1) OKNA board meeting (Tuesday)
2) Preschool nature walks
3) Big Backyard nature photography contest
4) Spring yard and garden workshops
5) Qualify for a full college scholarship as a caddie
6) Bottle and can returns have changed
1) OKNA board meeting (Tuesday)
The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Overlook House. Topics on the agenda include air quality, bylaws revision, presentations at the general meeting and more.
2) Preschool nature walks
Would you like your young kids to know about the natural world in Portland? The Parks and Recreation Department’s Environmental Education division offers Ladybug Nature Walks for children ages 2-6 at different Portland Parks. Walks take place on Thursday and Friday mornings at 10 and last about an hour. Each child who participates gets to borrow a little ladybug backpack containing a few simple tools for the walk. No pre-registration required – just meet at the designated meeting spot. Walks cost $3-8/child (sliding scale).
This year, walks at certain sites will be offered in both English and Spanish. At these sites Parks will have a Spanish-speaking naturalist ready to work with participating families.
Walks are coming up in February, March and April in nearby neighborhoods (map). View the entire schedule here (Spanish version of schedule).
3) Big Backyard nature photography contest
Win an annual parks pass, an overnight camping trip at Oxbow Regional Park, a tennis court session, or a round of golf for four people including cart at Glendoveer Golf and Tennis Center in the Our Big Backyard photo contest, part of Metro’s quarterly parks and nature magazine.
Submit a photo taken at a park or natural area in the greater Portland metro region, from Forest Grove in the west to the Sandy River in the east to Wilsonville in the south. (For example, the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast are not considered part of greater Portland.) The photo can be of your friends and family exploring nature, a view of wildlife or a beautiful sunset, for example.
Include a description of your experience in a 50-word caption. Where were you? What were you doing? What captured your attention? Please also include your full name.
The winner will appear on the back cover of the spring 2018 issue of Our Big Backyard.
No digitally altered photos, please. By submitting a photo, you consent to Metro’s future use and publication of your photo. One entry per person per contest. Metro employees are not eligible to enter.
Send your picture and description by Feb. 15 to ourbigbackyard@oregonmetro.gov.
4) Spring yard and garden workshops
Looking to dig up fresh ideas for your yard? East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District has you covered. Attend a free workshop this spring. You’ll discover simple steps to creating an attractive, low-maintenance landscape that attracts beneficial wildlife, conserves water and reduces pollution.
These workshops are perfect for all levels of do-it-yourselfers and make it easy to create the yard you want. Both weekend and weeknight options available.
See the full catalog of classes, many of them in North and Northeast Portland.
5) Qualify for a full college scholarship as a caddie
Portland Parks & Recreation and the EAGLE (Early Adventures in Golf for a Lifetime of Enjoyment) caddie program seek high school student applicants for a unique internship – one which could result in a full college scholarship to the University of Oregon. The EAGLE program is a partnership between Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), the Western Golf Association, and public high schools located within the city of Portland. The program works by introducing students to all aspects of golf course operation through paid work and instruction. Qualified students are paid an hourly wage, receive work credit hours and have a mentor who monitors their progress. In addition, scholarship opportunities valued at more than $100,000 over four years are possible through the program.
A history of or current interest in the game of golf is not required. EAGLE students successfully completing the program become eligible to apply and compete for an Evans Scholarships during their senior year of high school. This scholarship provides college tuition and housing at the University of Oregon and may be renewed for up to four years.
PP&R’s EAGLE caddie program is accepting applications from qualified freshmen currently enrolled at high schools located within the City of Portland. The deadline for applications is April 6.
Students interested in joining the EAGLE Program should contact Portland Parks & Recreation’s Carolyn Lee at carolyn.lee@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-5076.
The deadline for applications is April 6, 2018.
Learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements.
6) Bottle and can returns have changed
If you haven’t been keeping up with the options to redeem containers since the deposit increased to 10 cents each, you might be surprised how easy it’s gotten. You no longer have to spend time feeding bottles and cans one-at-at-time into machines at the grocery store. Now you have options to drop off a bag full of your deposit containers.
You paid the deposit and you are entitled to a refund under Oregon law. Find out how to get it easily by clicking here.