Registration is required. Sign up here: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/spring-beak-nature-walk/

During spring break, come to the Water Center in search of spring beaks! The birds are becoming active as days get longer. Songs echo through the wetlands, nests are being built, and baby bird season is just around the corner. Take a leisurely spring break walk in search of all the birds that call this water ecosystem home. Binoculars will be on hand for participants to borrow.

This walk is suitable for individuals and families with youth ages 6 and older. All minors should be accompanied by an adult. Expect to walk 1.5 miles on uneven terrain, including sandy beaches, muddy wetlands and paved surfaces.

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

Cooking with Leftovers

Join us for the Cooking with Leftovers event, where special guest presenter Stacey Tigner-Loy from WSU Clark County Extension SNAP-Ed will lead an interactive demonstration that inspires attendees to embrace their culinary creativity and make a positive impact on the environment through mindful purchasing, storing, and cooking.

During this event, we will explore various topics related to conscious consumption, including the importance of meal planning, effective food storage, and creative ways to use leftovers. Stacey will share her innovative approach to cooking with leftovers and how she utilizes creativity to transform leftover ingredients into delicious new meals. We are sure you will be inspired to embrace your culinary creativity and reduce food waste in your kitchen!

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 3

• Time: 6-7:30 PM
• Location: Cascade Park Library
• More information: Conscious Consumption Series: Cooking with Leftovers on a Budget | Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries (librarymarket.com)

Learn more by checking out Stacey’s Cooking with Leftovers Booklet: Cooking with Leftovers Booklet

This Spring Break, serve your community by removing invasive ivy from Marine Park! Activities can include cutting ivy off tree trunks, bending over to pull ivy free from the soil, and shoveling and spreading bark mulch. All tools will be provided.

Please sign up as registration is required and space is limited: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/ivy-removal-at-marine-park-4/

All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

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 Center staff at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111

Join WSU Clark County Master Gardeners and people from across the county and around the world for a day of community service in honor of Cesar Chavez. Chavez was a civil rights, Latino and farm labor leader; a community organizer and social entrepreneur; a champion of militant nonviolent social change; and a crusader for the environment and consumer rights. Help spiff up the Natural Demonstration Garden at Pacific Park on Saturday, April 6 from 10am to 12noon. Tasks will include winter clean up, weeding, pruning and whatever else is needed. Dress for the weather. Bring water. Tools provided. Please register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cesar-chavez-day-service-event-at-pacific-park-natural-demonstration-garden-tickets-857537296137?aff=oddtdtcreator. The park is located at 1515 NE 164th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684. HOWEVER, you will want to enter the property from the entrance located off NE 172nd. That puts you at the NE corner of the park where the demonstration garden is. 

Contact: Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu / 564-397-5738. Visit us online at https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/community-education/workshops-events/. Put on in partnership with Clark County Public Health Green Neighbors Program.

When we hear ‘bee’ we often think of the European honey bee, but there are at least 600-700 species of bees in Washington and Oregon. Native bees are very different, but we know very little about their status. What flowers do they pollinate? Where and when do they nest? How can we use our gardens to support them?

Washington has implemented the Washington Bee Atlas (WaBA) to find out more. It was formed in 2023 and modeled after the successful Oregon Bee Atlas, which has added 220 bee species to their state list! These community science groups train volunteers to collect, pin, and label bee specimens. Many of the volunteers have no science or entomology background. They post data through the app iNaturalist, providing date, location, collector and host plant information. The specimens are then identified by professionals, deposited at WSU or OSU insect collections, and the data made public! This information is highly valuable to conservation efforts of all 600+ species of native bees known to occur in the PNW.

This Science on Tap will talk about native bee biology and general gardening guidelines, then give an introduction to Washington Bee Atlas and how it all works.

Dr. Karen Wright got her Master’s degree at OSU in Entomology (working on true bugs and beetles in hazelnuts), then moved to New Mexico where she started her career working on native bees. She developed a collection of over 600 species of bees from central New Mexico, and the long-term study is still ongoing with over 20 years of data. She got her PhD from the University of New Mexico on the Evolution of Diet Breadth in Melissodes bees and was curator of the insect collection at Texas A&M University for six years until being hired to develop and manage the Washington Bee Atlas. She has happily relocated to Yakima, Washington with her dogs and husband.

General Admission: $20

For registration questions or to request reduced-priced tickets if the admission is a hardship for you, click the link below.

https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/contact/

Registration is required. Sign up here: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/spring-beak-nature-walk-2/

Join Vancouver Bee Project and Water Center staff in caring for our newly planted meadow. Grass was removed and wildflower seed sowed last fall. Spring is the time to assess the project and clean out any unwanted plant species from the meadow. We will also have projects for volunteers to help keep our Backyard Habitat Certified gardens in tip-top shape. Volunteer activities may include weeding, mulching, trimming and raking pathways. All necessary tools will be provided.

All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

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

Beautiful Savior Lutheran is hosting a shred day fundraiser for their 30th year of the Mexico Mission of building homes in Tijuana. 

Requesting $5 donation, 2 box limit. Paper Only: Bring documents in file/bankers boxes or Paper Grocery Bags)
Papers with staples, paper clips, and binder clips are allowed
No plastic covers, 3-ring binders or spiral notebooks

10am-1pm (or until truck is full)

There’s nothing better than a bowl of just-picked, sweet, juicy strawberries harvested from your own garden. Growing strawberries is something you can do without a lot of time or effort. Join WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners for an introductory workshop on growing strawberries.  The class will provide an overview of the three different types of strawberries followed by planting and care techniques for each. Common pests and diseases will be discussed, and storage and preservation will be covered (this portion is indoors; masks are welcome). Participants will learn how to plant (and take home) a bareroot strawberry plant. The class will be held outdoors and will require walking short distances on uneven ground. Those with mobility issues may drive into the site. Dress for the weather and bring water. Space is limited and participants will work in small groups. No admission without advance registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grow-your-own-strawberries-workshop-tickets-768665979637. Cost $10. For more information: (564) 397-5738 or Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu. Learn more at  http://extension.wsu.edu/clark/gardening/workshops-events/

Join Vancouver’s Water Center and volunteer to pick up litter from the beaches around Marine Park and prevent litter from entering the Columbia River. All tools will be provided. Expect to walk 1.5 miles on uneven terrain, sandy and muddy beach areas.

Please sign up as registration is required and space is limited: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/beach-cleanup-at-marine-park-3/

All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

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 Center staff at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111

Have you ever wondered how old the fish are out in our round ponds, or what wildlife can be found around our site? Learn all about what Columbia Springs has to offer during one of our guided tours!

Let us know you’re coming in advance by emailing apryl@columbiasprings.org.

Wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather!

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Questions?
Kristine Jacobs
events@columbiasprings.org
360-882-0936 x 230

Learn how to compost using red worms to turn food scraps into all natural fertilizer for your garden. This is a great alternative to backyard composting, especially if you are tight on space. (Participants are eligible for a worm bin, bedding, and worms at no cost).  

Register here: https://clarkcountycomposts.org/workshops#workshops

Are you interested in supporting pollinators in your garden but concerned about the cost of buying plants? You can propagate pollinator plants from those in the gardens of your friends and neighbors! Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners for an introductory workshop with information and instruction on basic plant propagation. Participants will propagate one plant to take home.

Following the 75-minute workshop, attendees will be asked to provide 45 minutes of service in the demonstration garden. The event will go on rain or shine! Please dress for the weather, bring water, and plan to get a bit dirty.  

April 18 from 10am to 12:15. Location: East Vancouver. Specific location provided upon registration. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-propagation-plants-for-pollinators-workshop-tickets-781549153557?aff=oddtdtcreator. Free. This workshop is put in on collaboration with Clark County Green Neighbors Program. Contact: erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu / 564-397-5738. Visit us online at https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/community-education/workshops-events/.   

Do you often find yourself unsure about what items can be recycled? Here's your chance to get all your recycling questions answered! Join us for an informative workshop on recycling and curbside composting.

During this workshop, you will learn valuable tips on what can be recycled in your curbside bin and gain insights into the recycling process. Discover what happens to items after they are picked up and understand the importance of proper recycling practices.

Don't miss this opportunity to increase your recycling knowledge and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Join us at the Cascade Park Library on Thursday, April 18, and together, let's make a positive impact on our community.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, April 18th
• Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
• Location: Cascade Park Library

https://bit.ly/3P8886

Join Second Mile Marketplace for their third annual plant sale!

Shop veggies, seeds, flowers and locally made craft foods

Participating farms include Coyote Ridge Ranch, Garden Delights Herb Farm, Urban Snail Farm, Sweet Bloom Farm, Baur's Corner Farm and plenty more!

The Heritage Farm compost demo site is located at 1919 NE 78th Street, WA 98665. 

Register here: https://clarkcountycomposts.org/workshops#workshops

Fourth Plain Forward will celebrate Earth Day from 1 to 4 p.m. April 20 with the installation of “Mother Camas,” carved by Yakama Nation artist Toma Villa, at the intersection of St. Johns Boulevard and Q Street. Mother Camas depicts the narrative of Grandmother Camas, who transformed herself into camas bulbs to save her children from starvation. The event will include free food, vendors and family activities hosted by Columbia Play Project.

 

Would you like to know the difference between a wasp that might sting and those that are unable or unlikely to sting?  How about do-it-yourself wasp management options that help you reduce the risk of being stung while also minimizing impact on the environment?       

Attend this seminar to learn more about what you can do before you call a pest management professional or apply a pesticide.  We will go over the physical appearance and biological differences between common wasps around the home and yard, and effective methods for homeowners to reduce encounters with stinging wasps.   

Emphasis will be on integrated pest management for homeowners: non-chemical options to prevent and suppress common stinging wasps, and the judicious use of least-toxic chemical options as a last resort. Saturday, April 20th from 3 to 4:45pm at Three Creeks Library: 800 NE Tenney Rd, Vancouver, WA 98685. Free. No registration required.

About the presenter: Jennifer L. Snyder is an entomologist by training and profession.  She has over 10 years professional experience working with schools, Native American groups, homeowners, and communities on pests in the built environment.   Her past employment includes Cooperative Extension in Arizona and Oregon, the pest management industry, and non-profit organizations.  Jennifer earned her Master’s in Entomology from Oregon State University.  This workshop is put on in collaboration with Clark County Public Works Green Neighbors Program. Contact: Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu  / 564-397-5738. Visit us online at https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/community-education/workshops-events/.    

Join Vancouver Audubon at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Carty Unit) for tabling, guided bird walks, and family-friendly activities to celebrate Earth Day 2024!

We will be set up from 8 am until 2 pm, and will lead bird walks at 8, 9, and 10 am. Scope stations will be set up in the refuge with expert birders there to point out must-see species. Binoculars are available to those who do not have their own.

There will be activities for the kids, too! Games, fun tabling activities, and a build-your-own birdhouse station will all be present.

This event is free to attend (there is a nominal $3 parking fee, which may be waived if you cannot afford it). Everyone is welcome, all levels of experience.

Location: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Carty Unit)

Google Map location:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ridgefield+National+Wildlife+Refuge/@45.830613,-122.7498815,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x549452f408e66ae7:0x5104d9e0658ac9cc!8m2!3d45.8306093!4d-122.7473066!16zL20vMDc3dnRo?entry=ttu

About the film:

What started as one man’s quixotic dream has turned into reality. For the past three years, the 65-foot schooner, Apollonia, has been delivering goods up and down the Hudson River by sail sans fossil fuels – a throwback to a time when there were 1,200 such boats on the river each day. It turns out buyers prefer the non-polluting, anti-amazon way of making deliveries.

When: Tuesday, April 23rd 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.

Enjoy a spring nature walk along the middle section of the Burnt Bridge Creek watershed. Learn about stormwater management and how the land is being restored with native plantings. Explore the ecology of the watershed while learning about the geology, native plants, animals and birds of the area. Expect to walk 1.5-2 miles on paved surfaces. This walk is geared toward adults and youth ages 6 and older.

Sign up soon. Registration is required and space is limited: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/burnt-bridge-creek-nature-walk-2/

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 Center staff at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111

Learn how to build and plant a raised bed garden by turning urban wastes into rich soil. No need to pay for and lug bags of garden soil. No tilling, sod removal or turning required. Materials are free if you are willing to scavenge! Don't worry if your soil is clay, sand, grass or weeds - this method goes right over the top. Optional Field Training TBD to construct a lasagna compost garden with experts.  

Register here: https://clarkcountycomposts.org/workshops#workshops

Join via Zoom.

Last Earth Day, Watershed Alliance volunteer, Al Spector, let hundreds of bread bags, cereal box liners, empty cheese packets, and pieces of Styrofoam pile up in his home — and transformed them into Pacific Garbage Patch Babies! These quirky sculptures were designed to help raise awareness of what we consume and how our actions impact our waterways.

The Pacific Garbage Patch Babies will be at the Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary on Thursday, April 25th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Al will discuss his one-year sculpture making experiment, share ocean fun-facts, and help attendees create their own mini-babies that they can take home.

We recommend participants be 12 and over. Tickets are $10 per person to help cover the cost of materials for your take home craft! 

 

What: Earth Day craft-making

When: Thursday, April 25th 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Where: Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary, 109 W 7th St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Parking: There is street parking in the surrounding area. Street parking is free in downtown Vancouver after 6:00pm.

Translation: A Spanish translator will be available at this event.

 

The Pacific Garbage Patch Babies will be available for adoption at the Teahouse. Attendees will be able visit the sculptures, and for a rehoming fee, take one of these babies home with a fun adoption certificate! This rehoming fee is considered a tax-deductible donation to the Watershed Alliance and will help further our mission.

 

Reserve your spot here!

 

Thank you to the Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary for donating space for this event!

Contact Micayla Jones, micayla@thewatershedalliance.org, with questions.

***

 

El pasado Dia de la Tierra, Al Spector, voluntario de Watershed Alliance, empezó a juntar las bolsas de pan, los empaques de los cereales y piezas de unicel en su casa para transformarlos en  ¡muñecos “Garbage Patch” del pacifico! Estas extravagantes esculturas fueron diseñadas para ayudar a crear conciencia sobre lo que consumimos y cómo nuestras acciones impactan nuestras vías fluviales.

 

Las figuras “Garbage Patch” del Pacifico estarán en Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary el jueves 25 de abril de 6:30pm a 8:30pm para exposición. Al nos hablará sobre su experimento de creación de esculturas que le tomó un año, compartirá datos interesantes sobre el océano y ayudará a los asistentes a crear sus propias figuras que podrán llevarse a casa.

 

 

Sugerimos que los participantes que quieran hacer su manualidad sean mayores de 12 años. Habrá un costo de $10 para cubrir los materiales de la manualidad que te llevarás a casa. 

 

 

Actividad: Elaboración de Manualidad del Dia de la Tierra

Lugar: Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary, 109 W 7th St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Estacionamiento: Se pueden estacionar sobre las calles aledañas. El estacionamiento en la calle es gratuito en el centro de Vancouver después de las 6:00 pm

Traducciones: En este evento contaremos con un traductor(a) en Español

 

Las “figuras Garbage Patch del Pacifico” estarán disponibles para adopción en Teahouse. Los asistentes podrán visitar las esculturas y, por una tarifa de “nueva domiciliacion”, ¡llevarse a casa uno de estos bebés con un divertido certificado de adopción! Esta tarifa de “adopción” se convertirá en una donación para Watershed Alliance que es deducible de impuestos y ayudará a sostener nuestra misión por el cuidado de las cuencas hídricas.

 

Reserva tu visita aqui!

 

Para contestar cualquier duda envíanos un correo electrónico a info@thewatershedalliance.org 

 

Agradecemos a Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary por donar su espacio para llevar a cabo este evento.

Join us April 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Clark Public Utilities Home & Garden Idea Fair—Southwest Washington’s premiere home and garden show!

No matter if you’re looking for budget-friendly solutions for your starter house, ideas to take your dream home to the next level, searching for the perfect plants to make your garden really pop, or craving a treat from the local farmer’s market, the show has solutions for every person, every budget and every home.

Families can spend an entire day talking and shopping with vendors, getting tips from DIY demonstrations, shopping one of the largest plant sales in the region and kids can play and learn in our Power Zone area.

Held at the Clark County Event Center, the Home & Garden Idea Fair has become a much-anticipated community institution in Clark County. Every year, upwards of 15,000 people attend the show over two days. If you’ve never been, come down and discover what the fun’s all about.

NatureScaping of SW Washington is holding our annual Bare Root Trees, Shrubs & Perennial fundraiser in the field behind the Wildlife Botanical Gardens located at 11000 NE 149th Street, Brush Prairie on Saturday, April 27th from 9am-4:00pm and Sunday April 28th from 10am to 3pm.

 

Our success depends upon our volunteers; we still have some positions to fill on either/both days--please consider helping. This is our big fundraising event of the year to maintain our programs, and it takes lots of volunteers before and during the sale event! 

To volunteer we are using SignUpGenius.

Dates and shift times for the following tasks are listed on the SignUp Genius link above.

Here is a brief listing/description of some of the various jobs we will need to fill on sale days. As you can infer, some jobs are more physical than others.

Greeter/Check In:  Distribute plant lists, guide new customers to the sales area, check for receipts. Check in volunteers at the beginning of shifts.

Field Helper: Help customers with selections, help pull plants from trenches, keep rows neat by moving soil back into trenches after plants are removed. Master Gardeners will be onsite to help answer customer questions on tree/shrub care.
Holding area: "Check in" and hold plant loads while people continue to shop
Bagger: Dip bare root trees in water, place into bags.
Checker: Write up sales slips for cashiers.  All pricing is pre-printed, just mark quantities.

Volunteers working a 4 hour shift will receive a complimentary bare root tree, shrub (only those varieties with quantities of 10 or more) or perennial.

 

Confirmed volunteers on SignUp Genius will receive further information in early April on volunteers’ orientation, job descriptions and free plant pick up.

Thank you and if you have any questions please contact Meredith Hardin, President at: volunteers@naturescaping.org 

Join us April 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Clark Public Utilities Home & Garden Idea Fair—Southwest Washington’s premiere home and garden show!

No matter if you’re looking for budget-friendly solutions for your starter house, ideas to take your dream home to the next level, searching for the perfect plants to make your garden really pop, or craving a treat from the local farmer’s market, the show has solutions for every person, every budget and every home.

Families can spend an entire day talking and shopping with vendors, getting tips from DIY demonstrations, shopping one of the largest plant sales in the region and kids can play and learn in our Power Zone area.

Held at the Clark County Event Center, the Home & Garden Idea Fair has become a much-anticipated community institution in Clark County. Every year, upwards of 15,000 people attend the show over two days. If you’ve never been, come down and discover what the fun’s all about.

NatureScaping of SW Washington is holding our annual Bare Root Trees, Shrubs & Perennial fundraiser in the field behind the Wildlife Botanical Gardens located at 11000 NE 149th Street, Brush Prairie on Saturday, April 27th from 9am-4:00pm and Sunday April 28th from 10am to 3pm.

 

Our success depends upon our volunteers; we still have some positions to fill on either/both days--please consider helping. This is our big fundraising event of the year to maintain our programs, and it takes lots of volunteers before and during the sale event! 

To volunteer we are using SignUpGenius.

Dates and shift times for the following tasks are listed on the SignUp Genius link above.

Here is a brief listing/description of some of the various jobs we will need to fill on sale days. As you can infer, some jobs are more physical than others.

Greeter/Check In:  Distribute plant lists, guide new customers to the sales area, check for receipts. Check in volunteers at the beginning of shifts.

Field Helper: Help customers with selections, help pull plants from trenches, keep rows neat by moving soil back into trenches after plants are removed. Master Gardeners will be onsite to help answer customer questions on tree/shrub care.
Holding area: "Check in" and hold plant loads while people continue to shop
Bagger: Dip bare root trees in water, place into bags.
Checker: Write up sales slips for cashiers.  All pricing is pre-printed, just mark quantities.

Volunteers working a 4 hour shift will receive a complimentary bare root tree, shrub (only those varieties with quantities of 10 or more) or perennial.

 

Confirmed volunteers on SignUp Genius will receive further information in early April on volunteers’ orientation, job descriptions and free plant pick up.

Thank you and if you have any questions please contact Meredith Hardin, President at: volunteers@naturescaping.org 

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.