family friendly

Let's Go is a series of fun, organized, ranger-let activities at major Oregon State Parks this summer.

Let's Go Disc Golfing is designed for those who are interested in disc golf but don't have the experience, skills, or equipment.

Registration is required and a per person registration fee is $10.  Open to disc golfers 8 years old and older, although 8-14 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.  Children under 18 must register with an accompanying parent/guardian.

For more information, check out: www.oregonstateparks.org and find Let's Go under "Things To Do".

Let's Go is a series of fun, organized, ranger-let activities at major Oregon State Parks this summer.

Let's Go Kayaking is designed for those who are interested in kayaking but don't have the experience, skills, or equipment.

Registration is required and a per person registration fee is $15.  Open to paddlers 8 years and older, although 8-14 year olds must be accompanied by an adult in a 2-person kayak. Children under 18 must register with an accompanying parent/guardian.

For more information, check out: www.oregonstateparks.org and find Let's Go under "Things To Do".

Basketry of the Columbia Basin: Weaving demonstrations and hands on activities at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!

July 14th, 2013:  
12pm- 4pm

Experience Chinookan Native American Culture, traditional basketry techniques of our Region, and enjoy the many hiking and wildlife watching opportunities of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!

The Columbia Basin Basketry Guild (www.basketryguild.org) will be in the Plankhouse demonstrating materials and techniques traditionally used in basketry of this region. Included will be cedar bark preparation and weaving of Pacific NW Coast sweetgrass, tule and cattail. There will also be special activities for children all day. Try your hand making rope from native plants or mini cattail mats. Learn about local Native American culture first hand in the Plankhouse, and take a walk down the adjacent nature trail and see if you can find the many kinds of wildlife that call the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Home.

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a modern Chinookan Plankhouse built to interpret the Chinookan village of Cathlapotle that once existed on what is today Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge property.  At the time Lewis and Clark visited Cathlapotle, it had 14 large plankhouses and a population of over 900 people.  The modern 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.  

Cost: Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is located on the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge:  28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642

Learn the ancient art of saving seeds in this hands-on workshop held at one of Portland's oldest and most established urban Permaculture gardens. Each participant will get to collect unusual and interesting varieties of seeds to take home with them.

Sign up on Growing Gardens workshop page: http://growing-gardens.org/our-programs/workshops/

Presenter Information: Connie Van-Dyke is a master of self-sufficiency and grows a large percentage of her food, year round in her urban Permaculture garden.  Connie has been an instructor at Portland Community College for 16 years.  Inviting people to come to her urban garden she shows them ways to close the loop and be more self-reliant.  Courses like urban farming, permaculture, rug making, weaving, medicine making, natural dyeing, cannin, raising meat in the city and seed saving show students how to get their needs met without money.  She gleans, barters, wildcrafts, and grows most of her daily needs.

Growing Gardens believes the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own back yards! To find out more about Growing Gardens visit us at www.growing-gardens.org

Learn the basics of keeping bees for honey in your own backyard.  This workshop will cover materials, maintenance and harvesting.  It will be held at an urban farm where participants will get to see a real bee set up.  This workshop is in partnership with Sowing Circle Farm.

Sign up on Growing Gardens workshop page: http://growing-gardens.org/our-programs/workshops/

Presenter Information: Sowing Circle Farm was founded in 2009 in the small front yard of Seth & Kenya's NE Portland home.  Initially raising ducks and growing vegetables, they moved on to raising goats and keeping honeybees.  The animals soon attracted so much attention that they found themselves giving impromptu workshops to curious passersby.  Kenya is certified in organic gardening practices as well as Permaculture and has worked with Growing Gardens, the Multnomah Public Library and OSU Extension Service to teach workshops.  Seth is the Farm Manager and is a self-taught arborist, plant propagator, and hugelkulture enthusiast.

Growing Gardens believes the seeds of a healthier world are planted in our own backyards.  To learn more about Growing Gardens visit us at www.growing-gardens.org