May 24th, 2010 by Allison George
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge hosted its 14th annual Migratory Songbird Festival on May 15, 2010 in celebration of International Migratory Bird Day. The festival was a fun day of activities including bird and nature walks, live music, canoe paddles on the Tualatin River, bird house-building, a live bird show by the Portland Audubon Society, and last – but certainly not least – an appearance by Blue Goose, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service mascot.
Laura and I would like to extend a big THANKS to all of the young artists who stopped by the WCVA table to enter our coloring contest during the festival. We received 37 colorful masterpieces, each as unique and creative as the other, making it quite a challenge for our staff to judge! The prize for each of these winners was a lovely set of *washable markers (*parents, we’ve got your back).
1st Place Winners
Cali - 5 years & under
Andrew - 6-9 years
Connor - 10-12 years
2nd Place Winners
Adonia-2nd Place; 5 years & under
Blair - 2nd Place; 6-9 years
Kyrin-2nd Place; 10-12 years
Honorable Mentions
Krystian, 13 & up
Chloe, 10-11 years
Tags: briding, coloring contest, songbird festival, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Nature | No Comments »
May 5th, 2010 by Sunyi
Get ready for some outdoor fun! Here are some great ideas from our partners that represent one of the greatest assets in Washington County: nature (and everything in it).
This summer, the Tualatin Riverkeepers is offering a bounty of scheduled events for kids and adults of all ages, including parent-child hikes and paddle trips along the Tualatin River. For kids from ages 4-13, there are six summer sessions of nature day-camps, a series of daylong camps with different themes to encourage awareness of and love for the natural world. See details.
For more information, read the Riverkeepers’ informative quarterly newsletter, “The Green Herald”.
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge also has plenty of summertime activities for the entire family, such as guided ‘Night Creature Walks’, where explorers can experience the mysteries of the Refuge after the sun goes down.
While visiting the Refuge, don’t forget to borrow a Nature Discovery Pack, a backpack full of activities, binoculars, field guides and nature journals. The packs are loaned to guests, free of charge, during visitor center hours.
Get the family excited for a trip to the Refuge, thanks to the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife’s recently launched website (recommended for children, ages 5+). This interactive site features learning sessions, quizzes, and a chance to earn a free tree to plant in your own backyard. (Supplies are limited.)
Tags: hiking, Nature, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Tualatin Riverkeepers, wildlife, wildlife habitats
Posted in Events, Family Fun, Nature, Seasonal Fun | No Comments »
January 27th, 2009 by Rhiannon
Last Friday, I gave a colleague who is new to the area a tour of Washington County, which I touted as a “Hidden Gems of Washington County” tour. The purpose of this tour was to show-off parts of the region that, for one reason or another, seem to be overlooked.
What I didn’t expect was that I was going to be amazed by this tour. I discovered new things about the places I’ve been talking about for more than a year. Because I have a child-like enthusiasm for things, I will share these discoveries with you.
Did you know that Tigard, Ore. based Stash Tea (yes, the same Stash Tea you find in your local supermarket) has more than 200 loose-leaf teas in its retail shop located near Bridgeport Village? There you can taste the three selected teas of the day. Also, the tea company has a personal relationship with the farmers from whom it gets the tea leaves, rather than purchasing the leaves in bulk from a wholesaler. In addition, Stash Tea doesn’t use any artificial ingredients in the teas, so I can sip my cup of “Double Bergamot Earl Grey” tea with a clear conscience.
The “hidden gems” tour also included a stop at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. This sanctuary for migrating and indigenous birds, waterfowl and mammals is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I enjoyed the interpretive center, which opened nearly a year ago. The display gave a nice overview of the U.S. refuge system and the history of birds and mammals in the Portland area and how the development of the area by humans has affected many indigenous species. And, because I love to shop, I didn’t leave the gift shop without purchasing a couple of books about the birds of Oregon.
For lunch, we stopped in the Lavender Tea House in Sherwood, Ore. This quaint tea house, located in the heart of Old Town, is a renovated home and serves traditional “high tea” staples, such as scones, tea sandwiches, and, of course, tea. However, what makes this place unique is its new baker program.
The concept allows entrepreneurial bakers to use the Lavender Tea House’s new industrial kitchen – for a fee – and showcase their creations at the tea house’s bakery. So far, a handful of stay-at-home mothers have signed up for the program. More information about this program is available on the Lavender Tea House website.
The day of exploring ended with a wine tasting at the new Barron-Wahl winery, also in Sherwood. Owned by Gordon Barron and Bill Wahl, with the wine created by renowned Oregon winemaker Joe Dobbs, Barron-Wahl’s pinot noir is one to keep your eye on.
Don’t just take my word for it, come explore for yourself. Or, better yet, tell us about your hidden treasures of Washington County.
Tags: bakery, Barron-Wahl, Lavender Tea House, new wineries, Stash Tea, tea, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Wineries
Posted in Family Fun, Food & Drink, Shopping, Wineries | 1 Comment »