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

Slough Activites: Learn About Our River and Slough

Three great ways to get involved!

Volunteer registration for Aquifer Adventure is now open!

Saturday, September 13th

Portland Water Bureau Launch 

16650 NE Airport Way 

Portland, OR 97230

Ahoy thar, matey! It’s time to celebrate at Aquifer Adventure! Join our volunteer crew for a swashbuckling adventure on the high sloughs, as the Portland Water Bureau and Columbia Slough Watershed Council team up to present a FREE, family-friendly event full of educational games and pirate booty. We’ve had over 800 pirates-in-training attend in past years – and we really need your help to make this a huge success. This is a great opportunity for groups and individuals ages 16 and up.

Event open to the public 12-4pm  

Shift 1: 8 AM -11:00 AM (Set Up) 

Shift 2: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Event Shift) 

Shift 3: 1:30 - 4:30 PM (Event Shift)

Shift 4: 5:00 - 6:30 PM 

(Clean up at Columbia Slough Watershed Council's office - 7040 NE 47th Ave.)

Registration required

 Learn more and sign up today! 

Questions? 

Contact Hanna Davis at

(503) 281 - 1132

hanna.davis@columbiaslough.org

Now Recruiting...

Slough School Volunteers - Fall Season

If you enjoy time in the outdoors and working with children, this is a great opportunity for you! Lead nature walks, enjoy Slough wildlife with curious, energetic students and build your outdoor leadership skills. With the support of experienced outdoor educators, you'll help bring outdoor, experiential education to students within the beautiful Columbia Slough Watershed. Get the full volunteer position description and application instructions here.

Office Volunteers - Fall Season

Are you efficient, organized and detail-oriented? Do you enjoy color-coding? Are you a wiz with Excel? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, consider joining the Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s team of volunteer office assistants. Help us serve our community and pursue our mission to foster action to protect, enhance, restore and revitalize the Slough and its watershed. Learn more about the position here.

Questions? 

Contact Hanna Davis at

(503) 281 - 1132

hanna.davis@columbiaslough.org

Now Hiring: Fall Education Intern

Looking to improve your outdoor leadership skills? Hone your teaching style? Consider applying to become our Slough School Education Intern this Fall!

The Slough School Education Intern will prepare and deliver field-based educational and stewardship programs and classroom-based educational presentations to K-12 students attending schools within the Columbia Slough Watershed. She/He will also collaborate on weekend community stewardship events and assist with general council activities. View the full position description here.

For more information:

Contact Jane VanDyke at jane.vandyke@columbiaslough.org or call (503) 281-1132.

Volunteer Paddle & Potluck

Tuesday, September 23rd

4:00 - 6:00pm, open paddling - RSVP required

6:00 - 7:00pm, group potluck 

Whitaker Ponds Nature Park

Have you volunteered with the Council in the last year? Join us for our fall volunteer appreciation event, the Paddle & Potluck. Learn more and RSVP to the event by visiting our website.

Hope to see you soon,

Hanna Davis

Volunteer Coordinator

Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Learn About Our Slough

I have been on or to many of these activities and they are not only educational; they are fun!! 

Upcoming Slough Activities

Join us for these upcoming events! For a full calendar of events, click here.  For information on any of the events listed below, contact our staff at: info@columbiaslough.org or (503) 281-1132.

Columbia Slough Regatta 2014

Sunday August 03, 9:00am

Join hundreds for a fun paddle along the slough! We provide the boats (or you bring your own) and you get to explore by boat.

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Subs on the Slough

Friday August 15, 11:30am

A free lunchtime tour all about groundwater! Lunch is provided at picnic tables along the scenic Columbia Slough trail. Advanced registration required; suitable for adults and children 10 & up.

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Ladies Lunchtime Paddle

Tuesday August 19, 10:00am

This event is now FULL unless you have your own boat. You may register for our wait-list and we will contact you if spots open up.

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Bat Night

Friday August 29, 7:30pm

Bring the family and join us for a bat talk and nighttime walk.

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Aquifer Adventure

Saturday September 13, 12:00pm

Big and little pirates alike are welcome to join us for a family festival all about groundwater!

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Bring Your Own Boat Paddle

Thursday September 18, 5:30pm

Bring your own boat for a group paddle!

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Brew on the Slough

Monday October 13, 6:00pm

Join the Council for drinks and appetizers!

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Owl Prowl

Friday October 24, 7:00pm

Bring your family on a nighttime hike!

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Tadpole Tales (Weekly Event)

Thursday March 05, 10:00am

Children aged 3-5 with their parents are invited to join us on Wednesdays this spring for Tadpole Tales, our nature adventure program. Come just once or every week! (March - May)

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