Calendar
Meetings
10:00am - 12:00pm
Wednesday Wanders
Water Resources Education Center
Wednesday, April 22, 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. Walk will happen rain or shine.
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.
10:00am - 12:00pm
Vancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip
Felida Moorage and Marine Services
Friday, April 24, 2026
10:00am
- 12:00pm
4911 NW 122nd St, Vancouver, WA 98685
This trip has met its participant maximum. To add your name to the waitlist, email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us and tell us how many people are in your group.
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!
Advanced registration is required, and space is limited. Sign up today!
You will receive a confirmation letter with full event details, meeting location, online waivers, 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 - 1:00pm
Water Center BioBlitz
Water Resources Education Center
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00am
- 1:00pm
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Join the Water Center for our annual community BioBlitz! Help us document the plants, insects, lichen, birds, and other wildlife that are present in our wetlands and forest edges.
The BioBlitz helps us monitor species year after year to understand who is here, seasonal movement patterns, and flowering phenology. With the help of community scientists and nature enthusiasts like you, we will document as many species as we can.
During the BioBlitz, volunteer participants can sign up for a walk (descriptions below) that will be led by a local expert who will share identification tips with the group. We will use the free iNaturalist app to help us document all the species we find. No experience with the app is necessary to participate.
Drop in visitors are welcome to come explore and learn from our partners, too! Vancouver Bee Project, Columbia Springs, and Vancouver Audubon will be on hand with education tables for drop in visitors and walk participants, so come early and stay late to enjoy interacting with our partners.
The Bioblitz is a family-friendly event. Guided walks are appropriate for ages 6 and older, but all are welcome to attend. Walks will be approximately 75 minutes long. Walks may be on paved pathways, sandy beaches, or grassy areas. Detailed logistics for your specific walk will be emailed upon registration.
Registration is required for the walks. Sign up today to reserve your spot on a walk! Drop in visitors are welcome any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Walk Themes:
Birds: Join expert birders from Vancouver Audubon to identify birds by sight and sound. Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Sign up to reserve your spot in advance.
Plants, Moss, Lichen and Mushrooms: Join Water Center staff to explore the riparian edges in search of our stationary plant, lichen and fungus friends. Walk begins at 11 a.m. Sign up to reserve your spot in advance.
Bee Walk: Join the Vancouver Bee Project to look for all things bees in our gardens and along the trails. Walk begins at 11:30 a.m. Sign up to reserve your spot in advance.
Accessibility: Substrate and terrain are variable for each walk. In general, the bee walk will be in grassy fields and gravel pathways, along the edges of plants. The plant walk will be on mostly paved surfaces and will be 1.5 miles. The bird walk will be on paved pathways, non-paved wetland trails, and sandy beaches.
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, May 7, 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
Birds and Blooms of Burnt Bridge Creek
Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway-Stewart Glen
Saturday, May 30, 2026
9:30am
- 11:30am
, Vancouver, WA 98663
Join us for a springtime walk along Burnt Bridge Creek, where nature comes alive in May. We will learn how to identify the flowering native plants along the trail while listening for the songs of migrating song birds. Learn how the health of the water plays a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems, from the flowers along the creek’s edge to the birds passing through.
Registration required. Sign up today!
This walk is suitable for adults and families with youth ages 8 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Expect to walk 2.5 miles on mostly paved and flat pathways. Stairs descend from the street parking to the trailhead.
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!
Events
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education Center
Wednesday Wanders
Wednesday, April 22, 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 Center
Vancouver Lake Community Paddle Trip
Friday, April 24, 2026
This trip has met its participant maximum. To add your name to the waitlist, email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us and tell us how many people are in your group. Explore Vancouver Lake from…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education Center
Water Center BioBlitz
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Join the Water Center for our annual community BioBlitz! Help us document the plants, insects, lichen, birds, and other wildlife that are present in our wetlands and forest edges. The…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education Center
Go with the Flow: First Thursday Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour
Thursday, May 7, 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 Center
Birds and Blooms of Burnt Bridge Creek
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Join us for a springtime walk along Burnt Bridge Creek, where nature comes alive in May. We will learn how to identify the flowering native plants along the trail while…
-
Registration RequiredWater Resources Education Center
Go 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…