walking

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.

Camille Park

Both plants and animals in this park have wet feet.  See which ones live here and where to find them.  We'll end our hike at the new Nature Play Area.  Meet at the parking lot at the west end of Marjorie Lane.

Join us for this series of 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 session 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.

Bethany Lake

Look for birds of all sizes and see what other creatures live along the water.  Meet in the parking lot on the west stide of 185th, just south of West Union Road.

Exploring The Intertwine: Birds and Beer at Fernhill Wetlands - Saturday, October 6th

Birding Fernhill Wetlands with Mike Houck: Join Mike Houck, Eric Brattain of Friends of Fernhill Wetlands, and staff from Clean Water Services on a birding foray that combines birding and a tasting of McMenamin's newly released Fernhill Pale Ale. The trip celebrates the inaugural release of Fernhill Pale Ale and improvements to one of the region's premier birding spots, especially if you're into shorebirds and waterfowl and bald eagles at Fernhill Wetlands, the crown jewel of Forest Grove's "Emerald Necklace.” Efforts are afoot to connect the wetlands to trails along the Upper Tualatin River, Gale's Creek, and ultimately, to the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail. 

Recent improvements at Fernhill Wetlands include a new information kiosk , benches, and at long last, a restroom and picnic shelter near the parking lot. While great for human visitors the most exciting development will be Clean Water Services' creation of a world class demonstration wetland with water features designed by renowned landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu's to cool and aerate the water that will spill into Fernhill Lake. 

Are your chance to learn by doing a variety of projects in a sustainably managed woodland - it's sort of like a "dude ranch" in the forest.

Volunteers help with tree planting and pruning; reducing fire hazards and controlling invasive weeds; repairing trails and maintaining facilities - projects vary with the seasons. Volunteer opportunities are open to all adults (individuals and organized groups) and adult-supervised youth.

Forests Forever, Inc. encourages civic clubs, church groups, professional organizations and businesses, youth groups, families and individuals to volunteer at Hopkins Demonstration Forest. Community Forestry Days are planned for the 2nd Saturday of each month - please RSVP by the Thursday prior to each Community Forestry Day, whether you plan to join us for all or part of the day.

The schedule for Community Forestry Days usually follows this pattern:

8:30 am: Team leaders assemble, volunteers arrive

9:00 am: Volunteer projects begin Noon: Lunch & topical presentation

1:00 pm: Volunteers return to projects

2:00 pm: Tour, 90-minutes

4:30 pm: Thank you. Have a safe drive home.

Oregonians are known for fierce independence and rugged individuality, as well as progressive environmental policies – a dynamic combination. Veronica Dujon, sociology professor at Portland State University, invites you to consider how attachments to places shape our desire to both use and preserve natural resources. There’s much to discuss at Graham Oaks, an important Native American site and historic farm that was once considered for a landfill or women’s prison. This discussion continues a special series of The Conversation Project, with Oregon Humanities and Metro unplugging this summer to bring some of Oregon’s most fascinating thinkers to voter-protected natural areas. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy; Metro will bring the pie. Conversation is free, no registration required.