walking

Enjoy and celebrate the gifts of nature at Oxbow Regional Park with Metro naturalist Dan Daly, Deerdance School's Terry Kem and others. Walk along the Sandy River as you focus on opening your senses and noticing how wildlife respond to the changing season. Afterwards, gather around the campfire to hear the "Thanksgiving Address" passed down by the Iroquois Nation. Hot drinks provided.

Register:  www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar  

Where: Oxbow Regional Park

When: 10:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.

Cost: Free of Charge

Vehicle Entry Fee:  $5/car, $7/bus

Ages: All ages

Difficulty:   Easy

Wheelchair accessible:   Not accessible

Pets policy: To protect plants, wildlife and people, Metro does not allow pets at most regional parks and natural areas. Pets can damage sensitive habitat and threaten wildlife the region has worked to protect. In natural areas where dogs are not allowed, people see more wildlife and get closer to it. Seeing-eye dogs or other service animals are allowed. Please bring cleanup materials.  http://www.oregonmetro.gov/parks/pets-policy

The birds are talking. Are you listening? Learn to unravel the mysterious communications of the birds and how their various calls and alarms move across the landscape.  Join a naturalist on a slow, quiet walk through the reclaimed wetlands of Blue Lake Regional Park, where coyotes, weasels and raptors share space with waterfowl and songbirds.

Register:  www.oregonmetro.gov/calendar

Where: Blue Lake Regional Park

When: 10:00 a.m  to 12:00 p.m. (noon)

Cost: $6/person, $11/family

Ages: All ages

Difficulty:   easy

Wheelchair accessible:   Yes

Pets policy: To protect plants, wildlife and people, Metro does not allow pets at most regional parks and natural areas. Pets can damage sensitive habitat and threaten wildlife the region has worked to protect. In natural areas where dogs are not allowed, people see more wildlife and get closer to it. Seeing-eye dogs or other service animals are allowed. Please bring cleanup materials.  http://www.oregonmetro.gov/parks/pets-policy

Where:  Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge:  Carty Unit - 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642

When:    August 14, 2016

Join us for a day of demonstrations and hands on activities highlighting traditional technologies found across the world and throughout time.  The Cathlapotle Plankhouse will be open from 12:-4:00 and there will be activities for families to connect with local culture and wildlife. In the House students from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Lifeways class will be demonstrating carving, weaving, and Native art design, while outside visitors can try their hand throwing an atlatl, shooting a bow and arrow, making cordage, friction fire, and watch stone tools being created by an experienced flintknapper.

12pm - 4pm: Experience traditional tools and technologies humans have used since time immemorial. Demonstrators will be at the Plankhouse showing various traditional skills found both around the world and in Indigenous cultures of the Lower Columbia River.

Carving, Weaving, and Native Art Design demonstrations by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Lifeways students
Chinuk Wawa, the heritage language of Chinookan Peoples
Cordage Making              
Atlatl Throwing          
Friction Fire        
Flintknapping
Natural Paints and Pigments

12:00pm: Naturalist Led Hike "Bird Language" - join us for a hike directed towards opening up participant's eyes to the world of Bird Language. Learn how to use bird calls and behavior to discover what is happening in the environment around you. 

2:00 pm: Naturalist Led Hike "A Walk through the Oaks" - join a us for a hike down the Oaks to Wetlands Trail and learn about how the Native Peoples of this area have been taking care of Oak and other Refuge ecosystems since time immemorial.

You can also check out the ample wildlife watching opportunities on the River 'S' Unit Auto Tour Driving Route.

Cost:   Refuge admission is $3 per vehicle

For more information: Check the Friends website ridgefieldfriends.org for maps of Refuge trails or contact Plankhouse Director Sarah Hill at sarah_hill@fws.gov or call (360) 887-4106.

For wheelchair access to this event, please contact Sarah prior to the event date. 

H3 is a new collaborative program between the OSU Extension 4-H Program, the Oregon Master Naturalist Program, and the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. On the second Saturday of each month, a Master Naturalist will lead a nature walk in a metro region natural area. These events are open to all ages and levels of naturalist experience. All nature walks will start at the new Washington County Extension Service Education Center (ESEC) at 9am and will carpool to the natural area. This walk will focus on mushrooms at a TBD location. 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Follow this link to the registration page. 

Clark County Parks and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership will be joining forces to participate in Columbia Riverkeepers' "Love Your Columbia" event. We will be cleaning up the beach at Vancouver Lake Park, the Flushing Channel and Blurock Landing.

Fun for groups, families and individuals. Pre-registration is required. To register click this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beach-clean-up-at-vancouver-lake-registration-26227973575

This event is sponsored by the City of Vancouver, Clark County, and Port of Vancouver USA.

We provide: Garbage bags and gloves to those who need them. Light refreshments will be provided.

What to wear/bring: Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and other weather-appropriate clothing. If you have gloves and a water bottle, please bring them.

Where to meet? Volunteers will meet at Vancouver Lake Park, 6801 NW Lower River Road in the grassy area next to the main restrooms. Signs will direct you to our white canopy and sign-in table. After a brief safety orientation, volunteers will break into groups to pick up litter at the different locations.

Questions?

Please contact the project coordinators at karen.llewellyn@clark.wa.gov or 360-397-6118 ext. 1627 or sdumont@estuarypartnership.org or (503) 226-1565 ext. 245.