Free with a $5 parking fee per vehicle and registration is not required. Leave pets at home. For more information, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Explore the Fanno Creek Trail in Tigard, combining fitness and nature in a fun-filled morning with great views of the creek as it meanders through three city parks and other natural areas. Enjoy the area's beauty and see the habitat that is home to birds, fish and other critters - and learn how Metro and its partners have worked together to bring this vision to life. Local author Laura O. Foster gets you up to speed on the creek's past, as well as efforts to preserve and protect it for decades to come. Meet at the Tigard Public Library at 8:45 a.m. Free, but registration is required. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Perched above the town of Gaston, Metro's 1,200-acre Chehalem Ridge Natural Area is a majestic place - but it's also a work in progress. Be one of the first to explore newly thinned sections of this signature natural area, where Metro is helping transition a timber crop into a diverse, mature forest. Along the way, you might hear bird calls or spot a glistening Cascade peak in the distance. Be prepared to walk three miles at a moderate pace, including uneven terrain off the main path. Free, but registration is required. Details will follow registration. If you have questions, call 503-797-1545. You can now register and pay online for Metro activities. Go to Metro's online calendar (www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar), find your event by searching or browsing, and follow the instructions. To register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.