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Nature activities
Metro is offering plenty of reasons to get outdoors and discover the nature of the Portland metropolitan region. Here is a sampling of what’s happening in July.
Around the campfire at Oxbow Regional Park
Bring the family to Oxbow Regional Park amphitheater on Friday and Saturday evenings and enjoy stories, nature programs and music. Live musical entertainment is featured on Fridays and stories and the wonders of nature are presented on Saturdays. All programs run from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The amphitheater is located directly across from the campground. The program is free with paid park admission of $4 per vehicle. Please no pets.
To get to Oxbow, from I-84, take the Troutdale exit (17). Go past the truck stop to the light. Turn right on 257th, go 3 miles to Division Street. Turn left onto Division. Follow the signs 6.5 miles and turn left. Follow the road to the park.
Juliet Wyers, Friday, July 2. Kick off the summer campfire season with singer and songwriter Juliet Wyers, whose vibrant music and lyrics are a pleasure to the ears.
Northwest birds of prey, Saturday, July 3. Live birds of prey visit the campfire circle from Hawk Haven. Find out cool raptor facts and meet an eagle for Independence Day!
Old time bluegrass, Friday, July 9. Bluegrass musicians Greg Stone and Lon Jones will play guitar and mandolin and sing old-time tunes around the campfire. Tap your feet, dance or just sit back and enjoy the music.
Amazing bats, Saturday, July 10. What is faster than a speeding mosquito, more powerful than bug repellent and able to navigate the night? Bats! Naturalist Kim Wilson shares great bat slides while you watch and listen for real live bats.
More bluegrass favorites, Friday, July 16. Dave and Will Elliott, father and son, return to Oxbow with great bluegrass tunes. Enjoy old-style brother duets and sing along with some favorites.
Legend of the swallowing monster, Saturday, July 17. Enjoy salmon stories; bear tales and the Legend of the Swallowing Monster with master storyteller Will Hornyak.
Tall tales and bluegrass, Friday, July 23. Mitch Luckett is a gifted spinner of yarns and old-time musician with an affinity for birds. Enjoy Ozark tall tales and banjo songs.
Oxbow wildlife, Saturday, July 24. Oxbow Regional Park is on a wildlife corridor and is home to elk, bears, bobcats, river otters, pygmy owls and much more. Hear about real-life encounters with animals from Elisabeth Neely, the park naturalist.
Juliet Wyers, Friday, July 30. Gather around the campfire and enjoy singer and songwriter Juliet Wyers, whose vibrant music and lyrics are a pleasure to the ears.
Penguins of Oregon, Saturday, July 31. Wait a minute - there are not any penguins in Oregon! But there are other fascinating seabirds that look like penguins that you can see at the coast. Metro naturalist James Davis appears in seabird costumes to tell all about puffins, auks and more.
Oxbow Nature Adventures
The edge of an ancient forest is the setting for this series of children’s nature activities led by Metro park naturalists. Programs are on Tuesdays, through the month of July and run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The activities are suitable for ages five to 10 years old and free with paid park admission of $4 per vehicle or $7 per bus. Family groups and day care centers welcome. Advanced registration is required by calling Metro at 503-797-1850, option 4.
Barefoot and bear feet, Tuesday, July 6. Summer is barefoot time. How do your feet compare to the feet of a bear, a duck or a deer? What can you tell about an animal from its footprints? Try moving like an animal and take a ticklish barefoot walk.
Sneaky scavenger hunt, Tuesday, July 13. Participants will break into small “clans” and naturalist leaders will guide you through the deep shady forest on a scavenger hunt for cool nature stuff and a bag of treasure. But beware - the other groups might be sneaking up on you!
Forest fashion, Tuesday, July 20. What are the animals wearing this summer season? Why is it hard to see the wildlife? Can you mimic the animals to get closer to them? Find out how to camouflage yourself so you can see more wildlife everywhere.
River roundup, Tuesday, July 27. Discover firsthand the many creatures that live in and near the beautiful Sandy River. We will have a great time catching and releasing water bugs, crayfish and more. Nets and magnifying glasses are provided for a close up view.
Naturally for Kids at Blue Lake Regional Park
Wednesday is a special day for kids at Blue Lake Regional Park in Fairview. Youngsters are invited to make a nature-themed craft in the morning ($2 materials fee per child) and then enjoy a stage show featuring local musicians, magicians and storytellers in the afternoon.
Naturally for Kids is especially fun for children age 12 and younger. Registration is not required. Admission to Blue Lake Park is $4 per vehicle or $7 per bus.
Blue Lake Regional Park is located between Marine Drive and Sandy Boulevard off Northeast 223rd Avenue. From Interstate 84, take the Fairview exit (14) and go north on 207th Avenue to Sandy Boulevard. Turn right onto Sandy and travel east to 223rd and turn left. Proceed north to Blue Lake Road and the park.
Animal stories and pictures, 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 7. Make up a story to go with a picture you create with rubbings, stamps and stencils of Northwest plants and animals. Family groups and day care centers are welcome.
Brothers from Different Mothers, 2 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 7. These two irrepressible jugglers and comedians will leave you breathless with their acrobatics, magic, jokes and juggling.
Sand painting, 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 14. Create your own beautiful sand painting using techniques from around the world.
Puppet and live birds of prey show, 2 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 14. The Metro recycling team presents a funny and informative puppet show and Hawk Haven brings some feathered friends.
Animal Masks, 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 21. Camouflage helps animals evade predators. Can you create an animal or bird mask that will hide you from your friends?
Fools in Paradise, 2 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 21. The lively Caribbean beat with deep African roots will have you dancing and stomping through the whole show. Family groups and day care centers are welcome.
Paper making, 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 28. Wasps do it and so can you - making homemade paper is a fun way to recycle paper.
Ethos, Inc., 2 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 28. The fabulous Music Mobile will deliver a rollicking reggae beat.
Volunteer Ventures
New volunteer orientation noon to 1 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 21.
Start your Metro volunteer experience off on the right foot. Join Metro staff for new volunteer orientation either during the lunch hour or in the evening at Metro Regional Center, 600 N.E. Grand Ave. Learn about Metro parks and greenspaces, hear about the benefits of volunteering, receive information on volunteer job opportunities in the field and office, complete your volunteer application and enjoy the company of other new volunteers. To register, call 503-797-1850 option 7.
Smith and Bybee Lakes stewardship day
Help restore this 2,000-acre North Portland wetland by weeding around native plantings, removing invasive species, collecting native plant seeds and picking up trash on Sunday, July 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All volunteers also will take a break to check out the wildlife that is being helped.
Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife area is located on Marine Drive between the Expo Center and Kelley Point Park. Take I-5 to exit 307. Go west on North Marine Drive for 2.2 miles. Turn left at the large brown and white wildlife area sign.
For more information, call 503-797-1850.
Details of these activities and more are featured in the summer edition of Metro GreenScene. Free copies of Metro GreenScene are available by calling Metro Regional Parks and Greenspaces at 503-797-1850, option 3. Even more things to do can be found in the e-version of Metro GreenScene at www.metro-region.org/greenscene.
Fun and games
The Oregon Baptist Retirement Homes, 1825 N.E. 108th Ave., is hosting a National Night Out event in partnership with the City of Portland Police Bureau and the local community.
There will be a barbeque offering hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken and more. A local high school Jazz Band will provide live music. Antique cars, classic cars and muscle cars will be on display. You can play horseshoes and lawns darts and tour their six-acre campus.
Drop by on Tuesday, August 3, between 3 and 7 p.m. to join the fun.
For more information, call 503-255-7160.
MEETINGS
Getting things done
Neighborhood associations are often comprised of a small number of hardworking individuals who are willing to commit to meetings and the tedium of working through details associated with identifying community needs and implementing ideas. These leaders then rely on the broader neighborhood to step up to help when ideas are put into action. These projects can range from noxious weed removal, to volunteering during community events.
Check the listings below or get in touch the East Portland Neighborhood Office, or EPNO, located at 735 S.E. 106th Ave., to identify your local neighborhood association. EPNO office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the office by phone at 503-823-4550, by fax at 503-823-4525 or by e-mail at epno@epno.org
The Parkrose Neighborhood Association general membership meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 11100 N.E. Skidmore.
In early June, the Parkrose Heights Association of Neighbors, or PHAN, held a neighborhood wide garage sale. The funds raised from that event will help pay for the PHAN National Night Out on Tuesday, August 3. Parkrose Heights neighbors are invited to bring chairs or blankets and picnic dinner if they choose to Knott Park, Northeast 112th Avenue and Sacrament Street.
Food vendors, face painters and live entertainers will be on hand for an evening that is sure to be fun for the whole family. There will raffle drawings throughout the evening and those in attendance will have an opportunity to meet representatives from the City of Portland Police and Fire Bureaus.
Organizers ask that families bring a non-perishable food item in support of the Portland Police Sunshine Division.
For more information, contact Ron or Julia at 503-253-8713.
The PHAN Board of Directors will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20 at the Parkrose United Methodist Church, 11111 N.E. Knott St. While this is a working session for the board, all neighbors are welcome to attend.
While the Argay Neighborhood Association, or ANA, will not hold a general membership meeting in July, the group has announced a neighborhood garage sale to be held Friday, July 9 through Sunday, July 11. They also have plans for a National Night Out Celebration in August. Details can be found at their website www.argay.org. The ANA board will meet on Tuesday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at Scarborough Flair, Northeast 131st Avenue and Sandy Boulevard.
There are no meetings scheduled for July by the Hazelwood, Mill Park, Russell, Wilkes, or Woodland Park Neighborhood Associations. Many of these groups will, however, host events to celebrate National Night Out on August 3. Check with EPNO to find out more.
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