Learn More About Our Slough - and Have FUN!!

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I have been to many slough activities over the years, and have enjoyed all of them.....

It's Paddling Season! UPCOMING EVENTS Bring Your Own Boat Paddle Thursday April 21, 5:30pm - 7:30pm Load up your canoe or kayak for a springtime paddle!  In this guided trip we will go in search of bald eagles, otters, turtles, and osprey. Suitable for adults and teens 12+ $5 suggested donation You must bring your own canoe or kayak and life jacket to participate in this paddle trip. NO equipment is available to borrow from the Council. Register For BYOB Paddle Stewardship Saturday: Wilkes Creek Headwaters Saturday April 23, 9:00am - 12:00pm This year we will celebrate Earth Day by helping to restore this valuable headwaters habitat. Wilkes Creek runs directly into the Columbia Slough, so caring for the creek directly affects the health and water quality in the Slough. Join us! Register For Stewardship Saturday Tadpole Tales Series Monday May 2, 10:00am - 11:00am Children aged 3-5 with their parents are invited to a short story and guided nature walk. Watch birds fly overhead, search for hidden animal homes, and learn about local trees and flowers. Themes change weekly. Event runs rain or shine. Register For Tadpole Tales Cycle the Well Field Saturday May 21, 8:45am - 1:30pm Bring your bike and your friends for a tour of Portland’s Columbia South Shore Well Field! Experts from the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council will lead this 16-mile trip on easy terrain. Learn about the safety, functionality and history of Portland’s underground drinking water system, which supplements the main supply from Bull Run. Helmets required; light refreshments provided; recommended for ages 12+. Free - pre-registration required. Register for Cycle the Well Field NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH CSWC Bilingual Outreach and Events Intern (Paid) Strengthen your connection to the community this Spring and Summer with an internship at the Columbia Slough! This position gives you the opportunity to work with various aspects of a successful non-profit organization while enjoying time outdoors in canoes and kayaks! Help us connect the community with the watershed through outreach events, paddling events and organization management. Learning and Benefits: This position provides experience in event planning, multicultural communications, community outreach, and canoeing. The Intern will gain familiarity with the workings of a successful watershed council and small non-profit organization.  To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to Karen Carrillo at karen.carrillo@columbiaslough.org by 5:00PM on Monday, April 18, 2016. For more details, see full position description. COMMUNITY UPDATES Do You Shop at New Seasons?  Now you can donate your 5 cent reusable bag refund to the Columbia Slough!  We're so excited to have been chosen as a partner for the Bag It Forward program at the New Seaons University Park location.  Click here to learn more. Stories of our Watershed Film Event Wednesday April 13, 7:30pm - 9:30am The 11 films selected for this event represent a wide range of river systems from the Pacific Northwest to the Middle East.  Selected films share stories from a variety of conservation organizations, tribes, watershed councils, agencies and filmmakers. Explore the selected films in the list below. Event features include an opportunity to meet the film makers and organizations that developed the films, prize drawings, and much more! Location: Hollywood Theater 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR Click here to see the films and learn more. April Bird Walk at Nadaka Friday April 8, 8:00am - 9:00am Join Friends of Nadaka and the Audubon Society of Portland for our monthly guided Bird Walk at Nadaka Nature Park. This is a family-friendly event open to beginners and advance bird watchers. If you have your own binoculars, great! If not, we will have some for you to borrow. This is a great event to help you brush up on your birding basics and identification. Location: Nadaka Nature Park 17615 NE Glisan St. Portland OR 97230 More information: Monica McAllister at 503-956-8558 or monica@friendsofnadaka.org. Interested?  Email Monica McAllister at monica@friendsofnadaka.org

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Slough Events

Learn about the Columbia Slough at Slough 101! Saturday March 12, 9:00am - 12:45pm Do you live, work or play near the Columbia Slough? This FREE hands-on workshop will explore the unique character, challenges and opportunities of the Columbia Slough and its Watershed.  You’ll learn about soil & sediment in relation to water quality, how the Slough has changed over time, and what that means for fish, wildlife, people and businesses.  Open to everyone interested in learning more about the Columbia Slough Watershed, click here to learn more. Explore Macroinvertebrates (water bugs) that live in the Slough. Simulate and predict aquifer conditions with an interactive groundwater model. Test water quality through dissolved oxygen, temperature, and PH levels. Tour the water pollution control lab facility. Questions? Contact Karen Carrillo at (503) 281-1132 or karen.carrillo@columbiaslough.org Register For Slough 101 Learn How to Build Your Own Rain Garden at Rain Gardens 101! Saturday March 26, 9:00am - 11:30am Learn how to build your own rain garden! We’ll explore the critical role rain gardens can play in urban stream restoration, and how they add beautiful landscaping to your yard at the same time. You will learn how to assess your site to determine the best location and size, calculate impervious surfaces, determine soil suitability, choose appropriate plants, and how to maintain your new rain garden. You will also receive a comprehensive manual that guides you through all the steps in constructing your rain garden. The workshop includes a short tour of a nearby rain garden. Questions? Contact Karen Carrillo at (503) 281-1132 or karen.carrillo@columbiaslough.org Register For Rain Gardens 101 Join our Paddle Team! Help Lead Trips at our Twilight Paddles, Slough School Paddles, and our Summer Festivals. Each year the Columbia Slough Watershed Council hosts dozens of educational paddling events that expose adults and children to the wonders of the Columbia Slough. We’re seeking novice to advanced paddlers who would like to volunteer to assist with our paddling events. Orientation Part 1 will focus on the logistical aspects of this volunteer team. Orientation Part 2 on the following Saturday will include on-water skill building. Volunteers must attend each session, click here to learn more. Orientation Part 1: Thursday April 07, 5:00pm - 7:00pm Orientation Part 2: Saturday April 09, 9:00am - 1:00pm Location Whitaker Ponds Nature Park 7040 NE 47th Ave. Portland, OR 97218 Questions? Contact Hanna Davis at (503) 281-1132 or hanna.davis@columbiaslough.org Register For this Training Now Hiring: Education Director Closing Date: March 3rd  The Council is seeking applicants for our Education Director position. The Education Director’s primary duties are to provide leadership, planning, coordination, and guidance for the education program, including K-12-Slough School and adult and family education programs and activities. Click here for full position description. Closing Date: Application materials must be received by 4pm on March 3, 2016. Questions? Contact Executive Director at 503-281-1132 or jane.vandyke@@columbiaslough.org Regional Trail Update Chimney Park to St. John Prairie with Future Connection to Kelly Pt. Park. Metro, in partnership with the City of Portland, will be designing and building a trail through Chimney Park in north Portland and a bike/pedestrian bridge over N. Columbia Blvd. to connect to the St. Johns Prairie (the former landfill). This trail will be part of the North Portland Greenway and 40-Mile Loop. A future trail connection over the N. Slough to Kelley Pt. Park is in the early planning stages. This would include a new trail bridge over the N. Slough and restoration of the existing deteriorated trail to Kelley Pt. Park. It is anticipated that the planning, engineering and design for the project will start this summer or early fall.  Construction date will be determined by the future permitting and engineering work. For more information or questions contact rod.wojtanik@oregonmetro.gov or mel.huie@oregonmetro.gov

Click Here for a Full List of 2016 Columbia Slough Watershed Council Events