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The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is looking for new volunteers for the 2014 season! 

Are you curious about...

Local Native American Culture? Traditional Columbia River Art?Pacific Northwest History? Ancestral Skills? Archeology?Wildlife? Nature?

Do you love to...

Learn about other cultures? Share your experiences and knowledge with others? Meet new people? Tell stories?

Get involved at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge!

We are looking for new people to join our team of amazing volunteer docents that staff the Plankhouse during the weekends or help us teach school groups during the week. Open to everyone, there is no special experience needed, just a desire to learn and share the natural and cultural history of the Refuge with others. By the end of the orientation  you will understand what our docents do,  learn more about Chinookan lifeways and Refuge archaeology, and be ready to take the next steps to become a part of the team.  For more info or to RSVP  please contact Sarah Hill , Plankhouse Coordinator, at sarah_hill@fws.gov  or call (360) 887-4106 .

New Volunteer Orientation/Training April 5, 10AM-3PM

Meet at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge : Carty Unit lower parking lot: 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield WA 98624

If you are interested in getting involved, but can't make the training, contact Sarah Hill at sarah_hill@fws.gov to arrange alternate training plans. 

Join our wonderful volunteer tour guides for a stroll through Hoyt Arboretum. We will be viewing the season's colorful blooms and learning about the fascinating transformation that is spring! Mark your calendars and bring your cameras. Please meet at the Visitor Center; registration is not required.

Do you know your native conifers? Learn your conifer basics (or "Conifers 101") with tour guide Ken Denniston during a special guided tour of Hoyt Arboretum. This tour will focus on the main conifer families and genera and how to distinguish them. Please meet at the Visitor Center; registration is not required.

On May 30, 1948 at 4:17pm the railroad dike burst, allowing high water from the Columbia River to flood Vanport City.  Learn about the history of Vanport (the second-largest city in Portland at the time and predominantly African-American) and the specifics of the flood at this outdoor tour at the historic site.  We'll meet at the Delta Park/Vanport Park & Ride and carpool from there. Suitable for adults and children aged 10+; RSVPs appreciated.

Join the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for Groundwater 101 - a FREE educational workshop that teaches groundwater basics including local geology and hydrology, what role groundwater plays in our drinking water system, and what can be done to protect this important resource. This interactive workshop is presented with a mix of hands-on and classroom-style teaching and is appropriate for adults and high school students aged 14 & up. Light refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

After the workshop, interested participants are invited to take a guided tour of the Portland Water Bureau Groundwater Facility  (approximate tour time - 30 minutes).