Let the Good Times Roll! Kids love Nature Day Camp at Tryon Creek

Campers shakin' a tail feather in the shelter, August 2011

The bright, summery days of the Friends of Tryon Creek’s Nature Day Camps ended last month and Camp Director Casey Newman shared her thoughts on the nine weeks that the day camp runs every summer.

Nature Day Camp was started by Stephanie Wagner more than thirty years ago and originally served middle school students. It has expanded and now serves children from pre-K through 7^th grade. All told, over the course of the summer nine-hundred campers visit Tryon Creek. They spend their days outside exploring the park and engaging in hands-on forest-related activities (the fort-building exercise received a big thumbs-up).  

The forest provides an ideal hands-on lab for research: children are able to see Tryon Creek’s flora and fauna upclose. From salamanders to squirrels to slugs and birds, there is no shortage of interesting critters to inspire curiosity and wonder in forestgoers of all ages. Likewise, the park’s old (and young) trees, from the Douglas Fir (Oregon’s official state tree) to the Western red cedar, provide shade and shelter and a wealth of tales about their history and uses.

What is Ms. Newman’s favorite thing about Nature Day Camps? “Seeing the kids out there, having fun and hearing about the forest and being filled with curiosity and enthusiasm.” That is about as good as it gets.

Research shows that adults who spend time in the Great Outdoors - and are more likely to protect and preserve it - cultivated an appreciation for nature early on, spending time outside as children. Nature Day Camp is a great place for kids to experience that magic and inspiration and an appreciation for the natural world that encourages a lifelong ethic of stewardship.

Summer camp returns on June 25^th, 2012. We hope to see you there!

Friends reach out for volunteers

Richard Diffenderfer & Jessica Sweeney represent the Friends at The Standard's Volunteer Expo

The "support your community" ethic is alive and well in the Portland area. On Thursday, September 8th, Richard Diffenderfer, who volunteers for the Friends, and Jessica Sweeney, the Friends' Media/PR coordinator, participated in The Standard's annual Volunteer Expo in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Among the items Jessica toted along to display at the expo was a beaver (see above photo). This furry fellow usually resides in Tryon Creek's Nature Center. His urban appearance at the Friend's booth drew many glances and inspired spirited discussion about the nature of such animals. Was this an adult beaver, people wanted to know (yes). Do its teeth keep growing (yes, but gnawing on wood keeps them to a manageable length)?  Is it a rodent (yes)? Beavers swim faster than Michael Phelps thanks to their large webbed rear feet and their paddle-shaped tail, and have been hunted to extinction in certain areas (it's amazing the facts that come to light when people are networking!).

Along with beaver analyses, booth visitors were given information about the many volunteer opportunities that exist at Tryon Creek. Many people were interested in volunteering on their own while others represented companies and were looking for group volunteer opportunities that their entire staff could participate in.

Volunteers really are the backbone of the Friends of Tryon Creek. Their support and commitment help us provide environmental education and interpretive opportunities to the public, staff the Nature Center, lead guided hikes, maintain park trails, remove invasive species, assist with events and much, much more. The Friends were pleased to have the opportunity to reach out to the community to strengthen our volunteer base. Many thanks to The Standard for sponsoring the Volunteer Expo and allowing us to engage with the public.