Events under 'Outdoor Activities'

Come learn about how to monitor stream health to help protect our watersheds in SW Washington.

Water quality and natural resource specialist, Benjamin Joner, of Clark County Public Health will demonstrate and discuss water quality monitoring techniques on-site at Mill Creek, near WSU-Vancouver in Vancouver, WA. We will discuss what to look for when determining if a waterway health and ways to improve water quality. There will be a short (less than 1/2 mile) hike from the parking lot down to the creek.

Follow this link to learn more and reserve a spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stream-health-monitoring-site-visit-tickets-471531883557

Gather along the shores of the Columbia River just east of the I-205 bridge to witness the return of dozens of chum salmon, spawning before your eyes. This tour requires a minimal amount of walking down a dirt path to the viewing platform.
Duration: About 60 minutes

Visit Columbia Land Trust to learn more about the events.

Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 9am
Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 11:30am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 9am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 11:00am
Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 3pm

Gather along the shores of the Columbia River just east of the I-205 bridge to witness the return of dozens of chum salmon, spawning before your eyes. This tour requires a minimal amount of walking down a dirt path to the viewing platform.
Duration: About 60 minutes

Visit Columbia Land Trust to learn more about the events.

Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 9am
Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 11:30am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 9am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 11:00am
Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 3pm

Leader: Cindy McCormack

Meeting time: 8:00am

Meeting location: Frenchman’s Bar County Park, center
south lot

Register: none required

Chickadees, Eagles, and Ducks, Oh My! The Vancouver Audubon Society’s Young Birder’s Club is hosting a bird walk led by expert birder Cindy McCormack. Join us on Saturday, December 3rd at 8 a.m. and Frenchman’s Bar to meet some incredible birds! We’ll walk around, learn about and see the local avifauna, and meet with fellow birders. Open to anyone 10-18 years old plus parent/guardian. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions. We will have binoculars and spotting scopes to share.

For field trip details and requirements, follow this link: https://vancouveraudubon.org/vancouver-audubon-field-trip-guidelines/

Mulching Work Party and Nature Walk

Join the City of Vancouver's Volunteer Programs department, the Water Resources Education Center, and our partners at the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group for a morning of mulching and removing invasive plants and finish the day with an educational nature walk! Saturday, December 3rd from 9am to 12pm, we will meet at the NE 98th Ave entrance.

Training, gloves, tools, water, and snacks will be provided! This opportunity is family-friendly and great for teens - people of all ages are welcome! Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. We will be walking along uneven paths and bending, stooping, and lifting, but we will have options for varying levels of ability.

Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form.

If you have questions that are not answered in the FAQ's below, please contact [email protected] or 360-487-8344.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please RSVP with this link. Advanced registration is required and space is limited.

Gather along the shores of the Columbia River just east of the I-205 bridge to witness the return of dozens of chum salmon, spawning before your eyes. This tour requires a minimal amount of walking down a dirt path to the viewing platform.
Duration: About 60 minutes

Visit Columbia Land Trust to learn more about the events.

Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 9am
Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 11:30am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 9am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 11:00am
Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 3pm

Gather along the shores of the Columbia River just east of the I-205 bridge to witness the return of dozens of chum salmon, spawning before your eyes. This tour requires a minimal amount of walking down a dirt path to the viewing platform.
Duration: About 60 minutes

Visit Columbia Land Trust to learn more about the events.

Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 9am
Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 11:30am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 9am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 11:00am
Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 3pm

Gather along the shores of the Columbia River just east of the I-205 bridge to witness the return of dozens of chum salmon, spawning before your eyes. This tour requires a minimal amount of walking down a dirt path to the viewing platform.
Duration: About 60 minutes

Visit Columbia Land Trust to learn more about the events.

Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 9am
Thursday, Dec. 1 @ 11:30am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 9am
Tuesday, Dec. 6 @ 11:00am
Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 3pm

Volunteer at Behrens Woods

Autumn is here and it’s a great time to get out into the woods and pull invasive plants! Join City staff from the Naturespaces Program and volunteers from the Adopt-A-Park prorgram on Saturday, December 10th from 9am to 11:30am for a morning of pulling English Ivy in Behrens Woods Urban Nature Area, with a focus on removing ivy from on and around trees to minimize impacts to forest health. Behrens Woods is a fairly healthy site in the City, and continuing to control English Ivy on site will support the plant understory continue to thrive and provide vital habitat and ecosystem services.

Event will happen rain or shine! Training, gloves and tools, and snacks will be provided. Ivy pulling will take place primarily off of established trails, and the terrain will be uneven and slightly sloped. Activities will include cutting ivy off of tree trunks, bending over to pull ivy free from the soil, and shoveling and spreading bark mulch. 

Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Advanced registration is required and space is limited. To find the minor consecnt form and to RSVP, follow this link: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/cmo/page/volunteer-ivy-pull-native-plant-talk-behrens-woods

If you have any questions, contact [email protected] or 360-487-8344. 

Our final event along Burnt Bridge Creek before the new year!

What: Volunteer Tree Planting on Burnt Bridge Creek
When: Saturday, December 10th. 9:00am – 12:00pm
Where: NE 18th Court – Just east of Leverich Park. Head north on NE 15th Ave and turn right onto NE 41st Circle. Follow the signs to the parking lot.

What to bring: Please wear long pants, close-toed shoes, and dress for the weather. Please bring your own snacks and water.  

Before attendance at a volunteer event, please complete the form below and agree to the release of liability and waiver. 

All ages and abilities welcome, but those younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tools and gloves will be provided.

Prior registration is required. Every adult in party needs to fill out separate registration.

All volunteers will self-pre-screen before arriving at a volunteer project location. If you answer “yes” to any of the COVID screening questions, please let us know that you are unable to attend and please stay home.

1) Known exposure in 7 days
2) Temperature taken before event and above 100
3) Not currently feeling well

Contact [email protected] if you have additional questions.

Follow this link to register: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/dsfVyH-khYMYibKdCv2MzA

What: Volunteer Tree Planting

When: Saturday, December 17th. 9:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Behind 4326 S Settler Dr, Ridgefield, WA 98642

What to bring: Please wear long pants, rainboots, waterproof shoes, or shoes you do not mind getting wet (we will be in a wet area) and dress for the weather. Please bring your own snacks and water.  

Before attendance at a volunteer event, please complete the form below and agree to the release of liability and waiver. 

All ages and abilities welcome, but those younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tools and gloves will be provided.

Prior registration is required. Every adult in party needs to fill out separate registration.

All volunteers will self-pre-screen before arriving at a volunteer project location. If you answer “yes” to any of the COVID screening questions, please let us know that you are unable to attend and please stay home.

1) Known exposure in 7 days
2) Temperature taken before event and above 100
3) Not currently feeling well

Contact Micayla Jones at [email protected] if you have additional questions.

Follow this link to register: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/KfggW6phWukfPxWwX-qI7Q

The end of the fall season is a great time to get plants into the ground. Join us for a planting project and general garden cleanup at Vancouver's Water Center. All necessary tools will be provided. Please bring your own garden gloves if you have them. 

Advance registration is required. Event is limited to 15 participants. You will receive a confirmation letter with full volunteer event details and meeting location after registration. 

Register here: Water Center Garden Cleanup and Planting | City of Vancouver, Washington, USA

Join Urban Forestry and volunteers to plant new trees throughout Wy'East Park to restore tree canopy and natural habitat. Volunteers will be planting trees throughout the park and spreading mulch to promote the growth and health of existing trees. Training, gloves, tools, water, and snacks will be provided. Dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

RSVP required for everyone attending. To RSVP, follow this link:

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/volunteer-wyeast-park-tree-planting

Leader: assigned group or sector

Departure time: arranged

Meeting location: arranged

Register: Susan Setterberg call or text: 856-701-2542 or
email [email protected]

Participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count! From December 14 through January 5 each year tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain, and take part in the effort. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longrunning wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action.

Winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere marks the shortest day of the year. After winter solstice, each day will gain more light until we reach the summer solstice in June. Take an afternoon walk along the banks of the Columbia River, watch the sunset in the southwestern sky, and celebrate the winter solstice as it ushers in the return of the light and longer days.

This is a free, all-ages nature walk. Advance registration is required. Program is limited to 15 participants. 

Wednesday, Dec. 21 
3 to 4:30 p.m.
Water Resources Education Center

Register Here: Sunset Solstice Walk | City of Vancouver, Washington, USA

Leader: Cindy McCormack

Meeting time: 9:00am

Meeting location: Frenchman’s Bar, south center parking

Register: [email protected]

Januaryr’s bird walk: Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park

What will your first birds be for 2023? Celebrate the new year with some first-of-year (FOY) birds! We will get to enjoy the Sandhill Cranes and hordes of geese using the fields next to the park and check the treed areas for other great wintering birds (maybe even an owl!). This park has a great variety of habitats with a good mix of wintering species! Be sure to dress for the weather!

For field trip details and requirements, follow this link: https://vancouveraudubon.org/vancouver-audubon-field-trip-guidelines/

What: Volunteer Tree Planting on Burnt Bridge Creek

When: Monday, January 16th. 9:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E 18th St, Vancouver, WA 98661

What to bring: Please wear long pants, close-toed shoes, and dress for the weather. Please bring your own snacks and water.  

Before attendance at a volunteer event, please complete the form below and agree to the release of liability and waiver. 

All ages and abilities welcome, but those younger than 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tools and gloves will be provided.

Prior registration is required. Every adult in party needs to fill out separate registration.

All volunteers will self-pre-screen before arriving at a volunteer project location. If you answer “yes” to any of the COVID screening questions, please let us know that you are unable to attend and please stay home.

1) Known exposure in 7 days
2) Temperature taken before event and above 100
3) Not currently feeling well

Contact [email protected] if you have additional questions.

Follow this link to register: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/kAyzptfEiudEaUqgVVA74A