wildlife watching

Protect Native Plants with SOLVE this Summer!

SOLVE
Address: 
OR
United States

Volunteer with SOLVE to help native trees survive summer’s hot sun! SOLVE and its partners are working to enhance sites throughout the Portland-metro area. Volunteers will be assisting with site maintenance by removing invasive plants, mulching, and watering native plants. Over time, this work will improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and store carbon to slow climate change. SOLVE will provide all tools and gloves for this project. 

Contact Name: 
Morgan
Contact Phone: 
503-844-9571 ext. 332
Contact Email: 
morgan@solv.org

Your Land, My Land: Using and Preserving Oregon's Natural Resources

Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Metro
Address: 
SW Wilsonville Road
Wilsonville, OR
United States

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.

Contact Name: 
Metro parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1850
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Graham Oaks Nature Park
Venue Details: 
Explore trails, restored oak woodlands, a conifer forest and rich wildlife at Metro's new Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. Ride your bike on the Tonquin Trail, stroll through a conifer forest or spot birds from a wetland overlook at Metro's Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. This 250-acre destination is a playground not just for people, but also for wildlife. With restored oak woodlands growing bigger every year, Graham Oaks provides important habitat for native birds and mammals. Bring your family, bring your camera, bring a picnic to the sustainable new picnic shelter. Bring your curiosity, and learn how voters helped renew this special landscape. Park highlights Three miles of trails traverse Graham Oaks, allowing visitors to explore several habitats in a single park. Cyclists and joggers can take the paved Tonquin Trail, which eventually will connect Wilsonville, Tualatin and Sherwood. A spur trail leads to a wetland overlook, perfect for bird-watchers; Coyote Way meanders through young oak woodlands. For a bit of shade, follow the Legacy Creek Trail through a rich conifer forest where thousands of species thrive. Be sure to visit Graham Oaks’ five plazas – perfect spots to rest, reflect and learn about the park. Be on the lookout for native wildlife such as white-breasted nuthatch, Western bluebird, orange-crowned warbler and Western gray squirrels. A historical landscape Graham Oaks has a long and storied history, from the Kalapuyan tribes who gathered food here to the family that farmed the land – and the voters who helped purchase the site, restore its habitat and open it as a nature park. Learn more Greening Graham Oaks Did you know Graham Oaks is one of the region’s greenest parks? At Graham Oaks, pervious pavement in the parking lot manages stormwater and removes pollutants. Solar panels on the restroom feed into the City of Wilsonville’s electric grid, and the beautiful stonework at the plazas and overlooks is Columbia River Gorge basalt stone. Find out about sustainable strategies used in the design, materials and construction. Learn more A living laboratory Graham Oaks serves as an outdoor classroom for Inza Wood Middle School, Boones Ferry Primary School and CREST, the environmental education center operated by the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. Students study the rich wildlife, habitat and cultural history of Graham Oaks – an undertaking that helped create artwork and books showcased at the grand opening. Access Graham Oaks Nature Park is free and open from 6:30 a.m. to legal sunset. Many of the park features are wheelchair accessible, although some trails offer a higher level of challenge. There is limited parking at the park entrance. Parking is not allowed at any of the schools. There is a permanent bike parking structure at the entrance of the park, accommodating a total of six bikes. Bikes are permitted only on the Tonquin Trail.
Cost: 
Free

A City’s Center: Rethinking Downtown

Saturday, July 21, 2012 - 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Metro
Address: 
1700 SE Jefferson St.
Milwaukie, OR
United States

Nan Laurence, a senior planner for Eugene, explores how downtowns can represent a community’s ideals and aspirations. Join her at Milwaukie’s Riverfront Park – where a Metro nature grant is helping launch a major transformation – to talk about the changing character of downtown activities, urban forms and public spaces. This program kicks off 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. Co-hosted by the City of Milwaukie.

Contact Name: 
Metro parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1850
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Milwaukie Riverfront Park
Venue Details: 
North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD) includes the North Clackamas Aquatic Park, the Milwaukie Center, Milwaukie Riverfront Park and over 60 parks and open spaces, that offer a wide range of recreation and educational offerings. Also found within NCPRD is the Mt. Talbert Nature Park, Hood View Park and the Trolley Trail.
Cost: 
Free

The Art of the Possible: Jazz and Community Building

Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Metro
Address: 
18892 SW Kemmer Road
Beaverton, OR
United States

At the juncture of suburban neighborhoods and rolling farmland, Metro's Cooper Mountain Nature Park isn't a typical jazz venue - but it's the perfect place to discuss the value of risk, collaboration and individual voice in this highly democratic art form. Scholar and musician Tim DuRoche will look at the literature, economics and history of jazz. 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.

Contact Name: 
Metro parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1850
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Venue Details: 
Explore the trails, natural garden and visitor facilities and enjoy the views and rare habitats at the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park near Beaverton.
 
 Overlooking the Tualatin River Valley, the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park sits on the southern edge of Beaverton, shouldered by dense urban development to the north and open agricultural lands to the south. The 231-acre park offers visitors 3 1/2 miles of gravel trails traversing the park's rare habitats and natural features. Cooper Mountain Nature Park is operated through a partnership between Metro and the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
 
 Discover Cooper Mountain with bird walks, guided hikes and more
 Naturalists from Metro and the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District – as well as other experts – offer classes and tours for all ages at Cooper Mountain. Register for classes by calling 503-629-6350 or visiting Metro's calendar at www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar.
Cost: 
Free

Volunteer with SOLVE this Saturday!

Saturday, July 14, 2012 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
SOLVE
Address: 
OR
United States

Help native trees survive summer’s hot sun! SOLVE and its partners are working to enhance sites throughout the Portland-metro area. Volunteers will be assisting with site maintenance by removing invasive plants, and mulching and watering native plants. Over time, this work will improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and store carbon to slow climate change. SOLVE will provide all tools and gloves for this project.

SOLVE’s mission is to bring Oregonians together to improve the environment and build a legacy of stewardship.

Contact Name: 
Morgan
Contact Phone: 
503-844-9571 ext. 332
Contact Email: 
morgan@solv.org

Bug Fest: Meet the Beetles!

Saturday, August 25, 2012 - 11:00am to 4:00pm
Metro
Address: 
15655 SW Millikan Way
beaverton, OR 97006
United States

There are more different kinds of insects and other arthropods on Earth than all other living things combined. From pollinators to decomposers, predators to parasites, and pests or even human food, they are “the little creatures who run the world” (E.O. Wilson). Yet many people find them icky and scary and wonder what good they are.

The 12th annual Bug Fest, a partnership between the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District and Metro, is a celebration of invertebrates and the critical roles they play in our environment. The event combines interactive discovery stations, crafts, games, and family entertainment with a range of activities that help attendees experience the boneless/spineless creatures that keep the world going. There are also plenty of live bugs to inspect and admire. Catch your own or bring them with you from home and have them identified by experts.

This year’s theme is “Meet the Beetles” and the discovery lab will have plenty of live examples of local beetles. Appropriate for all ages. Allow a couple of hours to see everything! Come to the Tualatin Hills Nature Park Interpretive Center in Beaverton. $3 per person; free for ages 2 and under. For more information, visit www.thprd.org.

Contact Name: 
Metro Parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1650 option 2
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Tualatin Hills Nature Park Interpretive Center
Venue Details: 
The Tualatin Hills Nature Park is a 222-acre wildlife preserve in the heart of Beaverton, Oregon. It features evergreen and deciduous forests, creeks, wetlands, ponds, and meadows. The park is home to a variety of birds, mammals, and smaller creatures. About 1.5 miles of trails are paved, while the remaining 3.5 miles are well maintained, soft-surface trails. The Nature Park Interpretive Center, Oak Trail, and sections of the Vine Maple Trail are accessible to the disabled. We also have a wheelchair that can be checked out for no charge. Highlights of the Nature Park Interpretive Center include classrooms, a nature store, reference library, and exhibit area. The Interpretive Center offers a variety of environmental education classes and activities for adults, children, and school groups throughout the year.
Cost: 
$3 per person; free for ages 2 and under

Papermaking for beginners at Graham Oaks

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Metro
Address: 
11825 SW Wilsonville Road
wilsonville, OR 97070
United States

Bees do it and so can you! At Graham Oaks Nature Park, join papermaker Laurel Ann Bower and learn who invented papermaking, and how to make your own decorative paper from recycled materials. Suitable for ages 5 and older; children 16 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. Free. Advance registration required. Register online or call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Contact Name: 
Metro Parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1650 option 2
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Graham Oaks Nature Park
Venue Details: 
Explore trails, restored oak woodlands, a conifer forest and rich wildlife at Metro's new Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. Ride your bike on the Tonquin Trail, stroll through a conifer forest or spot birds from a wetland overlook at Metro's Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. This 250-acre destination is a playground not just for people, but also for wildlife. With restored oak woodlands growing bigger every year, Graham Oaks provides important habitat for native birds and mammals. Bring your family, bring your camera, bring a picnic to the sustainable new picnic shelter. Bring your curiosity, and learn how voters helped renew this special landscape. Three miles of trails traverse Graham Oaks, allowing visitors to explore several habitats in a single park. Cyclists and joggers can take the paved Tonquin Trail, which eventually will connect Wilsonville, Tualatin and Sherwood. A spur trail leads to a wetland overlook, perfect for bird-watchers; Coyote Way meanders through young oak woodlands. For a bit of shade, follow the Legacy Creek Trail through a rich conifer forest where thousands of species thrive. Be sure to visit Graham Oaks’ five plazas – perfect spots to rest, reflect and learn about the park. Be on the lookout for native wildlife such as white-breasted nuthatch, Western bluebird, orange-crowned warbler and Western gray squirrels.
Cost: 
free

Pioneer candle-making at Graham Oaks

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Metro
Address: 
11825 SW Wilsonville Road
wilsonville, OR 97070
United States

Come to Graham Oaks Nature Park to make candles using an old-fashioned method. Learn the technique and then make yours unique. Suitable for ages 5 and older; children 16 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. Free. Advance registration required. Register online or call 503-797-1650 option 2.

Contact Name: 
Metro Parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1650 option 2
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Graham Oaks Nature Park
Venue Details: 
Explore trails, restored oak woodlands, a conifer forest and rich wildlife at Metro's new Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. Ride your bike on the Tonquin Trail, stroll through a conifer forest or spot birds from a wetland overlook at Metro's Graham Oaks Nature Park in Wilsonville. This 250-acre destination is a playground not just for people, but also for wildlife. With restored oak woodlands growing bigger every year, Graham Oaks provides important habitat for native birds and mammals. Bring your family, bring your camera, bring a picnic to the sustainable new picnic shelter. Bring your curiosity, and learn how voters helped renew this special landscape. Three miles of trails traverse Graham Oaks, allowing visitors to explore several habitats in a single park. Cyclists and joggers can take the paved Tonquin Trail, which eventually will connect Wilsonville, Tualatin and Sherwood. A spur trail leads to a wetland overlook, perfect for bird-watchers; Coyote Way meanders through young oak woodlands. For a bit of shade, follow the Legacy Creek Trail through a rich conifer forest where thousands of species thrive. Be sure to visit Graham Oaks’ five plazas – perfect spots to rest, reflect and learn about the park. Be on the lookout for native wildlife such as white-breasted nuthatch, Western bluebird, orange-crowned warbler and Western gray squirrels.

Native bees to the rescue

Sunday, August 5, 2012 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Metro
Address: 
18892 SW Kemmer Road
beaverton, OR 97007
United States

At Cooper Mountain Nature Park discover the secret life of native bees – from carpenter bees to leafcutters. These gentle bees almost never sting and provide critical pollination, but they need your help. Learn to identify bees and the plants they eat, and how to install a bee nursery. $8 per person, ages 11 and older; under 11 free. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Advance registration required; call 503-645-6433.

Contact Name: 
Metro Parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1650 option 2
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Venue Details: 
Explore the trails, natural garden and visitor facilities and enjoy the views and rare habitats at the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park near Beaverton. Overlooking the Tualatin River Valley, the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park sits on the southern edge of Beaverton, shouldered by dense urban development to the north and open agricultural lands to the south. The 231-acre park offers visitors 3 1/2 miles of gravel trails traversing the park's rare habitats and natural features. Cooper Mountain Nature Park is operated through a partnership between Metro and the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
Cost: 
$8 per person, ages 11 and older

Twilight Tuesday at Cooper Mountain

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 - 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Metro
Address: 
18892 SW Kemmer Road
beaverton, OR 97007
United States

Dusk is one of the best times to see wildlife, especially in summer. On this relaxing walk, a Metro naturalist teaches basic techniques of wildlife watching and identification. Some mammals you may see: rabbits, deer, coyote, raccoon and bats. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair on site. Meet at the Nature House. Suitable for ages 10 and older; participants must be able to be quiet, sneaky and patient. Registration and payment of $10 per person required in advance; call 503-629-6350.

Contact Name: 
Metro Parks
Contact Phone: 
503-797-1650 option 2
Contact Email: 
metroparks@oregonmetro.gov
Venue: 
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Venue Details: 
Explore the trails, natural garden and visitor facilities and enjoy the views and rare habitats at the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park near Beaverton. Overlooking the Tualatin River Valley, the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park sits on the southern edge of Beaverton, shouldered by dense urban development to the north and open agricultural lands to the south. The 231-acre park offers visitors 3 1/2 miles of gravel trails traversing the park's rare habitats and natural features. Cooper Mountain Nature Park is operated through a partnership between Metro and the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
Cost: 
$10

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