walking

Bring your kids to Forest Park this summer! Explore Forest Park on a free guided hike led by Outdoor School instructors and designed for youngsters and their families and friends! Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of this Northwest forest while learning about native plants, wildlife, and the inspiring history of Portland's Forest Park.

Become a tree as it grows from seed to snag, count banana slugs along the trail and learn about the differences between native and invasive plants, without leaving the city. We'll go on scavenger hunts, tap into our collective creativity, and use all five senses to investigate the amazing ecological diversity of Forest Park.

The hikes are designed for kids ages 4-10 with parent accompaniment. Each hike is free but space is limited, so reserve your spot now!

Enjoy a naturalist-guided walk at this magnifi cent time of day. We will be on the lookout for the wildlife that are ending their day, such as birds and deer, and the ones just coming out, including coyotes and bats.  Suitable for ages 10 years - Adult.  Children must be registered with, and accompanied by, a registered adult.  Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.

Journey into the forest to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature at night.  There are creatures that only come out at night so it is a perfect opportunity to see and hear them. Spend the first part of the program indoors learning about our nocturnal residents then head out into the park for a guided night hike. Suitable for ages 6 years - Adult.  Children must be registered with, and accompanied by, a registered adult.  Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.

Get up close to nocturnal animals' pelts and skulls and listen to the mysterious sounds of the creatures of the night.

Journey into the forest to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature at night.  There are creatures that only come out at night so it is a perfect opportunity to see and hear them. Spend the first part of the program indoors learning about our nocturnal residents then head out into the park for a guided night hike. Suitable for ages 6 years - Adult.  Children must be registered with, and accompanied by, a registered adult.  Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.

Learn about Oregon's bats and how to attract these flying bug eaters to your yard. See a slide show, and drive to a nearby site to see bats in action and listen to their echolocation calls using a bat detector.

Bring your family on a bug hunt! Using sweep nets, beat sheets, hand lenses and forests fl oor leaf-movers, we'll capture and observe bugs of all kinds. We will also take a closer look at water bugs from our pond. Suitable for ages 6 yrs - Adult. Children must be registered with, and accompanied by, a registered adult. Pre-registration required, call 503/629-6350.