preregistration required

Follow Balch Creek into the heart of Forest Park's history, count tree rings hundreds of years into the past, learn the story of Daniel Balch, and write your own history of the mysterious Stone House.  Ages 10-14.  Meet at Lower Macleay Park.  Limited to 15 participants.  Click here to reserve a place for your young forest explorers today!  Advance reservations are required by 12 noon on the day before each hike.

Dive into the Impassable Wilderness on this hike based on the first volume of the popular Wildwood Chronicles, by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, creating our own maps and stories of the land and creatures of Forest Park.  Ages 10-14.  Meet at NW 53rd & Dogwood Trail.  Limited to 15 participants.  Click here to reserve a place for your young forest explorers today!  Advance reservations are required by 12 noon on the day before each hike.

Find creative inspiration within Forest Park’s native forest during an afternoon of story-writing, illustrating and sharing.  Discover your muse from the park’s history and ecology, all beneath the forest’s lush summer canopy.  Ages 10-14.  Meet at NW 53rd & Dogwood Trail.  Kids’ Discovery Hikes are limited to 15 participants and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Click here to reserve a place for your young forest explorers today!  Advance reservations are required by 12 noon on the day before each hike.

Join the 17th year of the Columbia Slough’s paddling festival and canoe in search of eagles, otters and fish. Launch into the safe slack water of the slough and enjoy hands-on nature activities and tasty snacks for purchase. Meet at the St. Johns Canoe Launch at 9363 N. Columbia Blvd. in Portland. T-shirt provided. $7 suggested donation. Bring your own boat or make a reservation for a 45-minute rental through the council. For more information, visit www.columbiaslough.org. Hosted by Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Join us as we celebrate National Pollinator Week. What is pollination? Why is it an important part of the food web? What kinds of insects and animals facilitate the pollination process? All these questions and more will be answered when you attend the Pollination Celebration on Saturday, June 23rd from 10 am to noon at Howell Territorial Park on Sauvie Island.

We’ll search for pollinators in and around the native hedgerow on the Sauvie Island Organics farm. Using our looking glasses, we’ll get a closer look at pollen on a variety of plants and see how bees gather pollen. We’ll even make Mason Bee Houses to take home and participate in a honey tasting. Don’t forget a picnic to enjoy after the event.