Come join the wild Salmon run in the Columbia River Gorge on this exciting search for wildlife! We’ll visit a fish hatchery to explore the trails and diverse habitat. We will hike parts of the forest that are supported by the salmon run and if luck joins us, we could spot a few Osprey and Bald Eagle.
Experience the colorful songbirds returning from their winter homes. Go deep into the woods with binoculars in hand to search for our feathered friends. Then return back to base to sketch, draw and color your findings on paper. You will also have time to sing back some of the incredible sounds that you experienced in the forest at spring time.
Come explore the tall, green and brown beings that inhabit our local forest. Learn to identify different tree barks, sketch the shapes of leaves, collect samples in the forest and even plant your own seeds. We will make nature-based crafts with the natural materials that our nurturing forest provides.
Let's learn about the water cycle and how it affects all the plants and animals of the PNW in the spring! We will head down to the creek to investigate about the health of our local creeks and run water quality experiments.
Come learn about all the small animals that inhabit our Sanctuary forest as they awake from their winter hibernation. We will tell animal tales and play games inspired by what you learn! We'll be sure to spend plenty of time searching the forest for bushy squirrel tails, slippery newt tails and glossy amphibian eggs to find out who's waking from a sleepy winter.
From birdsong, to the wind, to the sounds of Balch Creek - experience the cacophony of sound that can be found in a forest on this sensory-filled camp. Go deep into the woods with your acute sense of hearing in search of forest melodies. Learn how to interpret the sounds you are hearing and what you can learn from the forest by taking a moment to listen!
We will form a deeper understanding of nature by exploring different ways of observing and experiencing the natural world that surrounds us. We will sketch shapes that come to life near the creek and create projects inspired by the forest and all of the amazing things that we observe. Spring is the perfect time to draw inspiration from nature’s colors - from blooming flowers and native plants to colorful songbirds returning from their winter homes, so come on out and create the day away!
"Become a bird biologist this week! The thrill of the search and the satisfaction of identifying the birds you find are sure to hook you on this awesome endeavor. Investigate bird specimens to learn about their amazing adaptations, learn how to find birds with binoculars, recognize their field marks and observe their behavior in this action-packed camp!
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Apex predators are those at the top of food chains like Wolves, Cougars, Orcas and Eagles. They are magnificent in size, fierce and armed with lethal hunting skills, yet they are vulnerable and depend on healthy ecosystems to survive. Join us in learning about apex predators' unique adaptations through the study of real skulls and pelts. Search the forest to look for signs on the trail that would tell you if these animals have visited our Sanctuary."
Have you ever wondered how different animals use their wings so differently? Some birds fly quietly while others are fast, some use it for courtship while others fly above the clouds. Come learn about all of the special adaptations that our wonderful winged friends have while examining birds bones, wings, tallons and owl pellets. Walk through the forest looking for these creatures of the sky and test yourself on how many different species you can find!
