Calendar
Meetings
10:00am - 11:30am
Go With the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Water Resources Education Center
Thursday, June 4, 2026
10:00am
- 11:30am
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
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. Due to the nature of the program, expect to smell strong odors at the beginning of the tour.
Meet at the Water Resources Education Center. Detailed logistics will be sent to registered participants.
Registration is required and space is limited. RSVP today!
9:30am - 11:30am
Marine Park Beach Cleanup
Marine Park
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
9:30am
- 11:30am
4501 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join the Water Resources Education Center to help remove plastic, styrofoam, and litter from the beaches and prevent it from entering and polluting the Columbia River.
All tools will be provided. Expect to walk 2.5 miles on uneven sandy beach areas. Volunteers will collect litter with litter pickers and carry it in buckets while walking the beach and surrounding area.
Registration is required. Sign up today!
All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must bring 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
1:00pm - 3:00pm
A Get Outdoors Day Movie Matinee – The Little Things That Run the World
Water Resources Education Center
Saturday, June 13, 2026
1:00pm
- 3:00pm
Water Resources Education Center
Contact: Volunteer Programs at cityvolunteer@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8344
Matinee capacity is limited please register here: Sign up today!
Join the City of Vancouver and community partners for a Bee City USA celebration during Great Outdoors Month featuring the documentary, “The Little Things That Run the World”. The film highlights pollinators—bees, butterflies, birds, and more—and their essential role in healthy ecosystems and local food systems. Watch the trailer here.
Before the film enjoy self-guided or guided walks through the natural area surrounding the Water Resources Education Center. The 45 minute guided walk through the garden begins at noon and requires advance RSVP.
The venue is wheelchair accessible, and accommodation requests can be shared through the RSVP form to support full participation.
As a proud Bee City USA community, Vancouver is committed to protecting and enhancing pollinator habitat through education, stewardship, and sustainable land management. Want to learn even more about the importance of pollinators? Join us at the June 20 Pollinator Festival.
Celebrate the outdoors and the small but mighty species that keep our landscapes and lives thriving.
10:00am - 12:00pm
Vancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip
Felida Moorage and Marine Services
Thursday, June 25, 2026
10:00am
- 12:00pm
4911 NW 122nd St, Vancouver, WA 98685
Explore Vancouver Lake from a whole new perspective! Join the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Vancouver’s Water Center education staff for a free family-friendly canoe paddle aboard 29-foot, 14-passenger Big Canoes! Glide past shore birds, look for signs of beaver activity, and learn about the Columbia River ecosystem from seasoned paddle guides and educators.
Plan to paddle for 1.5 hours in Estuary Partnership’s Big Canoes along with other participants, and walk under 1/4 of a mile on gravel, muddy/sandy beaches, and uneven terrain. Paddlers must be able to step down 2.5 feet into the canoe and sit on a wooden bench without back support for the duration of the paddle program.
Big Canoe paddles are suitable for ages 6 and older. Previous paddling experience is not required!
To help us make these free trips available to more participants, we ask that each person or family sign up for only one paddle trip per year.
Advanced registration is required, and space is limited. Sign up today!
You will receive a confirmation letter with full event details, meeting location, and how to prepare for your event after registration.
If you need to cancel, please do so at your earliest convenience to allow your spot to be filled by someone on the waitlist.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who can paddle?
- Big Canoe trips are suitable for ages 6 and older.
- Previous paddling experience is not necessary.
- Paddlers must step down 2.5 feet into the canoe and sit on a wooden bench without back support for 1.5 hours.
Do I need any equipment or special gear?
- Please come prepared for the weather with raingear or a hat and sunscreen/sun protection.
- Personal flotation devices (PFD’s) in youth – XXL are provided.
- This paddle trip will depart from a small sand patch and not a dock so waterproof shoes or sandals are recommended. Old tennis shoes work great, too.
Can I bring my camera or cell phone?
- Yes. Be advised that we cannot guarantee the safety of electronic devices and do not offer dry bags. Occasional splashes and rain make the bottom of the boat wet, but typically gear in a pocket will stay dry.
How safe are paddle trips?
- Safety is always our first priority. Our guides are trained in on-water rescue, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.
- Water activities carry inherent risk; guides take precautions to ensure a safe paddling experience.
- See our safety protocols or contact us for more information.
Questions? Contact the Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Vancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip
4911 NW 122nd Street
Thursday, June 25, 2026
1:00pm
- 3:00pm
4911 NW 122nd St, Vancouver, WA 98685
NEW! Afternoon paddle on Vancouver Lake!
Join the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Vancouver’s Water Center education staff for a free family-friendly canoe paddle aboard 29-foot, 14-passenger Big Canoes! Glide past shore birds, look for signs of beaver activity, and learn about the Columbia River ecosystem from seasoned paddle guides and educators.
Plan to paddle for 1.5 hours in Estuary Partnership’s Big Canoes along with other participants, and walk under 1/4 of a mile on gravel, muddy/sandy beaches, and uneven terrain. Paddlers must be able to step down 2.5 feet into the canoe and sit on a wooden bench without back support for the duration of the paddle program.
Big Canoe paddles are suitable for ages 6 and older. Previous paddling experience is not required!
To help us make these free trips available to more participants, we ask that each person or family sign up for only one paddle trip per year.
Advanced registration is required, and space is limited. Sign up today!
You will receive a confirmation letter with full event details, meeting location, and how to prepare for your event after registration.
If you need to cancel, please do so at your earliest convenience to allow your spot to be filled by someone on the waitlist.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who can paddle?
- Big Canoe trips are suitable for ages 6 and older.
- Previous paddling experience is not necessary.
- Paddlers must step down 2.5 feet into the canoe and sit on a wooden bench without back support for 1.5 hours.
Do I need any equipment or special gear?
- Please come prepared for the weather with raingear or a hat and sunscreen/sun protection.
- Personal flotation devices (PFD’s) in youth – XXL are provided.
- This paddle trip will depart from a small sand patch and not a dock so waterproof shoes or sandals are recommended. Old tennis shoes work great, too.
Can I bring my camera or cell phone?
- Yes. Be advised that we cannot guarantee the safety of electronic devices and do not offer dry bags. Occasional splashes and rain make the bottom of the boat wet, but typically gear in a pocket will stay dry.
How safe are paddle trips?
- Safety is always our first priority. Our guides are trained in on-water rescue, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.
- Water activities carry inherent risk; guides take precautions to ensure a safe paddling experience.
- See our safety protocols or contact us for more information.
Questions? Contact the Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us
10:00am - 11:30am
Go with the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Water Resources Education Center
Thursday, July 2, 2026
10:00am
- 11:30am
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
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 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.
Registration is required and space is limited. 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.
9:30am - 11:30am
Marine Park Beach Cleanup
Marine Park
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
9:30am
- 11:30am
4501 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join the Water Resources Education Center in helping clean up our beaches and waterways after the July 4th holiday. We will walk the shoreline collecting litter, plastic, Styrofoam, and other debris to help prevent pollution from entering the Columbia River.
All tools will be provided. Expect to walk 2.5 miles on uneven sandy beach areas. Volunteers will collect litter with litter pickers and carry it in buckets while walking the beach and surrounding area.
Registration is required. Sign up today!
All ages welcome. Youth under 18 must bring 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
Events
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterGo With the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Thursday, June 4, 2026
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…
-
Registration FullWater Resources Education CenterMarine Park Beach Cleanup
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Join the Water Resources Education Center to help remove plastic, styrofoam, and litter from the beaches and prevent it from entering and polluting the Columbia River. All tools will be…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterA Get Outdoors Day Movie Matinee – The Little Things That Run the World
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Matinee capacity is limited please register here: Sign up today! Join the City of Vancouver and community partners for a Bee City USA celebration during Great Outdoors Month featuring the…
-
Registration FullWater Resources Education CenterVancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Explore Vancouver Lake from a whole new perspective! Join the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Vancouver’s Water Center education staff for a free family-friendly canoe paddle aboard 29-foot, 14-passenger Big Canoes!…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterVancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip
Thursday, June 25, 2026
NEW! Afternoon paddle on Vancouver Lake! Join the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Vancouver’s Water Center education staff for a free family-friendly canoe paddle aboard 29-foot, 14-passenger Big Canoes! Glide past…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterGo with the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Thursday, July 2, 2026
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…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education CenterMarine Park Beach Cleanup
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Join the Water Resources Education Center in helping clean up our beaches and waterways after the July 4th holiday. We will walk the shoreline collecting litter, plastic, Styrofoam, and other…