walking

As the seasons change, so does life in the Nature Park.  Learn about wildlife in this series of classes.  Hear stories, meet other parents and kids, and see natural treasures up close.  Each class includes a simple craft or coloring project.  Weather permitting, we'll take a short hike into the forest.  Parent participation required.  Suitable for ages 3-5 years. Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.  $8 per session, in-district.  An assessment fee will be charged for out-of-district patrons.

Get ready for a day at the beach by learning about the creatures you may meet at the seashore.

As the seasons change, so does life in the Nature Park.  Learn about wildlife in this series of classes.  Hear stories, meet other parents and kids, and see natural treasures up close.  Each class includes a simple craft or coloring project.  Weather permitting, we'll take a short hike into the forest.  Parent participation required.  Suitable for ages 3-5 years. Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.  $8 per session, in-district.  An assessment fee will be charged for out-of-district patrons.

Discover how the animals and plants in the Nature Park spend their summer vacation.

Join us on these nature adventures as we explore the wildlife in our local parks.  We'll search for clues that animals have left behind and get up close looks at treasures from our naturalist's backpack that may include skulls, pelts, pellets or even scat!  Each Knee High Naturalist Hike meets at a different site.  It's a great way to get outside with your preschool child, meet other families, and learn about the natural world.  Only one registration per family is necessary.  Suitable for ages 2-5 years. Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.  $8 per session, in-district.  An assessment fee will be charged for out-of-district patrons.

What animals will we fi nd living in this quiet forest? Walk the trail while we look high and low for the park's resident critters. Meet at the SW 192nd Ave entrance to the park, just south of SW Stacy St.

Join us on these nature adventures as we explore the wildlife in our local parks.  We'll search for clues that animals have left behind and get up close looks at treasures from our naturalist's backpack that may include skulls, pelts, pellets or even scat!  Each Knee High Naturalist Hike meets at a different site.  It's a great way to get outside with your preschool child, meet other families, and learn about the natural world.  Only one registration per family is necessary.  Suitable for ages 2-5 years. Advanced registration required; call 503/629-6350.  $8 per session, in-district.  An assessment fee will be charged for out-of-district patrons.

Lots of animals love life in the shade, so we'll see what animal signs we can find under the trees in this park. Meet at the northwest entrance to the park at the intersection of NW Deerfoot Lane and NW Fawnlily Dr.

On June 9th the Cathlapotle Plankhouse will be hosting a Summer Celebration and Salmon Bake in partnership with OMSI. 12pm- 2pm: Special presentations in the Plankhouse will focus on NW Tribal Canoe Journeys and the Pacific Lamprey, a mysterious eel-like fish important to Native People of the Columbia River. 2pm: Free Chinookan-style salmon bake and seafood stew tastings until supplies last. Docent led Plankhouse tours, live lamprey encounters, and children's activities will be available from 12pm-4pm.

This event will highlight the relationship of Native people of the Columbia River to fish such as Pacific Lamprey, a little known eel like fish that migrates from fresh water, to the ocean, and back again. It will also serve to educate the public about the upcoming Tribal Canoe Journeys. There will be presentations focused on current efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and area Tribes to protect and restore Pacific Lamprey and other important fish of the Columbia River ecosystem, and the role that Canoe Journeys play in NW Tribal cultures today. There will also be opportunities to meet live live Lamprey up close and personal, guided Plankhouse tours, and children's activities from 12-4pm. Special presentations on Lamprey conservation efforts and their importance to local Tribes, and Canoe Journeys will be from 12pm-2pm, with a FREE Chinookan style salmon bake and tasting at 2pm while supplies last.

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.