native plants

Drive across the Cascades to experience first hand the wide variety of different ecosystems and habitat types. We will talk about the concept of a habitat, learn to identify different tree species and what they can tell you about the environment, look at different forest stand structures, and learn what this can tell you about what wildlife lives there.  

Cathlapotle Plankhouse - Traditional Technology Weekend, August 9 & 10, 2014

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

When:       

August 9, 2014: 12pm-4pm: Local artists Greg Robinson (Chinook Indian Nation) and Greg Archuleta (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) will be in the Plankhouse demonstrating and exhibiting Chinookan art, basketry, carving and First Foods. Justin Robinson (Chinook Indian Nation) will be teaching and sharing Chinuk Wawa, the heritage language of Chinookan Peoples.

August 10, 2014:  12pm- 4pm. Discover tools and technology that our human ancestors across the globe have used for thousands of years, such as atlatl throwing, archery, flint knappin, friction fires, Chinookan carving, Basketry, First Foods and Chinuk Wawa, the heritage language of Chinookan Peoples. Participation in these activities is encouraged! Children's activities will also be available from 12pm-4pm.

Cost:         
Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle

Event Summary:
The weekend of August 9th and 10th, experience traditional tools, technologies, language and art of Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia River. As part of our annual Artist-In-Residence series, on August 9th local artist's Local artists Greg Robinson (Chinook Indian Nation) and Greg Archuleta (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde) will be in the Plankhouse demonstrating and exhibiting Chinookan art, basketry, carving and First Foods. Justin Robinson (Chinook Indian Nation) will be teaching and sharing Chinuk Wawa, the heritage language of Chinookan Peoples. On August 10th we will expand our gaze to explore technologies that have been used by Chinookan people and human ancestors around the globe such as archery, atlatl throwing, flintknapping (making arrowheads and other stone tools) and making fire by friction. Greg Robinson, Greg Archuleta, and Justin Robinson will also be in the house showcasing traditional art and language of Chinookan people. There will also be special activities for children all day. Participation in many of these demonstrations is encouraged!

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. For wheelchair access to this event, please contact Sarah prior to the event date.   

If you've always wanted to explore the Clackamas Watershed, but haven't been sure where to start, come on a CRBC hike this year!

Spend a day learning about geology, local flora and fauna, and the history of the Clackamas Watershed, while experiencing incredible scenery. This is a great opportunity to visit environments close to home, often pristine ones, that emphasize the natural beauty and biodiversity the Clackamas River Basin has to offer, leaving hikers with a greater sense of appreciation and motivation to protect these valuable resources.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming hikes:

* July 12th - Bull of the Woods Fire Tour

* August 16th - Mount Lowe and Rhododendron Ridge 

All tours are led by CRBC Board Member Bryon Boyce. See hike descriptions below for meeting locations. Bring plenty of water, a camera, bug spray, and a lunch. Be aware that temperatures in the upper watershed are cooler than in town so layer clothing for comfort and wear appropriate footwear. Hikes are free and participants will carpool. RSVP to attend by emailing Morgan Parks at MORGAN@CLACKAMASRIVER.ORG or calling 503-303-4372 x101. 

Next Hike - July 12th Bull of the Woods Fire Tour

Far-ranging views and wildflowers can be seen along the ridge-tops from Bull of the Woods (at 5523 ft.) and its lookout on this moderate to strenuous 10.5 mile hike. High mountain lakes will be visited as well. A car shuttle will exit at a second lower elevation trailhead. The route will involve substantially more downhill than uphill. Overall there will be 1075 feet elevation gain and 3375 feet loss.

This tour will be an excellent opportunity to visit wilderness areas of the Bull of the Woods Fire Complex of 2010 and the Mother Lode Fire of 2011. Learning about fire ecology and fire management in Western Oregon will be a focus of the outing. The fire left a mixture of damage types. Some were burned mostly by ground fire, leaving most of the tree canopy green. Other sections resulted in stand-replacing crown fires with large areas basically charcoal. In moderately and lightly burned areas, only deeply rooted herbaceous plants and shrubs have survived. Some recovery will be evident.

The plant zones we will pass through vary from high elevation forest to open rocky meadows and slopes to dense upper and mid-montane forest. The valleys of the fire area all drain to the Collowash River. Meet at the Clackamas River Ranger District -- 595 NW Industrial Way in Estacada, at 8:30 am. This is a full day hike. Due to the wilderness designation, the hike is limited to 12 participants.

The 2014 Rural Living Field Day is set for Saturday, August 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Howell Territorial Park on Sauvie Island.  To register, just visit the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District website at www.wmswcd.org and click on "Events." The cost is only $15 per person or $20 for families.  Morning beverages and snacks will be served as well as a fully catered lunch! 

Rural Living Field Day is a fun event for rural landowners and this year the event is sponsored by West Multnomah, Tualatin and Columbia Soil & Water Conservation Districts and the Oregon Small Woodland Association.  Our partners include the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council, the Oregon Forest Resource Institute, the Skyline Ridge Neighborhood Association and the Sauvie Island Community Association. The event features speakers addressing a wide variety of issues that face rural homeowners, farmers, and land managers every day.  Topics include wildlife, forests, pollinators, invasive weeds, orchards, riparian restoration, crops and soil health, and manure composting. 

Speakers include:

Tonia Lordy, Home Orchard Society
Mike Cloughesy, Oregon Forest Resources Institute
Michael Ahr, West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Chas McCoy, Scappoose Bay Watershed Council
Roslyn Gray, Natural Resource Conservation Service
Chip Bubl, OSU Extension
Liz Ruther, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
Dean Moberg, Natural Resource Conservation Service
Megan Denton, Able Farms
Evan Gregoire, Boondockers Farm
Amy Love, Love Farm Organics

The location of the event will give participants the opportunity to visit a stream riparian area, a woodland stand, an orchard, a working organic farm and barn.  Folks will participate in some hands-on demonstrations and will be able to ask the experts about specific concerns during the break-out sessions.  Whether you're a seasoned landowner or just starting your own farm, this is the event for you!

Rural Living Field Day is also a great time for landowners to meet each other and share concerns and ideas about their properties and operations, and make valuable professional and personal contacts.

Do you love to volunteer in the community?
Do you need to fulfill your culminating service project time to graduate?
Looking for a cool way to hang out with your friends?
Do you want to save the environment?
Do you want to build your college and work resume?

If you said YES to any of these questions than you should join us for Youth Service Day's. This monthly volunteer service event invites youth from around Clark County to help the community and earn service time and just give back to the Vancouver because it feels good!

When you ask?  The last Thursday of just about every month!

Projects will vary each month but you can expect to pull English Ivy in parks, plant trees along Burnt Bridge Creek, clean headstones at cemeteries and so much more.  Plus you can plan to have a ton of fun! 

Contact Chante Starr regarding this program, chante.starr@cityofvancouver.us or 360.487.8611

Follow us on Facebook to find out about monthly meeting locations.

Tweet us @goplayvancouver     #vancouvervolunTEEN