Calendar

Saturday, March 29, 2025
9:30am - 11:30am

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Join Water Center staff outdoors to help keep our beautiful Backyard Habitat Certified gardens in tip-top shape. Volunteer activities will focus on weeding, trimming, and small blackberry removal projects. All necessary tools and gloves will be provided.

Registration is required. Sign up today!

All ages welcome.  Youth under 18 must provide a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

Meeting Details

Saturday, April 5, 2025
10:00am - 12:00pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

As spring break winds down, come to the Water Center in search of spring beaks! The birds are becoming active as the days get longer. Songs echo through the wetlands, nests are being built, and baby bird season is just around the corner. Take a leisurely spring break weekend walk in search of all the birds that call this water ecosystem home. Binoculars will be on hand for participants to borrow.

Registration required. Sign up today!

Walk is suitable for individuals and families with youth ages 6 and older. All minors should be accompanied by an adult.

Expect to walk 2 miles on uneven terrain, including sandy beaches, muddy wetlands, and paved surfaces.

If the event becomes full, please contact the Water Center at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111 to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Saturday, April 19, 2025
9:30am - 11:30am

4501 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Join the Water Resources Education Center to help remove plastic, styrofoam, and litter from the beaches and prevent it from entering and polluting the Columbia River.

All tools will be provided. Expect to walk 2 miles on uneven sandy beach areas. Volunteers will collect litter with litter pickers and carry it in buckets while walking the beach and surrounding area.

Registration is required. Sign up today!

All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

Contact: Water Center staff at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111

Meeting Details

Saturday, April 26, 2025
10:00am - 12:00pm

NW Lakeshore Ave,
Vancouver, WA 98663

The City Nature Challenge is a global, community-science event aimed at observing and documenting as many plants and wildlife as possible within a 4-day period. Join Water Center staff for a guided exploration of a hidden gem in our urban environment: the lower portion of the Burnt Bridge Creek trailhead at Stewart Glen.

Participants will learn how to use the iNaturalist app to document the flora and fauna in this forested ecosystem. We will focus our attention on plants and birds during this walk.

No experience is necessary! Just download the iNaturalist app before the walk, and we’ll teach you how to use it.

Registration required. Sign up today!

This walk is perfect for individuals and families with children ages 6 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Expect to walk 2 miles on paved, mostly flat pathways. Stairs descend from the street parking area to the start of the trailhead.

If the event becomes full, please contact the Water Center at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111 to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Saturday, April 26, 2025
2:00pm - 4:00pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

The City Nature Challenge is a global, community-science event aimed at observing and documenting as many plants and wildlife as possible within a 4-day period. Join Water Center staff for a guided exploration of our wetland and river habitat around the Center and have fun documenting the amazing diversity of life that the water supports.

Participants will learn how to use the iNaturalist app to document the flora and fauna in this aquatic ecosystem. No experience is necessary! Just download the iNaturalist app before the walk, and we’ll teach you how to use it.

Registration required. Sign up today!

This walk is perfect for individuals and families with children ages 6 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Expect to walk 2 miles on paved pathways, sandy beaches, and potentially muddy forest paths.

If the event becomes full, please contact the Water Center at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111 to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Saturday, May 3, 2025
9:30am - 12:30pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Birds are among the most vocal creatures on Earth, and spring is an especially vibrant time for them. As they search for mates, establish territories, and raise their young, this season offers a remarkable opportunity for observation. By slowing down and tuning in to their vocalizations, you can uncover the rich, dramatic stories unfolding in their lives and the ecosystems they inhabit.

In this field class, you’ll discover how paying attention to the calls, postures, and behaviors of songbirds can enhance your ability to spot more wildlife, unravel fascinating stories, deepen your connection to nature and increase your awareness skills.

This workshop will introduce techniques like sound mapping and sit spots, providing a hands-on experience. Held outdoors, the class will have opportunities to both sit still and listen to the birds, as well as going on a guided bird hike to learn their calls.

This class is designed for adult learners (18 years and older).

Expect to walk 1 mile on paved and uneven, muddy trails and to sit outside and make a bird sound map for approximately 45 minutes. Binoculars will be available to use.  Detailed logistics will be emailed to participants upon registration.

Advanced registration required. Sign up today to reserve your spot!

If the event becomes full, please contact the Water Center at vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-7111 to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details