Community Education at the ELC

Show your love of the ELC by volunteering at Stewardship Saturday events! Join other community members in various activities to enhance wildlife habitat, including pulling invasive plants, mulching and clearing trails. Coffee, tea, snacks and all necessary tools and equipment will be provided. Dress to be outside.

When: First Saturday of every month
Time: 10 a.m.-noon
Who: All ages and abilities are welcome, no experience necessary
Where: Environmental Learning Center
What: Onsite volunteer opportunities

• December 7, 2024
• January 4th, 2025
• February 1st, 2025
• March 1st, 2025
• April 5th, 2025
• May 3rd, 2025
• June 7th, 2025
• July 5th, 2025

Sign up to volunteer

Evening at the ELC!
Saturday, January 25th, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Join us for a night of mystical fun!
We will embark on a guided nature tour, followed by a hands-on art activity in a warm and tranquil space overlooking the wetland. This in-person event is perfect for anyone looking to unwind and immerse themselves in the great outdoors, especially during the dark days of winter. 
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to experience the ELC in a whole new light!

• Guided walk on the ELC trails along the wetland with Trail Skipper Studio artist, biologist and outdoor enthusiast, Michelle Boercker.
• Learn how to create your very own block printed art piece. Appropriate for all skill-levels (beginners are warmly welcome and encouraged to join and learn the art of block printing).
• Step-by-step book of instructions will be provided to all participants to use during the activity and to take home.
• Enchanting LIVE entertainment by harpist, Heather Andrews.
• Enjoy locally sourced delicious treats:
  • Charcuterie Boards via Watershed Café & Bistro (Oregon City)
  • Pomegranate and English Breakfast Tea via Cup of Tea (Clackamas)
  • Gourmet Chocolate Samplers via Sweet Masterpiece (Oregon City)

The Environmental Learning Center presents a FREE Online Workshop Series for anyone interested in home gardening for wildlife and water quality. Learn how to garden with less water, manage too much stormwater, and generally provide a healthier habitat for birds, pollinating insects, and more. This year we have chosen the overarching theme of Climate Resilience with presentations on the observed impacts of climate change on wildlife, but focusing on actionable steps that we, as homeowners, can take to mitigate these effects while protecting watershed health.

These are stand-alone courses, so sign up for the topics of interest to you whether that's one or all of the sessions below!

When: Thursdays, Jan. 23 - March 6
Time: Noon - 1:00 p.m. (PST)
Cost: FREE
Where: Zoom - Link will be sent to you prior to the session and recordings will be available after.

Schedule of Programs

Each week, experts will share their experience, stories, best practices, and expertise with you. There will be plenty of time for discussion, so come prepared with your garden questions!

• Jan. 23 - Trees for Climate Resilience and Watershed Health
• Jan. 30 - The Impact of Land Use Changes and Climate on Bird Species
• Feb. 6 - Habitat Gardening for Pollinators in a Changing World
• Feb. 13 - Soil: The Magic Ingredient
• Feb. 20 - Plant Tolerances to Weather Extremes
• Feb. 27 - Balancing Fire Resistance, Wildlife Habitat, and Water Conservation Goals
• March 6 - Gardening for Amphibians

Register Today!

Special thanks to our sponsor, Clackamas Water Environment Services and our community partners: Clackamas River Basin Council, Clackamas River Water Providers, , Greater Oregon City Watershed Council, North Clackamas Watersheds Council, Oak Lodge Water Services and Tryon Creek Watershed Council.

Recordings of the 2024 sessions are available at the links below for anyone who missed the live version, or would like to revisit the content. Thank you to all the wonderful presenters who shared their expertise with us this year. We couldn’t provide this series without you.

Speakers and Session Descriptions with links to recordings:

• Jan. 25: Connecting the Pieces of our Urban Ecosystems
• Feb. 1: Take a Walk on the Wild Side: The remarkable wild bees of Oregon (and how to welcome them to your backyard),
  Feb. 8: Garden Smart for the Changing Climate
• Feb. 15: Friend or Foe?  How to Identify Invasive Plants in Our Backyards
• Feb. 22: Companion Planting for Clean Water
• Feb. 29: Plants and Fungal Networks
• March 7: What Tree Should I Plant?
  

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and our co-host, the Greater Oregon City Watershed Council, on July 8, 2023 to help identify flora and fauna in the ELC wetlands. It was a big day of education, as folks of all ages spotted amphibians, birds, insects, mammals and plants.

While many species were documented, here are a few highlights:

1. Pacific tree frog hiding in a hole in a nurse log
2. Northwestern salamander larvae
3. Great blue heron and bald eagle flew overhead
4. Northern red-legged frog - the first sighting of this frog species since last fall, when one was spotted at the ELC for the first time in a decade!

Thank you to our Bioblitz sponsor, Clackamas Water Environment Services, and our co-host, Greater Oregon City Watershed Council. Thank you, Clackamas River Basin Council, Confluence Environmental Center and National Wildlife Federation for tabling at this event and sharing information with attendees.

To see more photos, visit the iNaturalist page from the day's event.