educational course

Wild animals are difficult to observe, yet are all around us.  Tracking provides a way to unravel their mystery, enabling us to discern their presence and learn about their lives.  In this class you will learn to recognize the common mammals in the Portland area, using clues from both their tracks and trail patterns.  You will also start to learn how to interpret an animal's behavior based on its gait.  The class consists of a  2hr classroom session, followed by a 3 hour field session to put what you learned in the classroom into practice. 

Date and Location:

Thursday, April 9, 6-8pm: classroom session at Cascadia Wild, 5431 NE 20th Ave

Sunday, April 12, 9-noon: field session at Oxbow Park

Learn to build a rain garden! A rain garden is a sunken garden bed that captures stormwater and allows it to soak back into the ground naturally. This workshop provides step-by-step details on how to plan, design and build your own rain garden. You'll find out how to decide the best size & placement, which plants to choose, and how to maintain your new rain garden. Participants receive a free how-to manual, and where possible, take a field trip to a nearby rain garden. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.

Weeds - we all have them. Come learn how to identify the most common garden and landscape weeds along with some of the other more notorious plant invaders of the region. We will walk you through how these aggressive plants take over in your yard and provide some simple yet effective tips that will help you get the upper hand without turning to synthetic herbicides.

Tryon Creek State Natural Area's - Annual Owl Fest

Hosted by Oregon State Parks

Saturday, March 7, 2015, 10:00AM - 7:00PM

Portland is teeming with owl activity in the springtime months. If you love owls, come out to Tryon Creek State Natural Area for a full day of Owl Celebration! Enjoy activities for the entire family including Owl Journaling with Jude Siegel, owl crafts, owl pellet dissection, owl presentations, guided hikes, snacks donated by Clif Bar, and close-up encounters with the Audubon education owls, Hazel and Julio!

This is a free event, no pre-registration needed (except where noted). Parking is limited, please consider carpooling.

Schedule of activities include:

Owl Journaling with Jude Siegel from 10:00AM - 1:00PM

(Pre-registration & fee required www.tryonfriends.org)

Story & Stroll - Owl Senses at 1:00PM and 3:00PM (for 2-6 year olds and their families)
Owls of Oregon Presentation with John Mullen, Park Manager at 1:30PM & 3:30PM
All Ages Guided Hikes at 2:00PM, 4:00PM, 5:00PM, and 6:00PM
Owl Pellet Dissection and Owl Crafts from 1:00PM - 6:00PM
Face Painting by Marie from 2:30PM - 4:00PM
Close encounter with Julio & Hazel, Audubon Education Owls from 4:00PM - 6:00PM

Owl Fest 2015 takes place at Tryon Creek State Natural, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd., Portland, OR 97219. Please consider carpooling, parking is limited. Visit www.tryonfriends.org or https://tryoncreek.wordpress.com/special-programs-and-events/ for more information.

Get Involved at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse!

The Plankhouse is looking for new and enthusiastic volunteers interested in learning about and sharing local Native American Culture, NW History, and Archeology with public visitors inside the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. No experience necessary, just a desire to learn and share your knowledge with others. 

In our Docent Training, you will learn about the Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, the roles of a Plankhouse docent, and interpretive techniques to share the Refuge and the Plankhouse with the public. 

For more info, call (360) 887-4106 or email sarah_hill@fws.gov