Calendar
Meetings
9:00am - 1:00pm
Make a Difference Day: Wetland Restoration and Native Planting Event at the Water Center
Water Resources Education Center
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:00am
- 1:00pm
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join the Water Center and co-sponsor Clark Public Utilities for Make a Difference Day as we work together to restore 3.6 acres of wetlands through a two-year, grant-funded restoration project. Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs to create healthy habitat for birds, mammals, pollinators, and macroinvertebrates, while supporting clean, healthy waterways. Wetlands help filter pollutants, reduce runoff, and protect water quality while supporting a thriving ecosystem. Come get your hands in the soil and help make a lasting difference for our local watershed!
Planting event will happen rain or shine. We invite you to bring your own gardening gloves if you have them. We will have gloves for participants to borrow as well. Planting in a wetland area means the soil could be wet and muddy. Wear sturdy shoes or boots that you don’t mind getting muddy. Waterproof or water resistant shoes are ideal. All tools will be provided for volunteers.
Expect to walk a short distance, about 1/8 of a mile, to the planting site. We will have coffee, snacks and water for volunteers on site.
Registration is required for all participants. Register here.
All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must provide 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
10:00am - 12:00pm
Wednesday Wanders
Water Resources Education Center
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
10:00am
- 12:00pm
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join us on a Wednesday morning guided nature walk where we will explore the rich ecosystems along the Columbia River and adjacent wetland. As we wander, we’ll discover native plants, search for wildlife, and learn how these vibrant waterways support life all around us. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned nature lover, there’s always something new to see and learn on the trail.
This program is great for families with youth ages 6 and older as well as adults who want to get out and wander! Be prepared to walk 2 miles on paved pathways, unpaved wetland trails, and along sandy beaches.
Registration is required. Sign up today!
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.
11:00am - 2:00pm
Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning Workshop
Water Resources Education Center
Saturday, October 31, 2026
11:00am
- 2:00pm
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join the Vancouver Bee Project for our annual Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning Workshop! Fall is the perfect time to care for your mason bees and prepare healthy cocoons for next spring.
Registration is full, but cancellations do happen. If you would like to be added to the waitlist for this event, please email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us with your name, email address, phone number, and the number of people in your party.
We’ll kick off the event with a short presentation covering mason bee biology, fall stewardship, and why cleaning bee houses is one of the best ways to reduce parasites, predators, and diseases. You’ll learn about common threats to mason bees—including pollen mites, parasitic wasps and flies, fungal diseases, and other nest associates—and how proper cleaning can improve bee survival.
After the presentation, we’ll roll up our sleeves and clean out mason bee nests together. If you have a mason bee house, bring it with you! We’ll help you determine the best way to harvest and clean your cocoons and answer your questions along the way.
New to mason bees? Don’t have a bee house? No problem! Come anyway! We’ll have plenty of nesting tubes to clean, including tubes from the Water Resources Education Center’s own mason bee houses, so everyone will get hands-on experience. This is a great opportunity to learn the process before starting your own mason bee house next spring.
Please note that bee houses with removable trays or removable nesting tubes are the easiest to clean. Houses with glued-in reeds, fixed tubes, or drilled wood blocks often cannot be cleaned without destroying the nesting material or, in some cases, the house itself. If you’re considering purchasing or building a mason bee house, we’ll also discuss designs that make annual cleaning simple, effective, and healthier for your bees.
Whether you’re caring for your first mason bee house or have years of experience, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn, share tips, discover the fascinating parasites and diseases that affect mason bees, and enjoy an afternoon of stewardship and community with fellow native bee enthusiasts.
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.
10:00am - 11:30am
Go with the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Water Resources Education Center
Thursday, November 5, 2026
10:00am
- 11:30am
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
This event has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Join us for a free tour of the City of Vancouver’s Marine Park Wastewater Treatment Facility. This 90-minute walking tour will take you behind the scenes of what happens to all the water that goes down the drains in your home, school, or business. From a flush, to laundry, to washing dishes, all the water we use goes into underground pipes and to a treatment plant to be cleaned. Learn how to care for our water and our utilities in this unique tour.
Tour is suitable for ages 8 and older. Closed-toed shoes required for all tour participants. Expect to walk 0.75 miles on paved surfaces. Participants will encounter several stairways during the tour of this facility and will need to be able to traverse multiple staircases. Tour is 20% indoors and 80% outdoors. All safety gear will be provided to participants. Meet at the Water Resources Education Center. Detailed logistics will be sent to registered participants.
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.
10:00am - 12:00pm
Wednesday Wanders
Water Resources Education Center
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
10:00am
- 12:00pm
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join us on a Wednesday morning guided nature walk where we will explore the rich ecosystems along the Columbia River and adjacent wetland. As we wander, we’ll discover native plants, search for wildlife, and learn how these vibrant waterways support life all around us. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned nature lover, there’s always something new to see and learn on the trail.
This program is great for families with youth ages 6 and older as well as adults who want to get out and wander! Be prepared to walk 2 miles on paved pathways, unpaved wetland trails, and along sandy beaches.
Registration is required. Sign up today!
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.
Events
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Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterMake a Difference Day: Wetland Restoration and Native Planting Event at the Water Center
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Join the Water Center and co-sponsor Clark Public Utilities for Make a Difference Day as we work together to restore 3.6 acres of wetlands through a two-year, grant-funded restoration project.…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterWednesday Wanders
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Join us on a Wednesday morning guided nature walk where we will explore the rich ecosystems along the Columbia River and adjacent wetland. As we wander, we’ll discover native plants,…
-
Registration FullWater Resources Education CenterMason Bee Cocoon Cleaning Workshop
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Join the Vancouver Bee Project for our annual Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning Workshop! Fall is the perfect time to care for your mason bees and prepare healthy cocoons for next…
-
CANCELEDWater Resources Education CenterGo with the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Thursday, November 5, 2026
This event has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. Join us for a free tour of the City of Vancouver’s Marine Park Wastewater Treatment Facility. This 90-minute walking tour…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterWednesday Wanders
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
Join us on a Wednesday morning guided nature walk where we will explore the rich ecosystems along the Columbia River and adjacent wetland. As we wander, we’ll discover native plants,…