About the film:

Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.

When: Tuesday, June 25th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm

Where: Columbia Room at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Event Schedule:

4:30pm – Doors Open

4:45pm – Pizza

5:15pm – Film Starts

Pizza will be provided through a generous discount from the Piehole Pizzeria including Gluten Friendly/Vegan options. A water station will also be available. Please help us reduce waste by bringing your own water bottle. 

Learn more about the film and watch a trailer here.

Please register here.

This film series was made possible by our partners at Clark County Green Neighbors. Thank you to our partnering sponsor, PeaceHealth.

This Recycling Beyond the Curb workshop covers a variety of recycling opportunities beyond the basics of curbside recycling. Discover recycling and reuse options available locally for plastic bags, appliances, bulky items and more! Learn how to identify Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and then how to safely dispose of this material in Clark County.

Please note that prior attendance in Recycling 101 is required for this free class. Sign up today.

Consider staying for a Bonus Organics 101 class from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

These classes are offered through a partnership with Vancouver Solid Waste, Clark County Green Neighbors and Waste Connections.

As the summer sun sets and the heat dissipates, movement begins along the water’s edge. Join a Water Center educator to explore the twilight in and around the Columbia River and its wetlands. Look for signs of animals, learn about plants, look for bats, and identify the twilight stars and planets that appear in the early evening sky.

Expect to walk 2 miles on uneven, sandy beaches and along paved pathways. Trail not suitable for strollers. Binoculars available to borrow. Walk is suitable for ages 6 and older.

Registration is required. Sign up today: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/twilight-tuesday/

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Contact: Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us

Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener program for an On-the-Road-Tour and leave the driving to us! Our tour includes two spectacular locations. The Rogerson Clematis Garden is located at Lusher Farm in West Linn. Our 2-hour visit there will include a tour of the gardens and greenhouse and an opportunity to explore the charming farm and purchase plants. Next up is lunch at Dub’s Tavern in Tualatin, where we'll dine in the patio area.
Our second destination of the day is Elk Rock Garden at Bishop's Close and Lady McDonald's Garden located three doors down, in the Dunthorpe area of Portland. Our host promises many rare trees and plants. (In 2016, The Portland Garden Club submitted extensive written and photographic documentation of the garden which it nominated for designation as a Rare Plant Garden by the Smithsonian.
Vans depart Enterprise at 8:30 sharp and return at 4:30pm. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/895569280827?aff=oddtdtcreator by June 17. Cost: $35. Contact: Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu/ 564-397-5738. Visit us online at https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/community-education/workshops-events/.

Explore Vancouver Lake from a whole new perspective! Join the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Vancouver’s Water Center education staff for a free family-friendly canoe paddle aboard 29-foot, 14-passenger Big Canoes! Glide past shore birds, look for signs of beaver activity, and learn about the Columbia River ecosystem from seasoned paddle guides and educators.

Plan to paddle for 1 to 1.5 hours in Estuary Partnership’s Big Canoes along with other participants, and walk under 1/4 of a mile on gravel, muddy/sandy beaches, and uneven terrain. Paddlers must be able to step down 2.5 feet into the canoe and sit on a wooden bench without back support for the duration of the paddle program. Big Canoe paddles are suitable for ages 6 and older. Previous paddling experience is not required!

Advanced registration is required and space is limited. Sign up today: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/vancouver-lake-community-paddle-trip-2/

You will receive a confirmation letter with full event details, meeting location, and how to prepare for your event after registration. If you need to cancel, please do so at your earliest convenience to allow your spot to be filled by someone on the waitlist.

Who can paddle?

Big Canoe trips are suitable for ages 6 and older.
Previous paddling experience is not necessary.
Paddlers must step down 2.5 feet into the canoe and sit on a wooden bench without back support for 1.5 hours.
Do I need any equipment or special gear?

Please come prepared for the weather with raingear or a hat and sunscreen/sun protection.
Personal flotation devices (PFD’s) in youth – XXL are provided.
This paddle trip will depart from a small sand patch and not a dock so waterproof shoes or sandals are recommended. Old tennis shoes work great, too.
Can I bring my camera or cell phone?

Yes. Be advised that we cannot guarantee the safety of electronic devices and do not offer dry bags. Occasional splashes and rain make the bottom of the boat wet, but typically gear in a pocket will stay dry.
How safe are paddle trips?

Safety is always our first priority. Our guides are trained in on-water rescue, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.
Water activities carry inherent risk; guides take precautions to ensure a safe paddling experience.
See our safety protocols or contact us for more information.

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Contact: Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us

Biochar Burn Demonstration:
Arrive promptly at 8am to begin the setup for the biochar burn demo led by Steve Thalberg
Bring leather gloves, hat, eyewear, and cotton clothes (no polyester)
Subject to cancellation, if it is a windy day or there is a burn ban in place

Small Acreage Woodland Tour:
The land tour will take place after the burn demo, beginning sometime between 11am-2pm.  (Event will end by 3 pm at the latest)
This tour will cover the topics of small acreage woodland management, NRCS grants for woodlands, and water quality best management practices.
This tour will be led by small acreage woodland steward Steve Thalberg.

Join the Water Center for our Summer BioBlitz! Volunteers will use the iNaturalist app to catalog plants, insects, birds, moss, lichen, animal tracks, and anything else we see in the area.

Registration is required. Sign up today: https://forms.office.com/g/MmAT17QKUe

Únete al Proyecto de Abejas de Vancouver en un paseo natural en español de 11 a.m. a 12:15 p.m. Se requiere registro. Por favor, regístrese aquí: https://forms.office.com/g/MmAT17QKUe

The BioBlitz helps us monitor species in our area to understand who is here, when they are here and their movement patterns. With the help of community scientists like you, we will document as many species as we can.

The Bioblitz is family-friendly, and you don’t need to be an expert naturalist or have experience with iNaturalist.  We will have local experts who will lead your group to help with identification and data submission. Guided walks are appropriate for ages 6 and older.

Partners from Vancouver Audubon, Vancouver Bee Project and City of Vancouver Solid Waste will be on hand with education tables for registered participants, so come early and stay late to enjoy interacting with our partners.

Walk Themes: 

Bird Walk:  Join Vancouver Audubon to help document the different bird species at the Water Center.  This group will explore the areas around the Water Center and the wetlands to document birds by sight and sound.

Insect and Flower Walk:  Join a naturalist and professor from Clark College to take a deep dive into the world of terrestrial insects.  This group will explore the edges of our gardens to find and identify all the insects on the plants.  This group will also help identify the flowering plants in our garden spaces.

General Nature Walk: Join a naturalist from the Clark Conservation District on a walk to identify the little things that often get overlooked, including birds, moss, fungi and more!

Paseo Natural en Español: Únete al Proyecto de Abejas de Vancouver en un paseo natural en español alrededor del Water Center. Aprende sobre las plantas y animales que viven alrededor del Centro y los humedales, y ayuda a identificarlos. Este paseo está dirigido a hablantes nativos de español y será guiado por Almendra Velazquez-Perez del Proyecto de Abejas de Vancouver.

Bee Walk: Join the Vancouver Bee Project to look for all things bees in our gardens and along the trails.

Plant Walk:  Join the City’s NatureSpaces program to help catalog and document all the plants along the trails at the Center and along the river.

Accessibility:  Substrate and terrain are variable for each walk.  The bird walk will be on paved pathways and off-trail on sandy beach areas.  The insect and bee walks will be on paved paths, gravel paths and grassy edges.  General nature walks (both Spanish and English) will be on paved pathways and sandy beach trails.  The plant walk will be on paved and gravel pathways and may be off-trail on sloped, dirt trails and sandy beaches.

Detailed logistics will be sent to all registered participants.

If this event becomes full and you see that registrations are no longer accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Contact: Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us

You're invited! Join us for an in-person Repair event!

Bring your broken household items to be fixed by experienced volunteer fixers – for free! All items must be small enough to be easily carried by one person. NO microwaves, gas engines, or holiday string lights!

What we repair:
• Appliances: toasters, mixers, lamps, etc.
• Vintage radios (Partnered with Northwest Vintage Radio Society)
• Sharpening: knives, scissors, pruners, etc. (We cannot sharpen anything with multiple teeth such as a saw blade, hedge trimmers, or chainsaw blades.)
• Sewing: rips, hemming, mending, zippers, etc.
• Other: jewelry, home decor, etc.
• Wheels: bicycles, wheelchairs, walkers, etc.

Please pre-register your item to be repaired here:
https://www.columbiasprings.org/repair_registration

Questions? Send us a message at repairclarkcounty@gmail.com