seasonal natural interest

Learn to identify birds by their songs in Laura Whittemore's locally famous "Birding by Ear" class. After an indoor presentation to get your ears tuned up we go outside and listen carefully to the songs and calls around us: American robin, black-headed grosbeak, song sparrow, yellow warbler and more. Learn how to listen, how to find singing birds, which sounds males and females make, and how to make those sounds stick so you recognize them again.      16 -- Adult   

Where:  Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - Carty Unit:

28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642; www.ridgefieldfriends.org

When: Sunday, May 8th, 2016

What: Take mom out for a stroll at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to connect with wildlife and Native culture this Mothers' Day at 1:00pm. Learn how the traditional roles of Native women in Pacific Northwest helped maintain gender equality and how evidence of women's labor show up in the archaeological record. The Plankhouse will be open for visitors from 12pm-4pm, and there will be activities for the kids as well. 

1pm: Presentation "Where the Women Are: Gender and Power in the Archaeological Record of the Pacific Northwest"

The Pacific Northwest has a rich ethnographic record which details the lifeways of Native Americans at the time of Euro-American contact. Despite the wealth of data on gender division of labor in indigenous groups of the 19th-20th centuries, archaeological research on gender is rare. Activities traditionally associated with women such as plant gathering cooking, basketry, and mat making remain poorly understood in comparison to activities typically associated with men. In this presentation doctoral student, Tiffany Fulkerson, will explore the relationship between women's labor and their social power through evidence in the archaeological record.

2pm: Ethnobotany Hike
Join our speaker and a Refuge Naturalist for a walk on the Oaks to Wetlands Trail discussing spring plants and their relationship with Chinookan culture. Participants should be prepared for a 2 mile hike on moderately uneven terrain. Meet at the Plankhouse.

12pm - 4pm: Plankhouse Tours and Children's Activities
Tour the Plankhouse on your own or guided by our experienced volunteers. Children's activities exploring local nature and culture will be available as well.

Cost:   Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle - save money and carpool with a friend!

Contact:  Sarah Hill; 360.887.4106/Sarah_Hill@fws.gov For wheelchair access to events, please contact Sarah prior to the event date.

Friends of Trees is hitting the summer outreach circuit to excite and educate our neighbors and greater community about trees. We're searching for Tree Team Ambassadors to help bring the enthusiasm and educate the public about the benefits of trees and Friends of Trees programs in the area! Sound like this is up your alley? We hope so!

We'll train you in everything you need to know to represent Friends of Trees and spread the good word about trees at community "tabling" events such as summer festivals and farmers markets. Pre-registration is required for this training; please register HERE to save your place. We will be providing snacks and beverages, an update on the latest tree issues in the Portland Metro area, and your own "Tree Team" t-shirt!

Ambassador volunteers are the face of Friends of Trees all across town. They attend events alongside staff or fellow Ambassadors to start positive conversations around the work of Friends of Trees and the benefits of trees to our greater community.

The ideal volunteer for this role is outgoing, comfortable in fast-paced community settings, and is intrigued by the idea of engaging people in conversations about what trees can do for them and their community.

Bud Grafting
Saturday July 16th, 10am - 1pm
SE Portland, Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood

In this hands-on workshop you will learn the basic techniques of bud grafting (budding). This method of grafting will allow you to combine different varieties and species of fruit into a single tree more quickly and with greater success rates than other grafting methods. This fun workshop will be an opportunity for you to gain a basic understanding of different bud grafting methods and when they should be used.

<<Click here to register now>>

About the instructor: 

Rick Shory has always worked with plants. In addition to gardening, he has grown and pruned fruit trees, including over 30 years experience grafting. In 2010, he returned to the Pacific Northwest after ten years in Colorado, where he worked in environmental field research and had a home orchard and permaculture. His botanical specialization is grasses.

The location address and other details will be provided after you register.

<<Click here to register now>>

Spring Tree Care: Pest & Disease Management/Fruit Thinning
Sunday May 22nd, 1pm - 4pm
SW Portland, Washington County, off Canyon Rd
 

In this hands-on workshop you will learn the basics of springtime pest and disease assessment and fruit thinning to increase the health and abundance of local fruit trees! This fun workshop will be an opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the different types of pests and diseases commonly found in the Portland area as well as the importance and how-to of fruit thinning. If you have samples of pest and/or disease affected fruit, leaves, or twigs - please bring them to the workshop in a sealed container so we can try to ID them

<<Click here to register now>>

About the instructor:

Heidi Noordijk studied horticulture at Michigan State University and Cornell University - specializing in pomology (tree fruits). Heidi has participated in research projects involving apple tree physiology, berry production, and tree fruit entomology. Heidi has also worked on various orchards and farms in the PNW and east coast. Heidi currently works for OSU's Small Farms program.

 The location address and other details will be provided after you register.

<<Click here to register now>>