preregistration required

Wild in the City: Exploring the Intertwine Mike Houck, Executive Director, Urban Greenspaces Institute and Co-Founder, The Intertwine Alliance

For the past four decades, Mike Houck has been the leading voice in our community for the integration of nature in the city. He has served for more than thirty years as Urban Naturalist for the Audubon Society of Portland, and in 1999 he founded the Urban Greenspaces Institute. The Institute’s motto, “in livable cities is preservation of the wild,” speaks to his philosophy that only by creating livable cities will the rural landscape be protected and restored. And, to be livable, a city must provide urban residents with access to nature where they live, work, and go to school. He will discuss the importance of access to nature to our physical and mental health as well as the intrinsic values of nature in the city.

Mike is also co-founder of The Intertwine Alliance, an alliance of nonprofits, agencies and businesses working to create a world class system of parks, trails, and natural areas in the Portland-Vancouver region. His presentation will describe the evolution of The Intertwine and The Intertwine Alliance and efforts to protect biodiversity and watershed health inside and outside the region’s urban growth boundaries and across the urban and rural landscapes. Houck is co-editor of Wild in the City, a Guide to Portland’s Natural Areas (2000) and the new Wild in the City, Exploring the Intertwine released by OSU Press in the fall of 2011. His credits also include Wild on the Willamette—Exploring the Lower Willamette River (2003). He has been recognized for his contributions to urban green spaces locally, nationally, and internationally. A book signing will follow the lecture.

Join The Forest Park Conservancy for our biggest volunteer event of the season on Saturday, October 20th from 9 am - 12:30 pm. We will be hosting habitat restoration projects at multiple sites in and around Forest Park. In keeping with tradition, the work will be followed by a rousing volunteer appreciation party, complete with a raffle, food and beverages for all. Registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot today!

Sustainable Building: Deconstruction & Materials Reuse

Instructor: David Heslam, Earth Advantage Institute (Portland, OR)

>>* $500 in assistance funding available for this 2-day workshop and others!

>>In the Pacific Northwest, construction waste accounts for about a quarter of waste stream volume. Residential deconstruction and reuse is a practical and sustainable alternative to demolition. Approximately 85 percent of a building's major components that typically end up in landfills during demolition can be diverted for reuse; and the overall cost of deconstruction is often comparable to, if not lower than standard demolition costs, after tax benefits are factored in. This two-day training will help you build the business case for deconstruction and reuse and will provide an overview of important elements to consider, including: hazard identification, safety, planning & logistics, and deconstruction and reuse best practices.

>>Learning Objectives

• Analyze the economic, environmental and societal case for adopting residential deconstruction and reuse practices
• Differentiate the benefits of reuse versus recycling
• Identify common deconstruction hazards, including asbestos, lead, mold and oil tanks; and best mitigation practices
• Explain the importance of planning in terms of inventorying, budgeting, developing contracts, creating a site and materials management plan, and managing permits
• Identify all the costs associated with deconstruction to produce accurate bids

>>Credits/Accreditation-AIA: 14 LU/HSW/SD learning units-CCB: 14 lective hours-OR Real Estate Agency: 14 elective hours>>Date & Time: November 6-7, 2012 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. >>Cost: Register at no cost to you!* Regular Admission: $295>>Location: Earth Advantage Institute | 808 SW 3rd Ave. Suite 800 | Portland, OR 97204

>>To apply or register visit: http://www.earthadvantage.org/sbdmr/>>For more information contact Ryan Harper at rharper@earthadvantage.org or 503.968.7160 x25.

>>*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.

This program for parents and children ages 3 to 5 introduces little ones to the wonders of nature through hands-on exploration. Join us for a short story, engaging activities, and a nature walk through Whitaker Ponds Nature Park. Themes include; birds, mammals, worms, and pond life. Encourage your child’s natural curiosity for nature with this delightful parent-child program! Remember to wear weather appropriate clothing.

Dig Into Sustainable Gardening! Naturescaping is the practice of using native plants to create sustainable landscapes that are good for people, animals and the environment. Learn how to design a low-maintenance, chemical-free landscape that conserves water and minimizes pollution, all while saving you time, money and energy! You’ll get natural gardening and landscape design tips, take a field trip to a nearby naturescaped garden, and receive a comprehensive workbook anda native plant to get started!Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Register online at http://www.emswcd.org/workshops-events/register-for-a-workshop.  Information: 503-222-7645