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 for a wide range of opportunities with our regional partners.
Looking for 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 Some information on this page may be out of date, so connect with the Partner for the most up to date information.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.
¿Buscas algo especial para un grupo? Contacta directamente con el socio. Es posible que parte de la información de esta página no esté actualizada, así que contacta con el socio para obtener la información más actualizada. ¡Salgamos!
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:
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 |
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.
Pollinator Efficiency in Action: The Mason Bee Model
Anne Bulger, WSU Master Gardener and OSU Master Melittologist will discuss how to invite one of nature’s most efficient early-season pollinators into your backyard — the Mason bee.
Join the Naturescaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens team to learn how to create a welcoming habitat and best practices for their care so they can return year after year. Note: We will also be selling (cash/checks only) cocoons after the presentation portion of the session.
NatureScaping classes are free for members ($25 per year; $15 for seniors), or $15 (+ tax) per class for non-members.
Registration require: info@naturescaping.org or marlene52ns@gmail.com or call 360-737-1160.
Volunteer at the Pollinator Festival
Help spread the buzz about the power of pollinators!
Be a part of something special by volunteering at the 3rd annual Pollinator Festival! Join the Vancouver Bee Project and other dedicated partners to raise awareness about the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem. This event is all about educating the public on the importance of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that help our plants, food, and environment thrive.
As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with festival-goers, share valuable information, and contribute to an event that celebrates nature’s unsung heroes. Whether you prefer working with people, organizing activities, or helping behind the scenes, there’s a volunteer role that’s perfect for you.
Help us make this important event a success and spread the buzz about pollinators. To learn more about the Pollinator Festival visit here.
Contact: Volunteer Programs at cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8344
Pollinator Festival returns!
The Vancouver Bee Project is excited to announce the return of the Pollinator Festival to downtown Vancouver.
This second annual event will be bigger and better (and hopefully drier) than last year’s event.
Reach out to the VBP if you are interested in BEE-ing a vendor or volunteer.
Visit their webpage for more information: https://pollinatorfestival.org/
Science on Tap - Boosting Biodiversity with Insect - Friendly Gardens
Insects are essential to life on Earth, but insect populations are in trouble. However, there is hope in our own yards.
There are many things you can do to make a real difference in improving insect biodiversity right where you live. Our gardens can host an astonishing variety of insect life—if we provide the habitat, we can make a real difference.
Five years ago, Amy Campion began making over her Portland garden to better serve the insects sharing her space. She was amazed by the creatures that soon showed up. She saw leafcutter bees harvesting petals to make nurseries, grass-carrying wasps building their distinctive nests, newly minted dragonflies taking their first flights. In all, she’s seen more than 400 insect species in her little 7,000 sq ft plot.
In this talk, you’ll learn 8 things you can do to create more insect-friendly habitat in your own garden, and you’ll meet some of the fascinating creatures that show up when you welcome them in.
You’ll learn:
to appreciate aphids
to prioritize pollen over nectar
why you should feed caterpillars and with what
who’s living in your perennial stems
how to attract more “tickle bees” to your landscape, and
how to control mosquitoes in your pond (without fish!)
Learn more and buy tickets HERE.
Amy Campion grew up in Minnesota, but she became a gardener in the Cincinnati area, where she worked at a wholesale nursery for 16 years. In 2013, she moved to Portland, Oregon, and in 2017, Amy co-authored Gardening in the Pacific Northwest: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide with Paul Bonine. You can follow her on her blog: amycampion.com, on Instagram: @campionamy, and on iNaturalist: @amycampion.
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
Protect Pollinators from the Effects of Climate Change
The changing climate affects us all, and pollinating animals are no exception.
There are actions you can take in your garden to help them. Join the Master Gardener program for a presentation on how the changing climate affects pollinators and the plants upon which they…and in turn we…depend. They’ll offer ideas on steps you can take to help.
COST: Free
REGISTRATION: Not required
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click here
Read about all Master Gardener upcoming events
WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication or program information or reasonable accommodation need to contact Erika Johnson at the above listed email, phone or mailing address at least two weeks prior to the event.
Introduction to spring Mason Bees and other pollinators
Spring is one of the most important—and vulnerable—times of year for native pollinators.
Join the Vancouver Bee Project for an engaging, beginner-friendly introduction to spring mason bees and other early-season pollinators, and learn how you can help them thrive right where you live.
We’ll start with a brief overview of native bees in our region, then take a deeper dive into spring mason bees—how they live, when they emerge, and practical, science-based strategies for stewarding them successfully. We’ll also cover other early pollinators you may see in spring and simple ways to support them through habitat, nesting resources, and seasonal care.
To top it off, everyone who attends can enter a raffle to win a new mason bee house and cocoons to put out this spring.
Whether you’re brand new to mason bees or looking to sharpen your stewardship skills, this talk will give you the tools and confidence to make a real difference this season. Join us and learn how small actions can have a big impact for pollinators. 🌱🐝
No registration required
Mason Bee Workshop with WSU Master Gardeners
Welcome spring by inviting one of nature’s most efficient pollinators into your backyard!
Mason bees are gentle, low-maintenance super-pollinators that can significantly boost your garden’s blooms and fruit production. Join WSU Master Gardener Anne Bulger and learn how to create a welcoming habitat, from choosing the right nesting materials to providing essential food sources. Discover best practices for caring for your mason bees, protecting them from pests, and ensuring their survival year after year. With a little preparation, you can enjoy a thriving garden while supporting these vital native pollinators!
For more information: (564) 397-5738 or Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu.
Visit us online at https://extension.wsu.edu/.../community.../workshops-events/
Welcoming Mason Bees: A Springtime Guide
From the Friends & the Refuge: Dive Back into Learning with a Free Workshop Series!
🐝 Join WSU Master Gardener Anne Bulger to explore the life cycle and role of these remarkable pollinators. You’ll even receive a take-home, ready-to-set-up mason bee house with cocoons to help support native bees in your own backyard! (Recommended for high school ages and up.)
The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge are thrilled to announce a brand-new, FREE Community Workshop Series at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge! Hosted at the beautiful Carty Unit, these sessions are designed for everyone in our community to enjoy free snacks, dive back into learning, and celebrate this stunning corner of the earth we call home.
Whether you want to support local pollinators, find your creative voice, or learn how local wildlife is navigating a changing world, we have a seat for you!
Each attendee will receive a take-home, ready-to-set-up mason bee house with cocoons, allowing you to put learning into action and support pollinators right at home. Whether you’re new to native bees or looking to deepen your understanding, this hands-on, community-focused program offers both inspiration and practical tools for stewardship.
These events are provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in collaboration with the Friends of Ridgefield NWR.
Registration is limited to 20 participants, so be sure to register HERE
Due to the nature of the presentation, we recommend ages high school and up.
Photo source: Cornell
Introduction to Mason Bees with Vancouver Bee Project
Join the Vancouver Bee Project team during Wild Birds Unlimited Vancouver’s grand opening weekend for a short, engaging introduction to mason bees—one of our most important native pollinators.
Learn who mason bees are, why they matter, how they differ from honey bees, and simple, science-based ways to support them at home through proper housing and seasonal care.
This is a great, beginner-friendly talk for gardeners, bird lovers, and anyone curious about helping pollinators thrive in our region. Stop by, learn something new, and celebrate the opening of Vancouver’s newest nature-focused store!
No registration is needed
