What’s Happening
Lo que está sucediendo
Help out, learn, build community and have fun!
¡Ayuda, aprende, construye una comunidad y diviértete!
Southwest Washington has so many opportunities to connect with nature. See the event calendar below for a wide range of opportunities with our regional partners.
Not seeing what you are looking for or want to schedule something special with a group? Contact the partner directly. Some information on this page may be out of date, so connect with the Partner for the most up to date information. Let’s get outside!
El suroeste de Washington ofrece muchísimas oportunidades para conectar con la naturaleza. Consulta el calendario de eventos para conocer la amplia gama de oportunidades con nuestros socios regionales.
¿No encuentra lo que busca o desea programar algo especial con un grupo? Ponte en contacto directamente con el socio. Es posible que parte de la información de esta página no esté actualizada; por ello, contacta con el socio para obtener la información más reciente. ¡Salgamos al aire libre!
June is coming up and that means celebrating Get Outdoors Day!
Communities and partners across southwest Washington are getting ready to host you, your family and friends with a variety of outdoor activities to celebrate the beautiful Pacific Northwest region we know and love. Join us!
Sort Event List by:
Accessible Supported | Adventure Sport | Agriculture | Art in Nature | Community Event | Elders | Healing | Hiking | Park Updates | Plants | Pollinators | Recreation | Road Trips | Virtual Events | Volunteering | Water Fun | Wildlife | Workshops | Youth | FREE
LCNN is excited to share our Partner’s events, click each event for more detailed information - check with event host for most up to date information (LCNN does not lead these events).
NEW! For events that sound super fun but are just outside southwest Washington are listed as ROAD TRIPs.
ROAD TRIP - KEEP IT WILD- Collaborative Art Show
KEEP IT WILD- Collaborative Art Show | Creativity & Conservation in the Columbia River Gorge
Opening Night: Friday, May 8 | 5-7 PM (Sale begins right at 5 PM)
Exhibit Dates: May 1-30
White Salmon, Washington, is a place of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant community spirit, and deep appreciation for the wild spaces that make this region so special. This spring, during the much-anticipated White Salmon Wildflower Festival, the Keep it Wild art show, hosted by Arrowleaf Workshop, will once again celebrate this natural beauty while supporting local artists and conservation efforts.
A Celebration of Art and Conservation
Keep it Wild is more than just an art show—it’s a collaborative effort to inspire creativity, raise awareness about sustainability, and give back to the land that provides so much to our community. This unique exhibition will feature 100 original artworks created by talented local artists, all displayed on 6×6” wood panels.
Each of these one-of-a-kind pieces will be available for purchase at $100 per panel, giving art lovers and conservationists alike the opportunity to support both local talent and the protection of our wildlands. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Columbia Land Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting this iconic landscape.
Experience the Magic of Keep it Wild
The Keep it Wild opening reception will take place on Friday, May 8, 5-7, at Arrowleaf Workshop. Sales begins right at 5 PM. Visitors can expect an evening filled with creativity, conversation, and a shared appreciation for the stunning environment that surrounds us. Whether you’re a seasoned art collector, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a way to engage with the White Salmon community, this event promises to be a memorable experience.
Beyond showcasing incredible art, Keep it Wild is a call to action. It challenges all of us to think about how we can contribute to keeping our wild spaces wild—whether that’s through conservation efforts, responsible outdoor recreation, or supporting local businesses and artists who prioritize sustainability.
How Will You Keep it Wild?
As you admire the vibrant depictions of our landscapes, flora, and fauna, take a moment to reflect: How will you keep it wild this year? Whether it’s through purchasing artwork that directly supports conservation, participating in local clean-up efforts, or simply treading lightly when exploring the outdoors, every action counts.
Join us at Keep it Wild to celebrate art, nature, and community. Let’s come together to appreciate the beauty of White Salmon and ensure that it remains wild for generations to come.
20th Annual Ridgefield NWR Youth Photo Contest
Get those cameras ready! 📸✨ In honor of our Photo Contest's 20th Anniversary, we’re teaming up with @prophotosupply and @asmporegon to make this year’s photo contest bigger than ever.
We’ve officially split the competition into TWO separate contests:
🏆 20th Annual Ridgefield NWR Photo Contest
Our flagship contest is back! This year, the "Youth" category is now for High School age students.
🔗 Link in bio to enter!
🐣 The NEW Fledgling Refuge Photo Contest
Exclusively for students in 4th - 8th Grade! We can’t wait to see the Refuge through your eyes.
🔗 Link in bio to enter!
📅 Deadline: August 3, 2026
📍 Location: All photos must be taken at Ridgefield NWR.
Show us your best shots of the wildlife, landscapes, and spirit of Ridgefield! 🦅🌷
Cameraderie Youth Birding Photography workshop at Conboy Lake NWR
Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge hosts many species of birds we don't get to see on the west side of the Cascades, including White-headed Woodpeckers, Black-backed Woodpeckers, Pygmy Nuthatches, Western Kingbirds, Grey, Dusky, and Hammond's Flycatchers, Gray Catbirds, Calliope Hummingbirds and Cassin's Finches.
Bring plenty of water snacks and a lunch to eat when we complete the three-mile loop trail. It's a fairly easy grade trail, but it is dirt, rocks, gravel and has tree roots and small obstacles in it.
Cameraderie (10-18 yrs): Learn how to take compelling photos of nature using the expertise of adult wildlife photographers and guides. Youth winners of the annual Youth Photo Contest are peer mentors for those wanting to take their photography skills to the next level. Photos taken during outings are then shared in an option Zoom meeting, a week or so later, so feedback can be given and youth can improve in editing skills. Any camera type can be used, from smartphones to DSLRs to Mirrorless with long lenses.
The Vancouver Audubon Society will meet at Steigerwald Lake NWR parking lot at 7:00am to travel together to Conboy Lake NWR, which is north and east of White Salmon, WA.
Please check back to this page for updates. Sign up to receive updates by email with updated information as the time nears. If you have already signed up for Cameraderie, you do not need to sign up again.
Weave a willow market basket
Weave a willow market basket with Ridgefield artist Robin Brady
In this 2-day class you’ll make a round, handled basket in the traditional European stake and strand style — a great foundation for your future explorations in basketry.
We’ll weave with a combination of cultivated and wild willows grown right here in Ridgefield and throughout the region. We’ll spend two full days weaving our baskets, and as time allows we’ll discuss everything from harvesting willow to prepping your materials for weaving. This is a great class for beginners, or any weavers looking to strengthen their basic stake and strand skills. You’ll come away with your own hand-woven willow basket great for going to market, gathering, storage, and everyday household use.
Note – Weaving with willow is hard work! Expect to spend 7 focused weaving hours per class day, and to use your hand and upper body strength throughout the class.
Ticket price includes an $80 materials fee for the willow.
Participants should provide:
A fixed blade or locking knife
Your favorite sharp pruners if you have them (or you may use the instructor provided ones)
Any additional seating cushion, back support, or special chair you need to be comfortable
Layers for sun/weather if you wish to work or have lunch outside
Lunch and a water bottle
Coffee, tea, water and light snacks will be provided. Please bring sack lunch, a water bottle, and any special snacks you need (you will have access to fridge, stove and microwave if needed).
Register HERE
Accessibility Note: This workshop takes place in an historic farmhouse that is not currently wheelchair accessible. We will work to accommodate access however we can, but please email arts@pnfarm.com to confirm that the space will work for you before you commit to the workshop!
Scholarships are available on an as-needed basis. Please email arts@pnfarm.com for more info.
About our teacher: Robin Brady - They tend a cultivated willow patch at their home and gather wild willow along nearby waterways. They live on Chinook & Cowlitz land in Ridgefield, Washington, under passing sandhill crane migration. They come to basketry via long time devotion to crafts and skill sets that keep them a student in the practice of direct and reciprocal relationship to the living world.
As a weaver of mixed European settler descent, they focus primarily on styles of willow basketry with roots in countries their ancestors once wove in, while being in awe of the many brilliant weaving traditions belonging to cultures near and far. Robin was first introduced to basketry by Margaret Mathewson and other weavers in her watershed lineage and is honored to continue the tradition of passing along this love of working with willow.
See more at www.windfallcraftandbasketry.com
NPS Book Launch! “Ellie May and the Midnight Search”
Join the Fort Vancouver’s National Park Service team and the Friends in welcoming search and rescue hound Ellie May and her handler JW Jones in the launch of their first book "Ellie May and the Midnight Search, A True Search and Rescue Story."
Meet the authors and learn about the efforts of a real search and rescue team, highlighted by the personal experiences of a hound dog and her handler.
Designed for children of all ages and beautifully illustrated, Ellie May relates the true story of the search for a missing child:
“It’s the middle of the night.
A little girl is missing.
Her family is waiting… hoping… praying someone will find her.
And out in the darkness, there’s only one thing to follow— a trail no one else can see.
That’s when Ellie May is called.
A quiet, determined hound, working side by side with her handler, trusting her nose to guide the way. Step by step, she moves through the night… through the trees… through the unknown… never giving up.
Because somewhere ahead, someone is still waiting to be found.
And back at home, a family is holding onto hope.
Ellie May and the Midnight Search is a story about courage, love, and the bond between those who search… and those who wait to come home.”
Meet the authors and help support your National Park!
Date & Time
Sat, May 30
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM PDT
Land Collage — the poetics of place workshop
Dive into the layers of meaning on the landscape!
In this workshop, participants will spend the day at select locations on Plas Newydd Farm with poet Christopher Luna and PN Farm Arts Initiator Abby Braithwaite exploring the poetics of place. We’ll dive into the layered ways the land holds metaphor, and the ways those layers come together in a collage of words, images and meaning. We’ll read selected poems on the theme, write to prompts, and have a chance to share our writing within the group. Participants will learn about Plas Newydd Farm’s past, present and future, and will leave the day with a handful of completed poems.
We’ll be getting out on the landscape for this one, so come prepared for some all-weather tromping!
Coffee, tea, water and light snacks will be provided.
About our teacher: Christopher Luna is a poet, editor, teacher, writing coach, and artist who served as the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Clark County, WA from 2013-2017. Luna has an MFA from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. He is the co-founder, with Toni Lumbrazo Luna, of Printed Matter Vancouver, an editing service and small press for Northwest writers. He and Morgan Paige co-host the LGBTQ+ friendly, all-ages and uncensored Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic in Vancouver, WA, founded by Christopher in 2004.
Christopher Luna’s books include Voracity (Lightship Press, 2022), Exchanging Wisdom: A Guide for Parents of the Autonomous (The Poetry Box, 2021 with Angelo Luna), Message from the Vessel in a Dream (Flowstone Press, 2018), Brutal Glints of Moonlight, and The Flame Is Ours: The Letters of Stan Brakhage and Michael McClure 1961-1978 (Big Bridge). In 2025 Luna received an award from Humanities Washington for his contributions to poetry and literature.
Accessibility Note: This workshop takes place in an historic farmhouse that is not currently wheelchair accessible, as well as out on the land on rugged terrain. We will work to accommodate access however we can, but please email arts@pnfarm.com to confirm that the space will work for you before you commit to the workshop!
ROAD TRIP - Bird Watching at Whittaker Ponds
Come catch the end of spring migration with nature artist, amateur bird watcher, native-plant enthusiast, and Thimbleberry Ambassador Board member Bryan Quintanilla at Whitaker Ponds.(https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1413967)This is the first of a series of late spring/ early summer Thimbleberry events that will take place all around the Portland metro area.
This event is FREE! Learn about the incredible natural ecosystem right in our own backyard that regenerative farms like ours aim to protect through responsible land and water management.
Portland Public Park’s Whitaker Ponds is known for its incredible transformation from junkyard to a thriving and diverse wetlands. Unique birds you may find include black phoebes, blue-winged teals, wood ducks, great egrets, great blue herons and more!
Bring your own binoculars though we’ll have a few extra for sharing.
Flora & Fauna Solstice Celebration at Plas Newydd Farm
This just in—on NW 71st Ave/NW Lancaster Road, Plas Newdd Farm is planning the first annual Flora & Fauna Solstice Celebration. Picture a costumed bike ride with a host of your favorite creature and plant friends, followed by a community barbecue potluck, with cider for all! It's going to be amazing!
A handful of talented local artists will lead two costume-building workshops in May. More details to come, but if you'd like to participate:
First though, we'll need all hands on deck for the big barn clean-out on May 9! The barn has been used to store farm equipment and tools for the past several decades, and it's long been a dream to tidy it up for events and more. There will be both light and heavy lifting jobs available. Click here to pick a shift!
Want some guidance in your costume construction? Save Sundays May 17th and 24th in your calendar!
And if you just want to join us for the ride (followed by the picnic on the lawn) mark out June 21st! This will be a great way to celebrate the fathers in your life, and the turning of the season!
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Lacamas Creek Trail, NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Youth Nature Photography Awards with VAS
Youth Nature Photography Awards with the Vancouver Audubon Society: Nature Photography both Urban and Wild: AWARD CEREMONY
Vancouver Audubon Society (VAS) and HD Aluminum Prints are teaming up to sponsor the 2026 Youth Nature Photo Contest. In this photo contest’s 11 year history, this will be the first time photographs of nature will not be limited to Steigerwald Lake NWR, except in the Steigerwald category. VAS wishes to expand the boundaries where contest photos can be taken and invite a wider diversity of participants. Three of the four categories can be of nature found within the three counties VAS serves (Clark, Klickitat & Skamania).
Youth, ages 8-18 years of age, are invited to submit up to five photos of nature to be judged and be eligible for up to three cash prizes, 12″ by 18″ prints of their photos, and a free family membership to Vancouver Audubon Society (VAS). Photos must have been shot during the time period from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026 and within the boundaries of Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat Counties.
Division Categories and Prizes:
Honorable Mention in the SmartPhone Category by Ammon Caine “Licking Up Nectar”
Participants can enter a total of 5 JPEG formatted images to any of the following 4 categories:
Steigerwald Lake NWR Nature – This category is for nature photos taken on trails at Steigerwald Lake NWR. Photos can include wildlife, beautiful landscapes, or people enjoying nature.
Wildlife, Plants, & Nature – This category showcases native wildlife (birds, mammals, fish, insects, or spiders for example), plants, fungi, and other life found in Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties. Photos can be taken in backyards, parks, or wild areas like Ridgefield NWR, Salmon Creek, or Burnt Bridge Creek Greenways.
People in Nature – This category highlights how people interact with nature. It’s not about portraits of people posing, but capturing candid moments of people enjoying and engaging with the natural world in positive ways. Photos can be taken anywhere people appreciate nature in Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties.
Smartphone Nature – This category is for photos taken with smartphones or tablets of any nature in Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties. It includes photos suitable for all the other categories. If the photo was taken at Steigerwald, then the rules of Steigerwald Lake NWR Nature category apply here too.
Drawing Wildflowers from Photographs online series
Botanical Drawing with Crystal Shin with Colored Pencils hosted by the Washington Native Plant Society
Have you ever wanted to draw beautiful wildflowers? They are a true wonder of nature and learning to draw them can be a very satisfying experience. Wildflowers can be challenging to document in the field, but working from photos is a good alternative to removing from their natural habitat. Enjoy the beautiful flowers of summer, and develop your skills in drawing.
For this class, we will draw from photographs used in a poster of the “Alpine Wildflowers of Washington by Burke Museum”, graciously provided by Photographer Donovan Tracy, or draw similar species from your own wildflower photographs. This is a great way to spend evenings while reviewing your species photographs. This class is a repeat however, it will include new flowers from the prior classes, so it is okay to repeat this course and receive new content.
We will work on one flower drawing per session which can be completed at home. You can follow along with my demonstration or choose a different flower of your preference. At the end of the course, you will have completed 4 wildflower drawings!
You will learn how to accurately translate a photo into a drawing by observing form, highlights, subtle changes of tone, shade and color to create dimensionality.
With the use of colored pencil techniques, you will learn and practice how to blend colors smoothly while learning to see the intricacies of beautiful wildflowers.
Date & Time: June 25, 2026, July 2, 9 & 16, 2026 (Every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 pm, for 4 weeks)
This drawing class is presented virtually via Zoom, where you can participate from your drawing table.
Join Crystal Shin for the workshop series in Botanical Illustration with colored pencil. Find the course supply list here.
The Alpine Wildflower Poster is available in our online store for purchase if you are interested: Alpine Wildflowers of Washington - Poster (wnps.org)
Speaker: Crystal Shin, Botanical Artist and Scientific Illustrator
Crystal studied botanical illustration at Gage Academy of Art and the Center for Urban Horticulture, and earned Scientific Illustration Certificate from University of Washington. She worked as a primary illustrator on the second edition of “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” at the University of Washington Herbarium from 2015 to 2018, generating 882 new illustrations. She also illustrated new species for botanists at the herbarium for their research publications. Crystal is a Natural Science illustrator as well. She illustrates fossil drawings for a paleontologist at the Burke Museum. She is passionate about serving science as an artist. She loves working on any nature subjects found in flora and fauna. She works in graphite, pen and ink, color pencils, and watercolor. View her online portfolio at https://www.crystalshinart.com.
Macro Photography online workshop with Bird Alliance of Oregon
Perhaps more than any other branch of wildlife photography, macro / closeup photography offers the highest number of photo subjects in any given area. Armed with a macro lens and a little curiosity, you could spend days photographing the tiny ecosystems present in just your yard! But getting sharp, aesthetically pleasing images of all these subjects can be a bit tricky.
In this Bird Alliance of Oregon program, wildlife photographer Brian Magnier will discuss the gear, camera settings, framing, and animal behavior associated with getting high-quality closeup photos of small subjects – including the difference between a true “macro” photo and other close-up photography.
A macro photography portrait of a Katydid, photo by Tara Lemezis
Learn how to shoot macro photography!
In this program, wildlife photographer Brian Magnier will discuss the gear, camera settings, framing, and animal behavior associated with getting high-quality closeup photos of small subjects - including the difference between a true “macro” photo and other close-up photography.
Online Class Details
Class: July 2, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Class fee: $20 members / $30 non-members
Note: Class recordings will be sent out automatically to everyone who registered post-class. Thank you!
Meet the Instructor: Brian Magnier
My name is Brian Magnier, and I live in La Grande, Oregon. I studied ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University and got a Master of Professional Science degree in Exploration Science at the University of Miami. As was the case for so many people, birds were the gateway to my passion for wildlife. I have been an avid birder since elementary school and a nature photographer for almost as long.
I have been fortunate to be able to travel the world both for pleasure and for academic research. I have done fieldwork on mammals and insects in Alaska and New York and on birds in Borneo and Papua New Guinea. I have journeyed to Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Sweden, and Iceland, photographing wildlife in dense jungles and rugged deserts. I have led hiking and kayaking tours in Alaska and snorkel tours in Belize and Indonesia. I aim to inspire people to get outside, talk a walk, flip over some logs, and take a closer look at the world around them. I now live in La Grande, Oregon, where I can often be found wandering through deserts and forests, camera in hand, to find everything from birds to fungi to fossils.
Drawing Wildflowers from Photographs online series
Botanical Drawing with Crystal Shin with Colored Pencils hosted by the Washington Native Plant Society
Have you ever wanted to draw beautiful wildflowers? They are a true wonder of nature and learning to draw them can be a very satisfying experience. Wildflowers can be challenging to document in the field, but working from photos is a good alternative to removing from their natural habitat. Enjoy the beautiful flowers of summer, and develop your skills in drawing.
For this class, we will draw from photographs used in a poster of the “Alpine Wildflowers of Washington by Burke Museum”, graciously provided by Photographer Donovan Tracy, or draw similar species from your own wildflower photographs. This is a great way to spend evenings while reviewing your species photographs. This class is a repeat however, it will include new flowers from the prior classes, so it is okay to repeat this course and receive new content.
We will work on one flower drawing per session which can be completed at home. You can follow along with my demonstration or choose a different flower of your preference. At the end of the course, you will have completed 4 wildflower drawings!
You will learn how to accurately translate a photo into a drawing by observing form, highlights, subtle changes of tone, shade and color to create dimensionality.
With the use of colored pencil techniques, you will learn and practice how to blend colors smoothly while learning to see the intricacies of beautiful wildflowers.
Date & Time: June 25, 2026, July 2, 9 & 16, 2026 (Every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 pm, for 4 weeks)
This drawing class is presented virtually via Zoom, where you can participate from your drawing table.
Join Crystal Shin for the workshop series in Botanical Illustration with colored pencil. Find the course supply list here.
The Alpine Wildflower Poster is available in our online store for purchase if you are interested: Alpine Wildflowers of Washington - Poster (wnps.org)
Speaker: Crystal Shin, Botanical Artist and Scientific Illustrator
Crystal studied botanical illustration at Gage Academy of Art and the Center for Urban Horticulture, and earned Scientific Illustration Certificate from University of Washington. She worked as a primary illustrator on the second edition of “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” at the University of Washington Herbarium from 2015 to 2018, generating 882 new illustrations. She also illustrated new species for botanists at the herbarium for their research publications. Crystal is a Natural Science illustrator as well. She illustrates fossil drawings for a paleontologist at the Burke Museum. She is passionate about serving science as an artist. She loves working on any nature subjects found in flora and fauna. She works in graphite, pen and ink, color pencils, and watercolor. View her online portfolio at https://www.crystalshinart.com.
Drawing Wildflowers from Photographs online series
Botanical Drawing with Crystal Shin with Colored Pencils hosted by the Washington Native Plant Society
Have you ever wanted to draw beautiful wildflowers? They are a true wonder of nature and learning to draw them can be a very satisfying experience. Wildflowers can be challenging to document in the field, but working from photos is a good alternative to removing from their natural habitat. Enjoy the beautiful flowers of summer, and develop your skills in drawing.
For this class, we will draw from photographs used in a poster of the “Alpine Wildflowers of Washington by Burke Museum”, graciously provided by Photographer Donovan Tracy, or draw similar species from your own wildflower photographs. This is a great way to spend evenings while reviewing your species photographs. This class is a repeat however, it will include new flowers from the prior classes, so it is okay to repeat this course and receive new content.
We will work on one flower drawing per session which can be completed at home. You can follow along with my demonstration or choose a different flower of your preference. At the end of the course, you will have completed 4 wildflower drawings!
You will learn how to accurately translate a photo into a drawing by observing form, highlights, subtle changes of tone, shade and color to create dimensionality.
With the use of colored pencil techniques, you will learn and practice how to blend colors smoothly while learning to see the intricacies of beautiful wildflowers.
Date & Time: June 25, 2026, July 2, 9 & 16, 2026 (Every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 pm, for 4 weeks)
This drawing class is presented virtually via Zoom, where you can participate from your drawing table.
Join Crystal Shin for the workshop series in Botanical Illustration with colored pencil. Find the course supply list here.
The Alpine Wildflower Poster is available in our online store for purchase if you are interested: Alpine Wildflowers of Washington - Poster (wnps.org)
Speaker: Crystal Shin, Botanical Artist and Scientific Illustrator
Crystal studied botanical illustration at Gage Academy of Art and the Center for Urban Horticulture, and earned Scientific Illustration Certificate from University of Washington. She worked as a primary illustrator on the second edition of “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” at the University of Washington Herbarium from 2015 to 2018, generating 882 new illustrations. She also illustrated new species for botanists at the herbarium for their research publications. Crystal is a Natural Science illustrator as well. She illustrates fossil drawings for a paleontologist at the Burke Museum. She is passionate about serving science as an artist. She loves working on any nature subjects found in flora and fauna. She works in graphite, pen and ink, color pencils, and watercolor. View her online portfolio at https://www.crystalshinart.com.
Drawing Wildflowers from Photographs online series
Botanical Drawing with Crystal Shin with Colored Pencils hosted by the Washington Native Plant Society
Have you ever wanted to draw beautiful wildflowers? They are a true wonder of nature and learning to draw them can be a very satisfying experience. Wildflowers can be challenging to document in the field, but working from photos is a good alternative to removing from their natural habitat. Enjoy the beautiful flowers of summer, and develop your skills in drawing.
For this class, we will draw from photographs used in a poster of the “Alpine Wildflowers of Washington by Burke Museum”, graciously provided by Photographer Donovan Tracy, or draw similar species from your own wildflower photographs. This is a great way to spend evenings while reviewing your species photographs. This class is a repeat however, it will include new flowers from the prior classes, so it is okay to repeat this course and receive new content.
We will work on one flower drawing per session which can be completed at home. You can follow along with my demonstration or choose a different flower of your preference. At the end of the course, you will have completed 4 wildflower drawings!
You will learn how to accurately translate a photo into a drawing by observing form, highlights, subtle changes of tone, shade and color to create dimensionality.
With the use of colored pencil techniques, you will learn and practice how to blend colors smoothly while learning to see the intricacies of beautiful wildflowers.
Date & Time: June 25, 2026, July 2, 9 & 16, 2026 (Every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 pm, for 4 weeks)
This drawing class is presented virtually via Zoom, where you can participate from your drawing table.
Join Crystal Shin for the workshop series in Botanical Illustration with colored pencil. Find the course supply list here.
The Alpine Wildflower Poster is available in our online store for purchase if you are interested: Alpine Wildflowers of Washington - Poster (wnps.org)
Speaker: Crystal Shin, Botanical Artist and Scientific Illustrator
Crystal studied botanical illustration at Gage Academy of Art and the Center for Urban Horticulture, and earned Scientific Illustration Certificate from University of Washington. She worked as a primary illustrator on the second edition of “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” at the University of Washington Herbarium from 2015 to 2018, generating 882 new illustrations. She also illustrated new species for botanists at the herbarium for their research publications. Crystal is a Natural Science illustrator as well. She illustrates fossil drawings for a paleontologist at the Burke Museum. She is passionate about serving science as an artist. She loves working on any nature subjects found in flora and fauna. She works in graphite, pen and ink, color pencils, and watercolor. View her online portfolio at https://www.crystalshinart.com.
Photography Hike with MSHI
Join professional Photographer Patrick Aalto and Mt. St. Helen’s Institute Guides on a photography hike to Spirit Lake, which was forever transformed by the 1980 eruption.
Patrick will offer practical photography instruction in the field while a naturalist guide will offer you insight into the incredible natural and human history of Spirit Lake. Train your cameras on the vibrant wildflowers in bloom, streams, waterfalls or the sun-bleached logs afloat in the lake since the 1980 eruption.
For detailed information, visit our Photography Hike program page.
DISTANCE: 2.5 miles to 3 miles (4km - 4.8km)
COST: $125 per person
ELEVATION GAIN: 630 feet (192m)
PERMITS: All permits provided
MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: 12
MINIMUM AGE: 8. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Photography Hike: Autumn
Join professional Photographer Patrick Aalto and the Mt. St. Helen’s Institute Guides on a photography hike amongst the massive hummocks deposited by the 1980 eruption.
You will explore this marvelous ecosystem, teaming with life, before leaving the trees to join the Boundary Trail in view of the vast open expanse of the Pumice Plain and the breach of the volcanic crater itself. You will ascend to the groups' comfort up Johnston Ridge where you will train your cameras on the amazing vistas and brilliant colors of Fall foliage below.
For detailed information, visit our Photography Hike program page.
WHERE: Hummocks Trail #229
DISTANCE: 2.3 miles to 4 miles (3.7km - 6.2km)
COST: $150 per person
ELEVATION GAIN: 250 feet to 700 feet (76m - 213m)
PERMITS: All permits provided
MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: 12
MINIMUM AGE: 8. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Understory: NW Film Festival
Join the Cascade Forest Conservancy at the historic Kiggins theatre
in downtown Vancouver for a night featuring stories of adventure, conservation and our connection to the natural world.
Thursday MAY 28
6:30 pm doors at 5:30 pm
Featuring:
The Grand Salmon: Following three women on a 78-day paddling expedition, The Grand Salmon explores the effects of four dams on the Lower Snake River and their impact throughout the watershed on rapidly dwindling wild salmon populations. For over 1,000 miles, these women navigate the same waterways wild salmon have for generations, connecting the source of the Salmon River to the Pacific Ocean. From high water to extreme temperatures, this team not only faces the same natural challenges the fish do each year, but brings viewers along to experience what the construction of these dams has done to our ecosystems and wildlife.
Speaking Eep!: Speaking Eep! follows a team of women scientists working to conserve one of North America’s most climate-sensitive species: the American pika. Using a combination of cutting-edge AI technology and traditional research techniques, population biologist Dr. Chris Ray and PhD student Rachel Billings hope to decode the iconic “eeps” of pika language and determine how communication between subspecies might help separate populations of pikas come together to adapt in the face of a warming climate.
The Lost Fish: In the heavily dammed Columbia River Basin, millions have been spent on life support systems for Pacific Salmon. Yet, the little-known Pacific Lamprey has slipped through the cracks of conservation efforts and is now lost from most of its historic range in the Columbia Basin. Desperately, members of the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Yakama and Warm Springs Tribes have taken the management of Pacific lamprey into their own hands and are now fighting to bring political attention and social will to the struggle of a lost fish.
Living Legacies: Washington state’s Department of Natural Resources harvests and sells timber to fund Washington counties, junior tax districts, schools, penitentiaries, and government. But when their harvest plans catch the attention of local communities whose lives would be affected, a statewide movement is born to protect a special new classification of forests – Legacy Forests.
ROAD TRIP - Oak Gall Ink Making workshop
Oak Gall Inkmaking Workshop
White Salmon Wildflower Festival Art Workshop
Oak Gall Inkmaking WorkshopMolly Holmlund
Cost: $50
Ages: 12+
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Columbia Land Trust will be hosting local artist Molly Holmlund again for an Oak Gall Ink Making Workshop. Our staff will share local hiking opportunities in oak landscapes, information about oak understory and wildflowers, while Molly offers a hands on demonstration making ink from oak galls and other local natural ingredients. Participants will glean knowledge on natural ink making, and get to paint multiple gall ink creations!
Guests will begin with the ink-making process, then during the 20 minutes time it takes for their oak galls to soak, Columbia Land Trust staff will give a presentation on local oak ecosystems including discussions of the wonderful wildflowers and forbs that make up the oak understory.
Leave with cards that you make as well as a bottle of ink!
All attendees will receive native wildflower seed packets.
Drawing Part 2 Beginner Art Class with Friends of the NPS
Drawing Part 2 Beginner Art Class given by Pamela Gunn
Drawing Part 2 Beginner Art Class, led by Pamela Gunn, focuses on fundamental techniques and creative exercises to accurately draw a still life freehand and then show the value with graphite. Ages 10+, all talents are welcome!
Registration is required. Fee $20.00
Exploring the intersection of cosmology, ecology, and spirituality
Exploring the intersection of cosmology, ecology, and spirituality
We hope you’ll join us for this first-of-its-kind retreat. Portland poet Jeff Howard has become a Soup & Words regular over the past few months, and he is offering up a day that is unlike anything we have done out here. We’re pretty excited!
Register HERE
From Jeff:
The science of the past century provides startling insights into how the Earth and its intricate life systems—including our own minds—have arisen through the physical processes of the universe.
Learning to dwell in the realization that we have been “knitted from the void” and are profoundly home in one of the Milky Way’s vast spiral arms means learning to see our world, our lives, our very consciousness in Deep Time. This six-hour retreat will use science, poetry, and guided meditation to explore the path from the Big Bang to the world we know today. We will consider how this perspective can inform our understanding of the mounting ecological crisis, our major social challenges, and Plas Newydd Farm itself.
We’re hoping to get out on the landscape for this one, so come prepared for some all-weather tromping! A $20 materials fee is included in the ticket price.
Coffee, tea, water and light snacks will be provided. Please bring sack lunch and any special snacks you need (you will have access to fridge, stove and microwave if needed).
This is a free event, but we welcome a donation if you are able. Ticket options below, or you can donate on the day with cash, check or card. Thanks for your support!
Accessibility Note: This workshop takes place in an historic farmhouse that is not currently wheelchair accessible. We will work to accommodate access however we can, but please email arts@pnfarm.com to confirm that the space will work for you before you commit to the workshop!
About our teacher
Jeff Howard is an interdisciplinary social scientist whose career has focused on environmental policy and technology policy. He’s also a poet and photographer whose work has been published in literary and environmental journals. Prayers of the New Earth, a collection of framed photos and poems, has been displayed in Portland, Snohomish, and Pittsburgh. As a Buddhist and activist, his creative and intellectual fascination now focuses on humanity coming to recognize its position in deep time, that is, recognize itself—body, mind, soul—as a creature of the cosmos, a creature of ecosystems, a creature of Earth. He lives in Portland.
You can find his work around the web. Here are links to several recent poems:
“Gathering Day” and “Ritual of the curvature,” Unearthed
“Come Back,” The Fourth River
“Steady State,” Amethyst Review
“Portents,” Consilience
Pollinators & Poetry with FVRL
Join us for an interactive writing workshop with local author, Ashley Erdely, where kids will learn all about the mighty powers of pollinators and create pro-pollinator poetry in the form of a haiku.
Accommodations
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Mountains & Meadow watercolor painting class
Free watercolor class with Claire Giordano!
Pictured above! This upcoming class will focus on techniques for painting dynamic mountain shapes, trees, and vibrant alpine meadows.
A few times each year Claire hosts free classes focusing on a specific technique or fun landscape. They are a small way to give back to her online community, and she loves sharing the joy and fun of watercolor with so many folks.
Signing up with the form on this page will register you for any upcoming classes AND I will send you the the recording from the prior free lesson :) Recorded for anyone who can't attend the livestream
REGISTER FOR THE CLASS HERE
Sign up for the Mountain & Meadow class, and get the recording from the Mt. Baker lesson!
Online Watercolor Painting with Ronna: The Burrowing Owl
Join the Bird Alliance of Oregon for this fun and unique online art workshop.
Unlike other owls, the Burrowing Owl is a ground dweller. They are small with long legs and are active during the day. The slightly rufous brown with white spots and yellow eyes will be a great challenge to paint with watercolor, but Ronna has some tricks up her sleeve to paint these patterns with ease. Add this class to your list to learn about this unusual owl through watercolor.
The birds will be painted from a photo which will be sent to you before the class. Students will be painting alongside Ronna online, a step-by-step process she has mastered in painting birds.
Ronna strives to build an atmosphere of learning by encouraging students to take risks, showing support and encouragement, and working alongside the class to assist in the understanding of watercolor painting.
Learn to paint watercolor birds! Paint a Burrowing Owl with us!
Online Class Details
Date and time: May 14, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Fee: $25 members / $35 non-members
Where: This is an online zoom class. Recordings will be sent after the class and are available for you to watch for up to two weeks.
Meet the Instructor
Ronna Fujisawa, MFA in Applied Craft and Design, from OCAC and PNCA/ BFA Miami University, Oxford, Ohio Artist, art educator, and outdoor enthusiast. Ronna’s creative practice focuses on painting, mixed media, fiber art, and growing indigo for natural dye and paint. She has been living in Portland for seven years. She has found a strong connection to nature and birds through plein air (painting outdoors), watercolor painting, hiking, and kayaking. Her teaching practice includes painting classes at Catlin Gabel School Community Program for adults, Portland Fine Arts Guild, online, and plein air (painting outdoors) watercolor classes for all ages. She has taught Bird Art to elementary school children in Portland Public Schools for six years before the pandemic. Over the last two years, her educational practice has shifted to adult classes, both in-person and zoom. Ronna has been passionately studying and painting birds and landscapes in watercolor for over a decade. Her classes cater to beginner and intermediate students.
For more examples of her work, please visit Ronna’s website: https://saltywaterart.com.
Nature Resin Jewelry Studio workshop
Two new dates added for the Resin Jewelry Studio with Bri Graw!
Join artist and educator, Bri Graw, in this fun, hands-on class exploring UV resin techniques, experimenting with pigments and polymer clay, and embedding natural elements to design unique pendants, earrings, or keychains. Everyone will leave with three finished pieces of jewelry that celebrate creativity and nature.
Dates:
Sunday, April 19, 10am - 12pm
Saturday, May 2, 10am - 12pm.
Each two-hour studio will be held at Columbia Springs and include a short nature walk to inspire creativity!
The cost is $30 per person (+ tax). Each person will leave with three pieces of finished jewelry!)
Spots are limited! Register here: https://www.columbiasprings.org/events/community-experiences/
Learn more about Bri: https://www.old-growth-studio.com/about
Washougal Studio Arts Tour - The Tree House Art Studio
If you want to combine fresh air with art and community, come out for the Washougal Studio Artists’ Tour on May 2nd and 3rd from 10–4. Take a drive to the Washougal River Valley and visit the Treehouse Art Studio. Local artists will gather for nature inspired art!
Learn more at https://www.washougalstudioartists.org
Simply going outside: Nature regulates our systems. It helps us reset. When we step out for a walk or spend time near the water or in the mountains, we can feel more grounded and clear. And we remember—we are nature. If you’ve been feeling stretched or overloaded, this is your nudge to get outside this week. Even a short walk can make a difference, or simply sitting outside and stopping to notice what’s around you.
Learn more about this event and other offerings at the Tree House Art Studio HERE.
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Washougal River Greenway Trail, NE Yale Street and 2nd Avenue, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Photography Workshop Outdoor - Cherry Blossoms
Join Rose Carlson and the Clark College Foundation for a hands-on photography workshop for beginners using digital camera or phone! Capture amazing photos of any subject anytime like a pro!
Step into the breathtaking beauty of ancient cherry trees and unlock the secrets to taking stunning photos—no matter your subject! In this hands-on outdoor photography class, you’ll learn how to elevate your pictures of people, landscapes, and even business promotions.
Whether you’re shooting with a digital camera or your Phone, I’ll guide you through essential techniques that capture every shot:
Angles & Composition: Learn how perspective transforms ordinary shots into captivating images.
Focus & Depth: Master the art of drawing attention to your subject.
Background & Lighting: Make every photo clean, clear, and professional-looking.
Aperture & Camera Settings: Understand the tools that create mood and clarity.
This class is perfect for beginners and hobbyists alike— if you want one-on-one guidance on your specific camera, I can provide personalized training tailored to your device.
Come for the cherry trees, leave with the skills to take stunning photos anytime, anywhere. Bring your phone or camera and start capturing life like a pro!
Register HERE; Refunds up to 7 days before event
Location: Clark College Foundation, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663
Nature Resin Jewelry Studio workshop
Two new dates added for the Resin Jewelry Studio with Bri Graw!
Join artist and educator, Bri Graw, in this fun, hands-on class exploring UV resin techniques, experimenting with pigments and polymer clay, and embedding natural elements to design unique pendants, earrings, or keychains. Everyone will leave with three finished pieces of jewelry that celebrate creativity and nature.
Dates:
Sunday, April 19, 10am - 12pm
Saturday, May 2, 10am - 12pm.
Each two-hour studio will be held at Columbia Springs and include a short nature walk to inspire creativity!
The cost is $30 per person (+ tax). Each person will leave with three pieces of finished jewelry!)
Spots are limited! Register here: https://www.columbiasprings.org/events/community-experiences/
Learn more about Bri: https://www.old-growth-studio.com/about
Adventures in Art with FVRL - Nature Journaling
Looking for a creative escape?
Join Fort Vancouver Regional Library’s monthly for Adventures in Art, a dedicated space for adults to explore, observe, and find joy through making. Each session offers a relaxed environment to experiment with different artistic media. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Feel free to drop in at any time during the session.
April: Nature Journaling
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Accommodations
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Adventures in Art with FVRL - Nature Journaling
Looking for a creative escape?
Join Fort Vancouver Regional Library’s monthly for Adventures in Art, a dedicated space for adults to explore, observe, and find joy through making. Each session offers a relaxed environment to experiment with different artistic media. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Feel free to drop in at any time during the session.
April: Nature Journaling
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Accommodations
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Writer's Workshop at Ridgefield NWR
Join Abby Braithwaite, of Plas Newydd Farm Arts Initiative, as she leads you through the Refuge in a fun and reflective writing workshop.
Come with a favorite nature poem to share (one of your own, or one by a favorite poet).
We’ll provide notebooks and pens, but feel free to bring a favorite journal!
All ages and all level of writers welcome!
The Ridgefield NWR Complex Workshop Series is a monthly series of workshops facilitated by community members to engage the entire community with the Refuge in various ways.
Link to register HERE
Wild About Nature - Artist Reception and Lecture Series
Enjoy light refreshments and artwork by local artist Joy Markgraf at the White Salmon Valley Community Library.
Following the reception, there will be two short lectures on nature in the Columbia River Gorge. Three remaining lectures will follow on Friday evenings at Mt. View Grange.
Refreshments provided by the Friends of White Salmon Valley Community Library and the Suksdorfia Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.
Guest speakers:
Alex Walt, Sam Bango, David Lindley - Rattlesnake Creek
Enhancement ProjectDavid Lindley - Yakama Nation Fisheries - Southern Territories Habitat
CoordinatorAlex and Sam - Project Managers at Anabranch Solutions
David Markey - Wildlife In Our Amazing World
Wildlife Photographer
Accommodations
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Nature Art Resin Jewelry Studio with Bri
columbiasprings: There are still a few spots in Bri's Resin Jewelry Studio this Saturday, March 28!
Join artist and educator, Bri Graw, in this fun, hands-on class!
To spark inspiration, you’ll go on a short nature walk at Columbia Springs to discover native plants. Back in the studio, you’ll explore UV resin techniques, experiment with pigments and polymer clay, and embed natural elements to design unique pendants, earrings, or keychains. Everyone will leave with at least 3 finished pieces of jewelry that celebrate creativity and nature.
Cost: $30/person (Each person will leave with three pieces of finished jewelry!)
Spots are limited! Register here: https://www.columbiasprings.org/events/community-experiences/
Learn more about Bri: https://www.old-growth-studio.com/about
On The Road Tour with Master Gardeners: Spring Fever
Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener program for an On the Road Tour and leave the driving to us.
Join the Clark County Master Gardeners for our first tour of 2026. Sit back and enjoy visits to three nurseries or farms.
“Spring Fever”. “Fiebre de primavera.” “Varfeber”. ” Fievre du printemps.” Noun – A feeling of restlessness and excitement felt at the beginning of spring. Are you restless on those rainy days you’re stuck in the house perusing seed catalogs? Excited at the prospect of planting new things and getting your hands dirty in your garden?
Meet in the parking lot of the 78th Street Heritage Farm at 8:15am to board our vans for a tour of some Portland locations to help ease the transition into our next gardening season.
Our first stop will be Garden Fever where we will be treated to talk on what’s new and what’s tried and true for 2026.
Our next stop will be a Portland staple – Portland Nursery – to get more info on great things for our gardens. There will be ample time at both locations to pick out your new favorite plant.
Next, we will break for lunch at McMenamins Cedar Hills Pub. They have a menu featuring sandwiches, salads and burgers. Lunch is on your own.
At our final stop of the day, Deby Barnhart of Cornell Farm will speak to the group about plant diversity. There will be time for shopping.
Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat and wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress for weather. Bring a walking stick if necessary.
LOCATION: Hazel Dell Neighborhood, address at registration. No admission without registration.
COST: $35 plus tax and fees
REGISTRATION REQUIRED by March 17th: Click here
FOR MORE INFORMATION: (564) 397-5738 or Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu.
Read about all Master Gardener upcoming events
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Mill Ditch Trail, NW Drake, Camas, WA 98607
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
WATERCOLOR IN THE WILD DAY RETREAT- Plein Air Painting in the Washougal River Valley
Join Treehouse Art Studio for a day retreat- connecting art and nature in the heart of the beautiful Washougal River Valley!
Guided by artists Susan Elizabeth & Arin Rae (both met as Artists in Residence at Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument).
This soulful plein air painting retreat is being held at the Treehouse Art Studio & Cabin in the breathtaking Washougal River Valley, where nature connection and creative practice meet.
OVERVIEW: You are invited to slow down, connect with nature, and express your creativity through plein air watercolor painting. No experience necessary!
This experience weaves nature connection and gentle guidance in watercolor technique with an invitation to deepen your sense of place — noticing light, color, texture, and the quiet stories of the land. You’ll receive supportive instruction, then spend spacious, unhurried time painting on open acreage, both indoors and outdoors, allowing your own relationship with the landscape to guide your brush.
Basic supplies are provided;
please bring a lunch, clothing for variable weather, and any other art materials you love to work with.
Location: The Treehouse Art Studio. A 5-Acre Property in the Washougal River Valley, WA (about 30 minutes from Portland, 15 minutes outside of Washougal, WA). Address will be provided to ticket-holders at least two weeks prior to event.
Weather: We will be both outdoors and indoors… and will have blankets, warm beverages and covered areas to sit and paint outside. You can choose the option that works best for you during your open air painting time.
Investment/Cost: $115
Registration: HERE
Space is limited to 12.
Please contact arin@arinraeart.com or susanfronckowiak@gmail.com with any questions!
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
Arin: Arin is a watercolor and mixed media artist based in Portland. With a background in the physical sciences, she lives at the intersection of nature, science and art and uses art as a platform to teach, explore and understand how the world works while breaking down the barrier between art and science. You can learn more about her work at www.arinraeart.com or on Instagram (@arinrae.art).
Susan: With over 30 years of experience as an adventurer, teacher, and mentor, Susan brings a deep passion for working with people. Her love of wild places, creative expression, and meaningful connection led her to opening the Treehouse Art Studio. As an artist, empowerment coach, and rite of passage guide, she weaves together nature-based practices, council, and art to support others in stepping into deeper presence and personal transformation. You can learn more about Susan and the Treehouse at:
www.susanelizabethatthetreehouseartstudio.com
Instagram (@susanelizabethatthetreehouse)
Wild Colors - Natural Pigment workshop
Calling all lovers of color!
You have asked, we are making it happen! Join us for a day exploring the magic of wild pigments. Bring your experience and materials, or come with questions, ready to learn from the plants. There will be a few folks in the room ready to share what they’ve learned in their play with plants and color, but we’ll all be learning together!
If weather allows, we may get out for some foraging, but we’ll also have supplies available for ink and dye making, and maybe even some materials for botanical printing.
Coffee, tea, water and light snacks will be provided. Please bring sack lunch and any special snacks you need (access to fridge, stove and microwave is available).
Register HERE
Accessibility Note: This workshop takes place in an historic farmhouse that is not currently wheelchair accessible. We will work to accommodate access however we can, but please email arts@pnfarm.com to confirm that the space will work for you before you commit to the workshop!
About your teachers
Open Table events do not have a designated teacher, and are designed to create a space for folks to come experiment in community, in a place where it’s safe to make a mess. This event will be co-hosted by Ridgefield artists Abby Braithwaite, and Kaylin Rose.
Fundamentals of Botanical Drawing in Colored Pencil II
Learn how to use colored pencils to portray plant subjects!
Join the Washington Native Plant Society for this course that is offered virtually via zoom, with plenty of opportunity for personal review and instruction.
This 7-week fundamentals botanical drawing in colored pencil course will cover the basics of working with your medium, color theories, and a variety of colored pencils techniques including layering, blending, building saturation with luminosity while incorporating the observation techniques and elements of botanical illustrations. This is a new course, Colored Pencil II, is intending to take previous students to the next levels with more advanced techniques in using the color pencil medium. Colored pencils are fun, forgiving, and versatile medium and can be refreshing change for watercolor painters or graphite artists or used in a mixed media works. Expand on the beginning lessons with this next level course with Crystal Shin.
Online virtual workshop - Once registered, students will receive the zoom links to participate in the class online. Recordings are provided for each session for a limited time.
To prepare for the class, please download the supply list in the table. It will also be emailed to you when you register.
Due to new laws in Washington State, non profit workshops and presentations are now considered retail products and are subject to sales tax. Please note tax will be charged on your registration.
Registration Closes March 10, 2026
Base Price$275.00
Attachment(s)SUPPLY LIST_Simple V_latest.pdf
Crystal Shin, Botanical Artist and Scientific Illustrator: Crystal studied botanical illustration at Gage Academy of Art and the Center for Urban Horticulture, and earned Scientific Illustration Certificate from University of Washington. She worked as a primary illustrator on the second edition of “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” at the University of Washington Herbarium from 2015 to 2018, generating 882 new illustrations. She also illustrated new species for botanists at the herbarium for their research publications. Crystal is a Natural Science illustrator as well. She illustrates fossil drawings for a paleontologist at the Burke Museum. She is passionate about serving science as an artist. She loves working on any nature subjects found in flora and fauna. She works in graphite, pen and ink, color pencils, and watercolor. View her online portfolio at https://www.crystalshinart.com.
WOMEN’S DAY RETREAT: Nature Connection & Creativity
Join the Treehouse Art Studio for a WOMEN’S DAY RETREAT in the heart of the Washougal River Valley...
WHO IS THIS DAY RETREAT FOR?
This is for you if you are longing to slow down, reconnect, create, and feel held by both nature and community.
You are welcome here- just as you are.
This is an invitation to exhale.
To step out of urgency.
To return to your senses.
WHAT TO BRING:
Layered clothing for shared time outdoors, a journal, and pen. Our time together will be a blend of outdoor
and indoor experience on the land.
GUIDE: Susan Elizabeth
INVESTMENT: $95
REGISTRATION: here
Limited to 10 participants (Ages 18+)
Photography Hike with Mt. St. Helen's Institute
Join professional Photographer Patrick Aalto and MSHI Guides on a photography snowshoe hike to June Lake through a snow-covered Winter wonderland. Patrick will offer practical photography instruction in the field while a naturalist guide will offer you insight into the incredible natural and human history of June Lake. Train your cameras on the brilliant white snow-covered Southern slopes of the volcano and winding lava flows that meander into the forest. Snowshoes or traction devices provided by MSHI!
For detailed information, visit our Photography Hike program page.
DISTANCE: 5 miles (8 km)
COST: $125 per person
ELEVATION GAIN: 500 ft (152 m)
PERMITS: All permits provided
MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: 12
MINIMUM AGE: 8. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Letterboxing 101 workshop with FVRL
If you are looking for a new way to adventure, try Letterboxing!
You will follow clues that lead you to a mini work of art, which is a rubber stamp that is usually hand-carved. The boxes are hidden outside in parks, forests, and other nature areas. There are some indoors for when the weather doesn't cooperate. Join us to learn more about the hobby and to create your own stamps and logbooks. You can start your quest in the library as there will be some boxes to find right away.
Library events and programs are open to the public and provided at no cost. Special accommodations may be requested using our Disability Accommodation Request Form no later than 15 days prior to the event.
Los eventos y programas de la biblioteca están abiertos al público y se brindan sin costo. Se pueden solicitar adaptaciones especiales utilizando nuestro formulario de solicitud de adaptaciones para personas con discapacidades (en inglés) hasta 15 días antes del evento.
Особые условия могут быть запрошены с помощью нашей формы запроса на предоставление условий для людей с инвалидностью не позднее чем за 15 дней до мероприятия.
Foraged Fiber Porch Brooms with Dan Hawkins
Come on out to the farm for a sweeping good time!
Plas Newydd Farms are so excited to welcome Portland artist Dan Hawkins to Ridgefield for his first PN Farm Arts workshop!
Some of the finer details to come, but here’s what we know so far — over the course of a Saturday, participants will have the opportunity to craft porch brooms from two PN Farm-foraged fibers — a native sedge, and the wildly invasive Reed’s canary grass, along with some traditional broom straw (sorghum) to fill things out!
We’re hoping to get out on the landscape for this one, so come prepared for some all-weather tromping!
A $20 materials fee is included in the ticket price.
Coffee, tea, water and light snacks will be provided. Please bring sack lunch and any special snacks you need (you will have access to fridge, stove and microwave if needed).
Accessibility Note: This workshop takes place in an historic farmhouse that is not currently wheelchair accessible. We will work to accommodate access however we can, but please mail arts@pnfarm.com to confirm that the space will work for you before you commit to the workshop!
Registration required HERE
About your teacher
Dan was born in Maine and has worked as an architect & carpenter in China, Denmark, England, and the United States. In 2021, he moved to Portland, OR, where he started Bodge, a platform for his sculpture, woodwork, and brooms. His work explores domestic tools, as well as the craft traditions and techniques associated with those objects. Dan also teaches broom-making and woodworking classes and workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest.
2026 Students for Clean Water Video Contest
Do you know any middle or high school students who like making videos?
Let them know about the Students for Clean Water Video Contest! They could win $500 for making a video about protecting water or other topics.
Hey awesome budding filmmakers!
Water connects us all, and we're about to make waves of positivity! 🌊✨ No matter where you live, we all live in a watershed, where rain or snow goes on an exciting journey, from our roofs, yards, and streets to local wetlands, streams, and lakes, to the Columbia River, and finally to the mighty Pacific Ocean. The water that bounces off roofs, streets and other hard surfaces and goes on this incredible journey to the ocean is what we call stormwater. Our rivers are home to incredible creatures like salmon, trout, and sturgeon, and they're where we play, fish, and paddle. But, guess what? Our actions can impact our waterways, and it's time for us to make a splash of inspiration for a cleaner, happier world with your creative videos! Learn more about Clark County watersheds here.
How to enter
Pick a theme - review the themes below and choose one you like.
Research - learn about your topic from resources provided, family members or others in your community.
Plan your video - create a storyboard so you can plan how you want to tell your story. Consider music, locations, props, camera angles, on-screen text/graphics and actors you may need.
Pre-check (optional) - submit your script or storyboard for review. We'll provide feedback so you can avoid being disqualified for misinformation.
Shoot it! - get the video shots you planned in your storyboard and remember it's better to have more than you need and cut than to not have what you need.
Edit - edit your shots to compose your video and add music or other effects.
Upload and submit your application - make sure the video is sharable and your application form is complete, including the form for your parent/guardian.
Entries due April 17, learn more at: https://www.stormwaterpartners.com/video-contest
Camas Library - Audiobook Walking Club
Audiobook listeners need not walk alone!
Bring your audiobook of choice and meet the Camas Library each month at a new outdoor location for a community walk. We’ll walk for 60 minutes and wrap up with an optional 30 minutes of social time to chat with other book lovers and audio fans.
Walkers of all paces and experience levels are welcome — whether you’re a power walker, stroller pusher, or leisurely listener, there’s space for you here.
Walks are weather-dependent, so please check our social media channels or this event page for updates or cancellations.
Accommodations: The library strives to ensure our events are accessible to everyone. If you require special accommodations to join us, please call 360.834.4692 or email library@cityofcamas.us at least two weeks before the event.
Location Details:
Lacamas Park, 3344 NE Everett Street, Camas, WA 98607
See map: Google Maps
Contact Info
Name: Stacy Yakouba
Email: library@cityofcamas.us
Phone Number: (360) 834-4692
Foraged Fiber Porch Brooms with Dan Hawkins at Plas Newydd Farms
Come on out to the farm for a sweeping good time!
Plas Newydd Farms are so excited to welcome Portland artist Dan Hawkins to Ridgefield for his first PN Farm Arts workshop!
Some of the finer details to come, but here’s what we know so far — over the course of a Saturday, participants will have the opportunity to craft porch brooms from two PN Farm-foraged fibers — a native sedge, and the wildly invasive Reed’s canary grass, along with some traditional broom straw (sorghum) to fill things out!
We’re hoping to get out on the landscape for this one, so come prepared for some all-weather tromping!
A $20 materials fee is included in the ticket price.
Coffee, tea, water and light snacks will be provided.
Please bring sack lunch and any special snacks you need (you will have access to fridge, stove and microwave if needed).
Please note: This workshop takes place out on the landscape and in a historic home that is not wheelchair accessible. We will work to accommodate access however we can, but recommend that you email arts@pnfarm.com to confirm the space will work for you before you commit to the workshop!
Register HERE
About our teacher: Dan was born in Maine and has worked as an architect & carpenter in China, Denmark, England, and the United States. In 2021, he moved to Portland, OR, where he started Bodge, a platform for his sculpture, woodwork, and brooms. His work explores domestic tools, as well as the craft traditions and techniques associated with those objects. Dan also teaches broom-making and woodworking classes and workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest.
