wheelchair accessible

Connect with local landscapes and Chinookan culture at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse! 

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a contemporary Chinookan style Plankhouse located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The house was built in 2005 as a partnership with the Chinook Indian Nation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Its mission is to share the lifeways, culture, and history of Chinookan Peoples of the Lower Columbia, and the natural resources of the Refuge. 

The Plankhouse is open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 12pm-4pm from April 12th -October 4th. Volunteer guides will be available to answer questions and give Plankhouse tours, and visitors are able to take a hike on the 2 mile Oaks to Wetlands Trail loop. 

Every Second Sunday from April-Oct, the Plankhouse hosts a special event or lecture focusing on the natural and cultural resources of the Lower Columbia River. 

Plankhouse programs are coordinated by the Friends of The Ridgefield NWR. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodations needs to Eric Anderson, 360-887-4106, Eric_Anderson@fws.gov. TTY 800-877-8339 with your request by close of business one week before the event. For wheelchair access arrangements for this program,  please contact Sarah Hill (360) 887-4106 or Sarah_Hill@fws.gov.

Have fun, learn, and help out at Columbia Springs! This family-friendly event is a great opportunity for community members to participate in environmental restoration and projects that improve Columbia Springs' 100-acre natural area and the historic Vancouver Trout Hatchery. Projects may include gardening, painting, trail maintenance, and more. Every Stewardship Saturday includes a lesson about local ecology to start the day and concludes with a fun activity like a craft or nature hike. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome! Children under 14 are welcome with parent or guardian supervision and teens under 16 with parent or guardian permission. Snacks and tools provided. Please bring sturdy shoes, appropriate outdoor work clothing, a water bottle, and your enthusiasm for helping the community! To sign-up or for more information, email volunteer@columbiasprings.org. 

American Trails is hosting the next International Trails Symposium right here in Portland from May 17-20, 2015, at the Oregon Convention Center.

The Symposium addresses every aspect of trails, greenways, and blueways. Learn from dozens of educational sessions and mobile workshops, and network with experts and enthusiasts from across the globe.

The theme for this year's Symposium is "Solutions for Success."

The Intertwine Alliance will coordinate volunteers for the event. 

Registration now open. 

Celebrate Earth Day and welcome the return of bats to Oregon with this introduction into their fascinating night-time world. Learn about bats around the world, how they live and why they are important. What threats do they face to their continued existence? Is it just coincidence that Oregon has fifteen species of owls AND bats? After the program we go outside with special bat detectors and listen for bats over Jackson Bottom!  Long-time JBWP volunteer, Wolfgang Dempke, presents this program.

Join us every Wednesday from noon - 1 pm for Lunch with the Birds! Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. A few pairs of loaner binoculars are available. We meet rain or shine and spend our time outside. This event is free for all ages and you do not need to pre-register.  All four May dates (6, 13, 20, 27) are held at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve Education Building.  The natural landscaped grounds around the building are wheelchair accessible.