Join the Camas Library staff at a different Camas Park each week for a family storytime outdoors!

Bring a blanket to sit on!

This week's location: Lacamas Park (3344 NE Everett St.)

Program Type: Storytimes, Summer Reading Program

Age Group: All Ages

Accommodations: We strive 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.

Accompanying Adults: This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program.

Contact Info: Maria Martin & Elliot Stapleton, library@cityofcamas.us

Phone Number: (360) 834-4692

fourthplainforward

Art & Nature in the Park is BACK for 2026! 🎨🌿

Fourth Plain Forward can't wait to bring free art and nature activities to Vancouver Flex Academy and Downs Neighborhood Park this summer. A huge thank you to our amazing partners Wellpoint, Molina, City of Vancouver NatureSpace, and all of our community partners for making these special moments possible. Come join us for a summer full of fun, creativity, and connection! 🌸☀️

👉🏽 Saturdays 11am–2pm | July & August
📅 July 11 at Flex Academy Park
📅 July 25 at Flex Academy Park
📅 August 8 at Downs Neighborhood Park
📅 August 22 at Downs Neighborhood Park

¡Arte y Naturaleza en el Parque está DE VUELTA en 2026! 🎨🌿 No podemos esperar para traer actividades gratuitas de arte y naturaleza a Vancouver Flex Academy y Downs Neighborhood Park este verano. Un enorme agradecimiento a nuestros increíbles socios Wellpoint, Molina, City of Vancouver NatureSpace, y todos nuestros socios comunitarios por hacer posibles estos momentos tan especiales. ¡Ven a disfrutar de un verano lleno de diversión, creatividad y conexión! 🌸☀️

👉🏽 Sábados 11am–2pm | Julio y Agosto
📅 11 de julio en Flex Academy Park
📅 25 de julio en Flex Academy Park
📅 8 de agosto en Downs Neighborhood Park
📅 22 de agosto en Downs Neighborhood Park

Join the City of Vancouver’s Volunteer Programs staff and volunteers from our Adopt-A-Park program for a morning of beautifying LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park’s natural area. We will be removing ivy and other non-native plants to support the health of the forest.

• Training, gloves, tools, water, and snacks will be provided.

• This opportunity is family-friendly and great for teens. Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form.

• Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

• Accessibility is important to us and we’ve taken it into account while planning this event. This location is wheelchair accessible, and work is primarily done in a quiet natural area with potential for some infrequent loud work sounds. For mulching projects, volunteers may be shoveling, twisting and turning, and pushing wheelbarrows. For invasive removal projects, volunteers may be kneeling, pulling, and twisting as well as possibly lifting plants overhead to load into a dumpster. There will be a space in the RSVP form for you to let us know if there are any accessibility needs you have so that we can do our best to find a volunteer role that will work for you.

• Advance registration is required. Leroy Haagen Park Volunteer RSVP.

Registration will close 24 hours prior to the event. If registration is closed and you are still interested in attending, please email cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us to let us know you will be a walk-up and you can sign in on-site.

• Contact: Volunteer Programs at cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8344

topazfarm

Theme reveal coming later this week! 🐝🌻 Our gorgeous sunflower maze is FREE to visit, and this year all 14 acres are blooming at once. Come see it this weekend!

In past years, we succession planted our sunflowers, which gave us blooms over a longer stretch of the season. This year, all the acres are coming on at the same time, and it is STUNNING.

🌻 FREE entry to the sunflower maze: That also means: if you want to see the sunflowers this year, the next two weeks are the peak time to come.

Prefer golden hour? Wednesday’s After Hours event is your sunflower night. 🌻 We’ll have more flowers coming after the sunflowers, including a field of marigolds, but this is shaping up to be our sunflower moment. Come wander through them while they’re at their peak. 🌻

Celebrate Junior Ranger Day!

No matter what age you are, you are invited to explore, learn, and protect U.S. National Parks on National Junior Ranger Day. You can participate in the Junior Ranger program year-round and join this one-day celebration on August 22, 2026, that is part of the annual National Park Week.

Here are a couple of ways you can celebrate National Junior Ranger Day:

• Look to see if a park near you is hosting any Junior Ranger Day activities. View Junior Ranger events by state or event type in the calendar below. For SW WA, visit Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Mt. Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument or Crater Lake National Park (OR)

• Participate in an online Junior Ranger program such as Junior Paleontologist and Night Explorers (see links below). 

• Visit the NPS Kids Portal to plan a park experience, learn about free 4th Grader access, and groove out to Junior Ranger Radio.

Find a Junior Ranger Day Event

National Junior Ranger Day is August 22, 2026. Use the calendar below to view Junior Ranger Day programs at any of the more than 400 national parks around the country. Remember to check ahead for trip planning information and to recreate responsibly for a safe visit.

Some parks may host Junior Ranger Day celebrations on an alternate date from the official National Park Week schedule. Be sure to check the details for each park's programming.

Join the City of Vancouver’s Volunteer Programs for a work party at Homestead Park!

Activities will include weeding and mulching the Homestead Park Naturespace and cleaning up large sticks throughout the park.

• Training, gloves, tools, water, and snacks will be provided.

• This opportunity is family-friendly and great for teens – people of all ages and abilities are welcome! Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form.

• Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

• Please sign up using the Homestead Park volunteer work party RSVP form.

Registration will close 24 hours prior to the event. If registration is already closed and you still want to sign up, please email cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us to let us know and you may be able to sign in on-site.

• Contact: Volunteer Programs at cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8344

Make family memories on the trails at Timberline Bike Park's Family Ride Days! Kids and teens ages 17 and under ride free with the purchase of an adult day ticket or season pass.

Whether you're introducing young riders to the sport or spending the day exploring the mountain together, there's fun for every skill level. Need equipment? Convenient bike and gear rentals are available on-site, making it easy to hit the trails.

It's the perfect family adventure on Mt. Hood.

Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Exciting news for families looking for summer fun at the Refuge's new Community Nature Center building!

On July 23, August 6, and August 20, the crew from the Ridgefield Community Library will be on the Carty Unit, hosting Storytime from 10:30-11 AM, and the center will be open from 10 AM - 12 PM, with refuge wandering open all day. No registration required; refuge daily entrance fee applies.

https://www.fws.gov/.../vis.../activities/education-programs
— at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Carty Unit).

You're invited! Join us for a Forest Walk at Columbia Springs.

Have you ever wondered what wildlife call Columbia Springs or what types of native plants you can find along the trails? Find the answers to these questions and more on a guided forest walk!

Come along with knowledgeable Columbia Springs staff, or expert volunteer, as they lead you on a walk on one of our trails to discover the magic of our site.

• Forest walks are great for all ages!

• Please note that our trails are not stroller friendly. 

• Let us know you’re coming in advance by registering at https://www.columbiasprings.org/events/guided-tours/

• We will meet at 3:30pm.

• Wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather!

Join the Camas Library staff at a different Camas Park each week for a family storytime outdoors!

Bring a blanket to sit on!

This week's location: Crown Park (120 NE 17th Ave.)

Program Type: Storytimes, Summer Reading Program

Age Group: All Ages

Accommodations: We strive 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.

Accompanying Adults: This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program.

Contact Info: Maria Martin & Elliot Stapleton, library@cityofcamas.us

Phone Number: (360) 834-4692

vancouverpublicworksus

Join us for drop-in programs on Saturdays at the Water Resources Education Center 🌞 ⁠
⁠
Amazing Aquifers 💧⁠ 1 to 2 p.m. on August 15⁠

• Drop in anytime during the program.

• All ages are welcome.

• No registration required.⁠

• FREE

The Water Center is open on the first and third Saturday of each month from noon to 4 p.m. Explore our air-conditioned exhibit hall and shaded outdoor garden spaces while you're here. On site restrooms available.

Get ready to walk, roll and bike to school at the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Summer Fair! Work with SRTS staff to plan your walk, roll, bike route to school; participate in the Bike Rodeo to practice your skills; get help learning how to ride a bike; and more.

Visit the program website and sign up for the email list for event updates: cityofvancouver.us/srts

What to bring

• Bicycle, tricycle or kick-scooter if you want to participate in the bike rodeo or ride in the bike garden.

• Helmets are required for anyone biking, scooting or skating. Visit the City of Vancouver booth if your child needs one.

• Water

• Sun protection

Using the bike garden

All users must follow posted safety rules and requirements for use per Vancouver Municipal Code 15.04.
Learn more about the Heights Bike Garden!

Getting here

Limited free parking is available on-site. Parking is located on Blandford Drive off Mill Plain Boulevard.
C-TRAN’s The Vine Red Line Devine Rd. stop also provides direct access to the garden.

• Contact: Safe Routes to School Vancouver at vancouvermoves@cityofvancouver.us

Get to know some new goat friends in this mobile petting zoo!

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.

vancouver.audubon & cameraderie.pnw

Grab your binoculars because Cameraderie is hitting Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge for a Birdathon!

Split into teams and spend the morning competing to spot as many bird species as possible throughout the refuge. We'll bring the event to a close with a species count, awards ceremony, and a celebration of everything our Wings of Change fundraiser has accomplished this summer.

• All ages and experience levels are welcome.

• Don't have binoculars or a camera? Ask about our equipment loan program!

• For more details and to register, tap the link in our bio or go directly to vancouveraudubon.org/cameraderie

Photos: Common Yellowthroat, American Kestrel, American Bittern, Crown House Vista Point as viewed from Steigerwald Lake NWR by Ken Pitts/Vancovuer Audubon

Make family memories on the trails at Timberline Bike Park's Family Ride Days! Kids and teens ages 17 and under ride free with the purchase of an adult day ticket or season pass.

Whether you're introducing young riders to the sport or spending the day exploring the mountain together, there's fun for every skill level. Need equipment? Convenient bike and gear rentals are available on-site, making it easy to hit the trails.

It's the perfect family adventure on Mt. Hood.

columbiasprings

It's a busy week at Columbia Springs! This week the interns will be highlighting all kinds of Macroinvertebrates & Insects.

Interns will be tabling on the lawn across from the fish feeding pond on Tuesday from 10 am - 12 pm. Stop by to explore hands on activities focused on plants. 🌿

Visitor Center hours
🔵 Tuesday/Wednesday, 10 am - 4 pm *
🔵Thursday, 9 am - 1 pm
🔵 Friday, 10 am - 1:30 pm

Columbia Springs is an environmental education nonprofit 501(c)(3) located on the Old Evergreen Highway in Vancouver, Washington. Our 100-acre urban natural site is an outdoor education center which offers events, programs, and workshops to teach people of all ages about stewardship and environmental science. 

During the 25 years Columbia Springs has been in operation, we have reached well over 250,000 guests and taught a generation of Clark County residents about watersheds, biology, restoration, and engineering. The Columbia Springs community continues to grow each year to reach a wider audience of students and volunteers. Columbia Springs’ site is a beautiful community asset and our programs are sources of excellent educational and volunteer opportunities.

columbiasprings

It's a busy week at Columbia Springs! This week the interns will be highlighting all kinds of Invasive & Native Species.

Interns will be tabling on the lawn across from the fish feeding pond on Tuesday from 10 am - 12 pm. Stop by to explore hands on activities focused on plants. 🌿

Visitor Center hours
🔵 Tuesday/Wednesday, 10 am - 4 pm *
🔵Thursday, 9 am - 1 pm
🔵 Friday, 10 am - 1:30 pm

Columbia Springs is an environmental education nonprofit 501(c)(3) located on the Old Evergreen Highway in Vancouver, Washington. Our 100-acre urban natural site is an outdoor education center which offers events, programs, and workshops to teach people of all ages about stewardship and environmental science. 

During the 25 years Columbia Springs has been in operation, we have reached well over 250,000 guests and taught a generation of Clark County residents about watersheds, biology, restoration, and engineering. The Columbia Springs community continues to grow each year to reach a wider audience of students and volunteers. Columbia Springs’ site is a beautiful community asset and our programs are sources of excellent educational and volunteer opportunities.

Join the Camas Library staff at a different Camas Park each week for a family storytime outdoors!

Bring a blanket to sit on!

This week's location: Louis Bloch Park (160 NE Joy St.)

Program Type: Storytimes, Summer Reading Program

Age Group: All Ages

Accommodations: We strive 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.

Accompanying Adults: This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program.

Contact Info: Maria Martin & Elliot Stapleton, library@cityofcamas.us

Phone Number: (360) 834-4692

fourthplainforward

Art & Nature in the Park is BACK for 2026! 🎨🌿

Fourth Plain Forward can't wait to bring free art and nature activities to Vancouver Flex Academy and Downs Neighborhood Park this summer. A huge thank you to our amazing partners Wellpoint, Molina, City of Vancouver NatureSpace, and all of our community partners for making these special moments possible. Come join us for a summer full of fun, creativity, and connection! 🌸☀️

👉🏽 Saturdays 11am–2pm | July & August
📅 July 11 at Flex Academy Park
📅 July 25 at Flex Academy Park
📅 August 8 at Downs Neighborhood Park
📅 August 22 at Downs Neighborhood Park

¡Arte y Naturaleza en el Parque está DE VUELTA en 2026! 🎨🌿 No podemos esperar para traer actividades gratuitas de arte y naturaleza a Vancouver Flex Academy y Downs Neighborhood Park este verano. Un enorme agradecimiento a nuestros increíbles socios Wellpoint, Molina, City of Vancouver NatureSpace, y todos nuestros socios comunitarios por hacer posibles estos momentos tan especiales. ¡Ven a disfrutar de un verano lleno de diversión, creatividad y conexión! 🌸☀️

👉🏽 Sábados 11am–2pm | Julio y Agosto
📅 11 de julio en Flex Academy Park
📅 25 de julio en Flex Academy Park
📅 8 de agosto en Downs Neighborhood Park
📅 22 de agosto en Downs Neighborhood Park

Join Fort Vancouver Regional Library’s Mall location to learn about the wild, weird, and wonderful world of animals! Meet cool reptiles and creepy crawlies that help make our world go around.

May contain strong smells.

Facebook.com/creatureteachersoregon

Event held at the Mall Center Court. 

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.

On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the U.S. Forest Service Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Friends of Fort Vancouver, National Park Service and Red Cross will be celebrating Smokey Bear’s 82nd birthday at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center at 10 am.

Kids and their families are invited to this free event for fun activities, to learn about wildfire prevention, domestic house fires and, of course, wish Smokey Bear a happy birthday in person.

Smokey’s birthday will be held at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center. Tables set up by the Forestry service and Red Cross will be present at the event, educating the public on wildfire safety, campfire safety and Domestic house fire safety. Children’s activities will also be available. Smokey Bear-themed items will also be for sale in the Friends of Fort Vancouver bookstore.

The real Smokey Bear was a little cub saved by firefighters during a wildfire in New Mexico. His paws were badly burned when he clung to a smoking, burned out tree. News of the little bear’s rescue spread quickly across the nation and soon became a national icon for promoting fire safety and wildfire prevention. He received so many gifts of honey and an outpouring of mail that he was assigned his own private zip code!

Fees This event is free to attend.

Contact Information: Trent Roth, 360.816.6230, Contact Us

Make family memories on the trails at Timberline Bike Park's Family Ride Days! Kids and teens ages 17 and under ride free with the purchase of an adult day ticket or season pass.

Whether you're introducing young riders to the sport or spending the day exploring the mountain together, there's fun for every skill level. Need equipment? Convenient bike and gear rentals are available on-site, making it easy to hit the trails.

It's the perfect family adventure on Mt. Hood.

Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Exciting news for families looking for summer fun at the Refuge's new Community Nature Center building!

On July 23, August 6, and August 20, the crew from the Ridgefield Community Library will be on the Carty Unit, hosting Storytime from 10:30-11 AM, and the center will be open from 10 AM - 12 PM, with refuge wandering open all day. No registration required; refuge daily entrance fee applies.

https://www.fws.gov/.../vis.../activities/education-programs
— at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Carty Unit).

columbiasprings

It's a busy week at Columbia Springs! This week the interns will be highlighting all kinds of rocks and fossils.

Interns will be tabling on the lawn across from the fish feeding pond on Tuesday from 10 am - 12 pm. Stop by to explore hands on activities focused on plants. 🌿

Visitor Center hours
🔵 Tuesday/Wednesday, 10 am - 4 pm *
🔵Thursday, 9 am - 1 pm
🔵 Friday, 10 am - 1:30 pm

Columbia Springs is an environmental education nonprofit 501(c)(3) located on the Old Evergreen Highway in Vancouver, Washington. Our 100-acre urban natural site is an outdoor education center which offers events, programs, and workshops to teach people of all ages about stewardship and environmental science. 

During the 25 years Columbia Springs has been in operation, we have reached well over 250,000 guests and taught a generation of Clark County residents about watersheds, biology, restoration, and engineering. The Columbia Springs community continues to grow each year to reach a wider audience of students and volunteers. Columbia Springs’ site is a beautiful community asset and our programs are sources of excellent educational and volunteer opportunities.

Join the Camas Library staff at a different Camas Park each week for a family storytime outdoors!

Bring a blanket to sit on!

This week's location: Fallen Leaf Lake Park (2911 NE Everett St.)

Program Type: Storytimes, Summer Reading Program

Age Group: All Ages

Accommodations: We strive 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.

Accompanying Adults: This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program.

Contact Info: Maria Martin & Elliot Stapleton, library@cityofcamas.us

Phone Number: (360) 834-4692

The SW Washington Down Syndrome Community is so excited to launch a new monthly community connection series hosted by Anna Herbig and Rachel Cristaudo in partnership with SWWDSC.

Starting this summer, we invite families, self advocates, caregivers, siblings, friends, and supporters to join us for a relaxed and family friendly Walk About on the first Monday of each month at 10:00am.

This is about movement, connection, fresh air, conversation, inclusion, and simply being together in Our Community. All abilities are welcome.

☀️ Upcoming Walk About Locations ☀️

• June - Salmon Creek Greenway Trail (park near softball fields for free)

• July - Vancouver Lake Regional Park ($5 parking fee or annual pass)

• August - Lewisville Park ($5 parking fee or annual pass)

• September - Burnt Bridge Creek Trail (Stewart Glen Trailhead at Fruit Valley Road)

What to Bring:
💧 Water bottle
☀️ Sunscreen
👟 Supportive walking shoes or tennis shoes
😊 A smile and readiness to connect

Whether you stay for a short stroll or the full Walk About, we would love to have you join us as we continue building meaningful connection and belonging throughout Our Community.

Learn more at swwdsc

adventureswithoutlimits

Join Adventures Without Limits for a Community Kayak Trip at Timothy Lake! These trips are designed to inclusive and accessible.

Sign up today at the Community Public Trips link HERE!

8:45 AM - 5:30 PM PDT Timothy Lake

REGISTER HERE

Manage tickets

Difficulty: Beginner
Trip Date: 8/2/26
Group size: Min:6/Max:12
Ages: 6+  (participants under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult)Cost: sliding scale ($50, $85, $115 options) - What is a sliding scale?

Program Description: Cool off with us at Timothy Lake! Timothy Lake is a pristine alpine lake in Mount Hood National Forest. This calming paddle travels between rolling mountains that surround the lake on all sides. While it can be windy at this location, this paddle is great for beginners or those interested in a relaxing paddle on flat water.

Transportation: Participants can meet our team on-site at Timothy Lake or opt in to use AWL's transportation. Transportation is $10/person. If you would like to use AWL's transportation and meet us a centralized pick-up location (Tanasbourne Target), please select a "Transportation Included" ticket when registering.

Itinerary:

8:45 AM - Pickup @ Tanasbourne Target

11:00 AM- Arrive at Timothy Lake, introductions, bathrooms and instruction

11:30-2:30 PM- Time to kayak!

2:30 PM- Return to shore/closing circle

3:00 PM- Depart Timothy Lake

5:30 PM- Arrive back @ Tanasbourne Target

*To ensure adequate paddling time, we recommend coming dressed in the clothes to paddle in

Inclusions:

• Certified guides

• Trip planning & logistics

• Location permits

• Kayak equipment

Exclusions:

• Lunch/snacks/beverages

• Personal items listed on the packing list

Next steps:

1. Review AWL's Essential Eligibility Criteria and Cancellation Policies

2. Register! - Click the red REGISTER HERE button to complete your registration

3. Look for a confirmation email ensuring that your registration is complete!

Participants will receive a registration email after they've completed the registration process. Liability Waivers and Gear Request Forms will be linked in the confirmation email. Participants MUST sign the electronic waiver and complete a gear request at least 7 days prior to the trip. If the participant signs the waiver or completes a gear request after this time frame, then we may not be able to accommodate any specific needs on the trip. If the participant fails the sign the waiver, they will not be permitted to join the trip.