An active outdoorsy Fall season awaits with the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council offering a work party, birding field trips and a mason bee class in the coming weeks leading up to their annual Fall native plant sale on October 11th. Upcoming Events
Category Archives: Scappoose area
July Bird Forum with the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council
Have you ever tried to decode bird language? Wondered which birds flock together and which birds squabble over air space? Well this is the forum for you! Scappoose Bay Watershed Council is hosting an online forum for bird lovers on July 9th from 4 – 6 pm via Zoom. The forum will feature talks fromContinue reading “July Bird Forum with the Scappoose Bay Watershed Council”
The Oldest Trees Around
South of the county line, just past Cornelius Pass, lies one of our area’s newest parks. The Burlington Creek Forest Park is part of the larger Portland Metro master parks plan finalized by the Metro Council in 2016, based on a 2013 voter levy approving funding for large-scale restoration projects in the Portland metro area.Continue reading “The Oldest Trees Around”
Be on the lookout for these special reptiles
You may have noticed that snakes, turtles, lizards, and frogs are all out right now. There are several rare species in our county that we would love for you keep an eye out for. Sighting any of these, especially with a picture, would be a huge help for our study of reptiles and amphibians inContinue reading “Be on the lookout for these special reptiles”
Do you have kids who want to go herping with other kids?
Parents have asked us for group outings where kids can find salamanders, frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles together. Unfortunately, both Matt and Jon are working outside the county and aren’t able to lead trips at the moment. But we think it’s a great idea! We are putting together a contact list for parents with childrenContinue reading “Do you have kids who want to go herping with other kids?”
Everybody can herp!
“Herping” is the art of searching for reptiles and amphibians. It’s like birding, only you look down instead of up. Our daughter Sophia has been herping for as long as she’s been walking. As Sophia’s gotten older, it’s been wonderful to observe her joy in finding reptiles and amphibians when we spend time in theContinue reading “Everybody can herp!”
Family hike from Pisgah Trailhead
The Pisgah Trailhead of the Crown Z Trail might not have the marshes, birding, and wildlife of the trail to the east, or the forest solitude and geological wonders of the trail to the west, but….it’s there. So last year on the first day of spring, my family went on a walk from Pisgah toContinue reading “Family hike from Pisgah Trailhead”
Scappoose’s forest park (Vista property)
Last year the City of Scappoose’s Isaac Butman asked me, “Have you checked out the Vista property?” “What’s that?” It turns out that City of Scappoose has 80 acres of forest property in town. I’ve been able to explore and, though facilities are limited, it’s a peaceful spot to enjoy some trees. Parking is theContinue reading “Scappoose’s forest park (Vista property)”
Oregon has the most delicious mushrooms
The rains are coming back, and with them the fall mushroom season. On September 28 the Scappoose Public Library is hosting Jordan Weiss for a presentation on the fall mushrooms of NW Oregon. I didn’t grow up picking mushrooms, but during last year’s surveys I couldn’t help but see fungi everywhere. At first I wasContinue reading “Oregon has the most delicious mushrooms”
A quiet retreat tucked in the Scappoose hills
At the end of Gilkison Road on the very edge of Scappoose sits a forest getaway most residents have never heard of. Vedanta Retreat is a culturally unique blend of hiking trails, meditation seats, and shrines to the world’s major religions. It is situated in some of the region’s oldest forest (on one trail IContinue reading “A quiet retreat tucked in the Scappoose hills”
Wild Columbia County 