Calendar

Saturday, July 27, 2024
8:00am - 10:00am

4501 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Join the Water Center to pick up litter from the beaches around Marine Park and prevent litter from entering the Columbia River. All tools will be provided.  Expect to walk 1.5 miles on uneven terrain, sandy and muddy beach areas.

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.

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Tuesday, July 30, 2024
7:30pm - 9:30pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

As the summer sunsets and the heat dissipates, movement begins along the water’s edge. Join a Water Center educator to explore the twilight in and around the Columbia River and its wetlands.  Look for signs of animals, learn about plants, look for bats, and identify the twilight stars and planets that appear in the early evening sky.

Expect to walk 2 miles on uneven, sandy beaches and along paved pathways.  Trail not suitable for strollers.  Binoculars available to borrow.  Walk is suitable for ages 6 and older.

Registration is required. Sign up today!

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Wednesday, August 14, 2024
9:00am - 11:00am

4501 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Join the Water Center to help remove litter from the beaches and prevent it from entering and polluting the Columbia River. All tools will be provided. Expect to walk 1.5 to 2 miles on uneven sandy beach areas while carrying little buckets.

Registration is required. Sign up today!

All ages are welcome. Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Saturday, August 17, 2024
9:30am - 12:00pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

The high water of spring has given way to low summer flows along the Columbia River. With the seasonal wetland drying out, animal tracks can be found in the exposed muddy shoreline. Join a Water Center educator on an exploration along the water’s edge in search of the animals that call the edge of the cottonwood forest home.

Expect to walk 2 miles on uneven, sandy beaches, muddy wetlands, and along some paved pathways. Program suitable for ages 10 and older.

Registration is required. Sign up today!

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Thursday, August 22, 2024
9:30am - 11:30am

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 evening 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 to 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!

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.

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 rain gear or a hat and sunscreen/sun protection.
• Personal flotation devices (PFDs) 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.

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Saturday, August 24, 2024
10:00am - 12:30pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Have you ever wondered what happens to the water that goes down your drain? How far does it travel? How is it cleaned? Join us for a tour of the City’s Marine Park Wastewater Treatment Plant to learn about the unseen journey of our used water.

After the treatment plant tour, we will take a nature walk to the Columbia River to learn about the riparian ecosystem and see where the clean water is released.

This tour is suitable for adults and youth 8 years and older. The tour is inside and outside and will happen rain or shine. Closed-toed shoes are required. Expect to walk 1.5 to 2 miles on paved pathways, up and down stairs, and on sandy beaches.

Space is limited.  Sign up to reserve your spot today!

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details

Tuesday, August 27, 2024
7:30pm - 9:00pm

4600 SE Columbia Way,
Vancouver, WA 98661

Join us on a late summer twilight walk as we search for bats around the Water Center wetlands. Water Center educators and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteers will guide the group on a sunset stroll through the wetland areas around the Columbia River. We will learn about what makes a good bat habitat and listen for their ultrasonic calls with a bat detector.

The program is geared towards adults and youth ages 6 and older. Expect to walk 2 miles on paved and unpaved pathways, and uneven, sandy beaches. Please leave flashlights at home.

Space is limited. Sign up today to reserve your spot!

If this event becomes full since space is limited and you see that registrations are no longer being accepted, please use the contact email below to add your name to the waitlist.

Meeting Details