green living

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   

Clear Creek Natural Area is a 580-acre jewel not yet open to the public, but you and your family can have a behind-the-scenes tour now with a Metro naturalist. There's plenty to discover in this large and diverse natural area. Explore the rolling hills and prairies - and Clear Creek - for interesting plants and animals and climb on a real beaver dam. The program covers specific topics but be ready to explore any cool nature experience. Some walking off trails. Family Nature Explorers programs are for parents and children 4 years or older. Advance registration and payment of $11 per family required. Details will follow registration. 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. For questions or to register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.

* Instructor: David Heslam, Earth Advantage Institute (Portland, OR)* $500 in assistance funding available for this workshop!* If you want to distinguish yourself as a green residential remodeling professional, REGREEN is for you. The full-day workshop builds on foundational knowledge of the REGREEN Residential Remodeling Guidelines and available online courses and will assist you in identifying and evaluating which green considerations, concepts and strategies will make a meaningful and positive impact on your next project. The workshop is designed for a dynamic group of design and construction professionals, from remodeling contractors to interior designers, who pride themselves on implementing green strategies. This full-day workshop is a required step in becoming REGREEN trained, a comprehensive education program that allows you to differentiate yourself in the residential remodeling marketplace (see http://www.regreenprogram.org/ for details).  * Learning Objectives

• Employ building science principles and a whole-house systems approach on residential remodeling projects
• Implement residential green remodeling strategies on your next project
• Conduct a value-based, ROI analysis for common green remodeling strategies
• Obtain green business development resources 

* Credits/AccreditationsCCB: 7 elective hoursGBCI CE: 7 hoursGBCI CE: 7 hours (LEED Homes Specific) AIA/CES: 7 HSW/SD Learning UnitsBOMI: 7 (CPD)CoreNet: 7 (CPD) CSI: 0.7 (CEU) IDCEC: 0.7 HS (CEU) NARI Green: 0.7 (CEU) 

* Cost: 

$500 in funding assistance available! USGBC Member: $225Earth Advantage Builder/Certified Professional: $225 Regular Admission: $275

* To register, visit: http://www.earthadvantage.org/education-events/usgbc-leed-courses/regreen-301/

* This project is funded by the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County through an Oregon State Energy Sector Partnership grant awarded by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. The funds are limited to Oregon residents or Vancouver, WA residents who do business in Oregon.

* Instructor: Michael Klement, Principal, Architectural Resource (Ann Arbor, MI) 

* This course is being generously offered FREE OF CHARGE by Michael Klement and Earth Advantage Institute. 

* There is a paradigm shift taking place in how people understand "home" and what can be done to make the most of their living spaces. 2008 was the first year on record when U.S. house sizes actually stopped growing. This shift is indicative of a trend toward greener and more economical living. Learn how to achieve beauty, efficiency, and conservation of energy and resources in a smaller space. Focus on learning ways to create the maximum amount of value in the minimum amount of space whether remodeling, adding on, or building a new home. Examine 10 different key design strategies for creating a successful not-so-big inspired living space. 

* Learning Objectives

·         Identify trends in home size and design.

·         Examine 10 different design strategies for maximizing livability in the minimal amount of space.

·         Recognize the personal and environmental benefits of right sizing a home.

* Credits/Accreditation

CCB: 1.5 elective hours OR Real Estate Agency: 1.5 hours (Course #2121, Topic: real estate property evaluation)

* For more info, see Michael's article featured in the September edition of All Things Real Estate: http://www.earthadvantage.org/blog/single/creating-the-not-so-big-inspired-home-right-sizing-the-american-dream/

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22

Oxbow Regional Park is rich in tracks at this time of year, when mink, beaver, otter and black bear often leave clear footprints in the sand. Learn to read the ground like a book. Metro naturalist and tracker Dan Daly introduces you to basic track identification and interpretation, and the stealth skills needed to watch wildlife up close. Suitable for adults and children 10 and older. Bring water and a snack and meet at the floodplain parking area. Leave pets at home. Registration and payment of $11 per adult or family required in advance. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle payable at the park. 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. For questions or to register by phone, call 503-797-1650 option 2.