trails and greenways

Bug Fest is a celebration of invertebrates and the important roles they play in our environment. Exciting opportunities to learn about bugs will make you, no matter what your age, want to grow up to be an entomologist. Admission: $3 per person; children 2 and under free

Forest Park Conservancy's Volunteer Crew Leader Training: Trails Edition will prepare you to lead a small group of volunteers at larger trail work parties in Forest Park. With your leadership support, more people can get dirty improving the park's trail network, perform quality work, and receive a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience. Topics covered will be volunteer leadership and safety, trail maintenance practices, and trail repair techniques.   

Crew leaders must commit to leading at one or more of the following FPC stewardship events:

• National Trails Day: Saturday, June 1st
• National Public Lands Day: Saturday, September 28th
• Ongoing Trail Saturdays throughout the year.

Meet at the Audubon Society of Portland in the morning for classroom instruction. Afternoon hands-on training will take place in Forest Park. Lunch will be provided.  

Crew Leader Requirements:

• Hike upwards of 3 miles (sometimes over steep, uneven terrain), carry loads upwards of 40 pounds, wield tools, get dirty, and love it.
• Willingness and ability to actively engage, lead, and supervise volunteers.

Registration is required! Sign up here: http://www.forestparkconservancy.org/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=171460

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse will be kicking off its 2013 Second Sunday Series on Mother's Day, May 12.

Garden Historian and Humanities WA speaker Joan Hockaday will be presenting The Lewis and Clark Wildflower Discoveries in the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. She will discuss the lasting legacy of Lewis and Clark in the exploration of the American West, and the contributions that Native Americans have made to the expedition and western science. This presentation will speak to the question: "What do we discover today from Lewis and Clark's daily accounts about our early Washington landscape, natural history and native peoples?"

Guided tours of the Plankhouse and children's activities will be available from 12-4pm. Those feeling up for it can also join Joan on the trail after the talk to explore some of the plants along the adjacent Oaks To Wetlands Trail.

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 over 900 people living there. 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.

Celebrate nature in the city and the environment of the Columbia Slough! This bilingual family environmental festival offers activities in Spanish and English for all ages. Explorando is free, and includes: guided canoe trips, live music, folk dancing, storytelling, arts & crafts, workshops, and more!  The first 350 visitors receive a free Explorando 2013 t-shirt.

NOTE: No es necesario para registrarse.
No registration necessary.

!Celebrase la naturaleza en la ciudad y el ambiente del Columbia Slough!  Este festival bilingue de la familia y el medio ambiente ofrece actividades en espanol y ingles para todos las edades.  Explorando es gratis y incluye: viajes en canoas con una guia, musica en vivo,  baile folklorico, cuentos e historias bilingues, artes, actividades y mas!  El primer 350 personas les recibiran camisetas gratis del Explorando 2013.

Spring is here and so are morels! Early spring morels, Morchella elata and false morels, Verpa bohemica can both be found in the Willamette Valley. Come learn the habitat of Morels and other edible and medicinal mushrooms. The best way to find mushrooms is to know their habitat. If you know what to look for, you just might find it. We won't be collecting wild foods on this trip, but we will be collecting the knowledge that allows us find where to go to eat. Riparian, river side,  habitats, and the edible and medicinal mushrooms that can be found at this time of year in the Willamette Valley and surrounding area. The class will be held at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge across the river near Vancouver Wa. We will have ample opportunities for bird and wildlife viewing. You might also have the opportunity to see one of the newly translocated Columbia White Tailed Deer!

When: April 7th, 10am-2pm

Where: Meet at the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. There is the option to meet up and carpool from St. Johns area in Portland.

Cost: $25
There are limited spaces for this workshop. You must register at http://www.rewildportland.com/educational-programs/workshops/spring-mush...

About Our Instructor
Richard Gaines has a B.S. in Natural Science and over 30 years experience in identifying fungi. He has taught identification and medicinal mushrooms workshops for Evergreen
College.