educational course

Learn about landscapes, wildlife, and interpretation techniques to prepare for the many students that come to both Ridgefield and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuges.  We will meet at Ridgefield NWR three Fridays in April and then one Friday in May to learn how to apply these lessons to Steigerwald Lake NWR.

Contact Park Ranger Josie Finley at 360-887-4106 or by email at Josie_Finley@fws.gov to learn more about this training series at the complex and other ways you can get involved.

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

Winter Pruning
Sunday February 15th, 1pm - 4pm
Location TBA

 In this hands-on workshop you will learn the basics of winter pruning in order to increase the health and abundance of local fruit trees! This fun workshop will be an opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the different types of pruning cuts and when these cuts should be used. You'll also be able to gain some practice pruning under skilled supervision.
 

Click below to register:
http://civi.portlandfruit.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1262&reset=1

 About the instructor: 
Noah Oak Marquis is the ISA certified owner/ operator of Trees to Soil, LLC - a professional tree care service with a biodynamic heart, and permaculture mind.  Over the years Noah has worked as an organic grower of avocados and citrus in Hawaii, apples in Japan, and as a tree preservationist and climbing arborist in central Kentucky.  Before moving to Portland three years ago Noah worked as an arboricultural consultant in costal  Ecuador helping with conservation, agroforestry research, and a permaculture installation in the highly threatened Chaco-Manabi biodiversity corridor. Currently Noah lives west of Portland with his beautiful wife, and three children. He is the Land Steward for Swallowtail Waldorf School and Farm, and continues to work with trees all the time.

This workshop has a standard workshop fee of $25. Sliding scale options are provided for those who feel unable to contribute at that level.  In addition, a limited amount of full scholarships and work-trade scholarships are available.

The location address and other details will be provided after you register.

Click below to register:
http://civi.portlandfruit.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1262&reset=1

To see our workshop contribution & cancellation policy click below:
http://portlandfruit.org/workshop-contribution-and-cancellation-policy

Get to know your plant neighbors by coming to Jackson Bottom! Wherever you live, chances are good that many of the native species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers growing here also grow right outside your door. After some botany basics indoors we venture out to explore the plant world around us using our senses of sight, touch and smell. Expect to be on a first name basis with many of your plant neighbors after this engaging class.

Celebrate Earth Day and welcome the return of bats to Oregon with this introduction into their fascinating night-time world. Learn about bats around the world, how they live and why they are important. What threats do they face to their continued existence? Is it just coincidence that Oregon has fifteen species of owls AND bats? After the program we go outside with special bat detectors and listen for bats over Jackson Bottom!  Long-time JBWP volunteer, Wolfgang Dempke, presents this program.