metroparent · galore! see pages 25 – 31 our annual earth day issue! raising a nature lover 5...

Serving Families in the Portland/Vancouver Area • April 2012

MetroParent

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Summer Camps Galore! See pages 25 – 31

Our Annual Earth Day Issue!Raising a Nature Lover5 Steps to a Greener FamilyUrban Hiking with Kids

30 Days of FunOur Fabulous Family Calendar

2 April 2012 metro-parent.com

metro-parent.com April 2012 5

Contents

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36

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FeaturesAges & Stages: Raising a Nature LoverAdvice for every phase of childhood ............................................................12

The Early Years (2 and under) ......................................................................13 Keep on Trekking: Having a baby doesn’t have to mean giving up outdoor adventures.

The Preschool Period (ages 3 to 5) ..............................................................14 Preschool Outside the Box: Why outdoor preschools rock!

Elementary Concerns (ages 6 to 10) .......................................................... 16 Unplug & Play: Can nature trump video games?

The ‘Middle Ages’ (ages 11 to 14) .............................................................. 18 Long Live Outdoor School

Earth Day, Every Day ................................................................................ 22 5 Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle

Kids Say the Greenest Things!............................................................... 32 Why Local Students Love The Eco-School Network

DepartmentsParent Postings ............................................................................................. 6 Announcements, community events, fundraisers and other useful information

Out & About ................................................................................................ 26 Urban Hiker: Exploring Nature Close to Home

Family Fare ................................................................................................... 34 Tin Shed Garden Cafe

Angels Among Us ...................................................................................... 35 Sauvie Island Center

Advertising SectionsGreen Business Guide ............................................................................13 – 19

Summer Camps / Classes ....................................................................... 25– 31

Parties ...................................................................................................... 46 – 47

Exclusively on Metro-Parent.com:Enter to win a John’ Incredible Pizza Tour Package! Click on the contest tab on our home page and submit your entry by April 30.

Our Parents’ Calendar featuring parent education offerings and other parenting-related events.

Stay informed and connected all month long!

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April Family CalendarFamily Calendar ................................ 36

In the Spotlight .................................. 36

Family Favorite: Easter Egg Hunts .............................. 38

Family Favorite: Earth Day Events ............................... 38


Find us in more places Metro Parent is now available

at your local Fred Meyer and QFC stores! You can always find all our regular issues and special supple-ments online at metro-parent.com, too.

Happy 50th, Packy! Oregon’s most beloved pachy-

derm turns 50 on April 14 and the Oregon Zoo is planning an elephant-sized celebration.

Packy’s birthday festivities be-gin at 10 am April 14 with music, games and more. Cake will be served to zoo visitors at noon with a cake parade to the birthday boy himself at 1:45 pm. (He’ll chow down at 2 pm.)

If you share a birthday with Packy – April 14, 1962 – bring your ID to receive free zoo admission on the big day for you and a guest. If you were born on April 14 or in 1961 (but not both), you’ll receive half-off admission for yourself and a guest on Packy’s birthday. (Proof of birthdate required.)

For more information, visit oregonzoo.org.

… and happy 30th to our friends at Learning Palace!

We’d like to offer a hearty congratulations to Learning Palace, celebrating its 30th anniversary this spring.

In 1982, Portland mom and pop Norma and Norman Faris opened their first educational supply store and the company has been going strong ever since. Sadly, Nor-man passed away in 2005, but the vision he and Norma shared of a family-run store providing high-quality educational products continues as Norma operates six Learning Palace locations in Oregon and southwest Washington with her son, three daughters, son-in-law and two nephews.

To celebrate three wonderful decades, Learning Palace is offering discounts on selected products through April 22. They’re hosting celebrations – including giveaways and goodie bags – on April 14 from noon to 4 pm at all locations; their Cascade, Beaverton and Salem stores will also offer kids’ activities and refreshments.

Visit them online at learning palace.com.

Bowling for foster kidsJoin Sleep Country USA for

their annual Pajama Bowl for Foster Kids April 15. The popular event raises funds for a variety of organizations helping foster children by providing necessi-ties, resources and extras such as funds for summer camp, music lessons, sports teams, tutoring and more. To date, the Pajama Bowl has raised more than $476,000 for local organizations helping foster kids.

The Portland pajama party will be held at Big Al’s in Vancouver and Beaverton. To participate, teams of four to five people must raise a minimum of $250. Each

team can designate the recipient foster organi-zation that will receive their donation dollars.

Each member of the winning team receives a queen-sized mattress set. Scores are based on combined bowling scores and total dona-tions, plus additional points for wearing pajamas and participat-ing in raffles. Other fun prizes will be awarded throughout the event.

Learn more at pajamabowl.com.

Tenth annual Autism Society of Oregon Walk-a-thon

Join the Autism Society of Oregon on April 15 for their annual fundrais-ing walk-a-thon,

followed by a day of fun at Oaks Park. Registration begins at 9 am. The half-mile walk begins at 10:30 am. $12/adult, $9/ages 12 and under, with discounts for teams of 10 or more.

The event will take place at Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, with discounted ride bracelets available to participants. For more information, visit oregonautism.com.

Bargain hunters’ paradise(s)

Two mega consignment sales are on tap this month with loads of great gear at bargain basement prices.

Super Kids Resale features over 60,000 gently used items, from clothes (including teen and junior sections), toys and baby gear to books, movies, furniture, bedding and more, plus entertainment, face painting and more. Check website for details on daily specials, fam-ily activities and to register for presales. Public sale runs 9 am to 8 pm April 12 & 13 and 9 am to 5 pm April 14 & 15. Just east of Mall 205, 10445 SE Washington St. superkidsresale.net. (A second SuperKids sale will be held in Vancouver, Wash., May 4-6. Check website for details.)

Just Between Friends (jbfsale.com) hits the Portland Expo Center later this month with 45,000 square feet of children’s and maternity gear. Presales for volunteers, con-signors, teachers and foster parents is April 26 (check website for

Packy as he approaches the big 5-0!

Parent Postings

Learning Palace – opened by local parents Norma and Norman Faris in 1982 – celebrates 30 years with special sales and events this month.

Baby Packy in 1962 at the Oregon Zoo.

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Parent Postings continues on page 8


times). The public sale runs noon to 7 pm April 27, 9 am to 4 pm April 28, and 9 am to 2 pm April 29. jbfsale.com.

Admission to both sales is free.

Eat Mobile food cart festival April 28

The fifth an-nual Eat Mobile food cart festival is set for April 28 from 6 to 10 pm in the Oregon Museum of Sci-ence and Industry (OMSI) parking lot. The event will showcase 50 of the city’s best food carts, along with demonstra-tions on the science behind the food. Solar generators and waste-composting facilities will make it a truly sustain-able event.

Tickets are $18 general admission, with a limited number of pre-tasting tickets available for $47, including complimentary beverages and access to the event one hour prior to general admis-sion. Proceeds from concessions will benefit Mercy Corps North-west’s local economic development program, which assists entrepre-neurs in securing funds for small businesses, including food carts.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit wweek.com/eatmobile.

Dreading the “birds & bees” talk?

Join sex education expert Amy Lang for a two-hour workshop where you’ll learn when to start

talking to your kids about sex, what they need to know and when, and how to confidently open the conversation with them sooner rather than later. $15. April 7, 5 to 6:30 pm. St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harri-son St. Purchase tickets at 3myths.eventbrite.com. Learn more about Amy Lang at birdsandbeesandkids.com.

Camp Fire Celebrity + Youth Talent Show

Camp Fire Columbia is host-ing its second annual Celebrity + Youth Talent Show fundraiser, pitting talented youth from the organization’s School Year Program against local celebrities in a fun and entertaining format, on April 26 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. All ages are welcome. $75, $95 VIP. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St. 971-340-1600. campfirecolumbia.org.

Parent Postings continues on page 10

Parent PostingsServing the Families of the Portland Metropolitan Area

Metro Parent P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660 Phone: 503-460-2774; Fax: 503-331-3445

Publisher Keith Goben, 206-729-2484 [email protected]

Editor Marie Sherlock, 503-287-9371 [email protected]

Managing Editor Emily Puro [email protected]

Calendar Editor Teresa Carson [email protected]

Contributing Writers Jared Ishkanian, Madeline Cox Landis, Marie Langager, Anne Laufe, Joanne Lazo

Advertising Account Executives

Westside/National/Outside Metro Area Debbie Dille, 503-997-4044 fax: 503-352-4373 [email protected]

Eastside/Vancouver/Washington Ali King, 503-331-8184; 360-695-0455 fax: 503-331-3445 [email protected]

Design & Production Susan Bard

For distribution issues, e-mail us at [email protected]

For calendar submissions, e-mail us at [email protected]

Metro Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. and is copy-right 2012 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Metro Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

Metro Parent reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised herein.

Metro Parent does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing Inc. and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of any information contained herein. The contents of Metro Parent and its Web site are for informa-tional purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or treatment.

Metro Parent

Who will reign supreme – youth from Camp Fire Columbia’s School Year Program or local celebrities – at the Celebrity + Youth Talent Show fundraiser April 26?

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMP FIRE COLUMBIA


Portland mom heads to DC

Southeast Portland mom Betsy Salter will represent Oregon at the third-annual Mom Congress on Education and Learning in Washington, DC, April 29-May 1. One delegate from each state and the District of Columbia has been selected to attend the conference – which is organized by Parenting magazine – where they’ll connect with national leaders in education, Parenting editors and past Mom Congress delegates to exchange ideas on how to improve the na-tion’s schools.

Salter, the mother of a sixth grader, was chosen for her outstand-ing contributions and dedication to improving local schools. She cur-rently serves on the Portland Public Schools Citizen Budget Review Committee, the district Parent In-volvement Committee and the Mt. Tabor Middle School Site Council. Salter is also the proud recipient of the Multnomah County Democrats 2012 Dick Celsi Lifetime Service Award.

Learn more about the upcoming Mom Congress at Parenting.com/momcongress.

PP&R employee receives presidential honor

Portland Parks & Recreation Sports Management Supervisor

André Ashley was honored at the White House in March as a

“Let’s Move! and Physical Activity Champion of Change” as part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative. The award recog-nizes individuals who empower and inspire youth in their communities to lead active, healthy lifestyles. Learn more at whitehouse.gov/champions.

Parent EducationParenting Beyond Belief. Dale

McGowan, author of Parenting Beyond Belief (AMACOM, 2007), offers practical solutions for secular parenting in a religious world. $35, $65/couple, $25/Friends of the Center for Inquiry. April 21, 1 to 5 pm. Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave. centerforinquiry.net/portland/events/.

Plugged In. This community lecture with Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee will be filled with research, music, videos and engaging information on how technology is shaping our brains, our relation-ships and our sense of self. All ages welcome. April 17, 6:30 to 9 pm. Free; donations welcome. Mult-nomah Arts Center Auditorium, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-823-2787. MultnomahArtsCenter.org.

More parent education and parent sup-port group information can be found at metro-parent.com.

Parent Postings


As a card-carrying dirt worshipper, I was determined to introduce my children to the wonders of nature as early as possible. While my

daughter was still fresh from the womb, I stuffed her in a front pack and hiked up Dog Mountain, Angel’s Rest and the Salmon River Trail. Before she was 4 months old, she had stayed in her grandparents’ rustic family cabin with no running water and experienced her first camping trip.

Our son was an autumn baby, but by time his first summer rolled around, he was out hiking, camping and swimming in rivers with the rest of us.

Looking back, I realize I probably overdid it. My kids were just as happy strolling around our city block looking at insects, flowers and cats as they were being carried on a trail in the mountains hours from home. But at least I got them out there.

However we choose to do it, connecting our kids with nature is important for many reasons. It’s good for their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, and raising kids who appreciate nature’s bounty is good for the planet, too.

No matter how old your children are today, we hope you’ll find inspiration and ideas for fostering a lifelong love of nature in the pages ahead.

Raising a Nature Lover

The Early Years ........................ 13 Keep On Trekking

The Preschool Period ............. 14 Preschool Outside the Box

Elementary Concerns............. 16 Nature Unplugged

The ‘Middle Ages’ .................. 18 Long Live Outdoor School

Ages & Stages

Get Connected If you’re a new parent interested in getting together with other families in the area for hikes and outdoor adventures, check out Little NW Hikers Meetup Group (meetup.com/littlehikers/), NW Outdoor Enthusiast Moms, Dads and Babes Co-op (meetup.com/NW-outdoor-enthusiast-coop/) or OutdoorDads (outdoordads.org).

For ideas on getting out and about on your own, visit local dad Michael Barton’s blog Exploring Portland’s Wild Places (explore-portlandnature.wordpress.com), offering a wealth of information about outdoor places to explore with infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

By Anne Laufe

To connect with other parents who were eager to

explore nature with their little ones, Vancouver mom Shareen Zito (pictured with

husband, Ron, and son, Aiden, now 2) formed the Little NW Hikers Meetup

group.

“Changing my toddler’s diaper on a rock on top of Angel’s Rest – what used to be an easy hike for me – brings a whole new meaning to adventure,” says Vancouver, Wash., mom Carlie Kallman, pictured with daughter Caylie, then 15 months old.

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Having a baby certainly changes your life, but it doesn’t mean you have to leave your outdoor interests behind. You’ll probably have to change your expectations, and the word “adventure” may take on new meaning, but many local parents say they spend more time in nature now than they did before they had children.

Shareen Zito, who lives in Vancouver, Wash., is one of those parents. A longtime outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, camping, canoeing and kayaking. When she and her husband, Ron, became parents two and a half years ago, they continued their outdoor adventures with their infant son in tow.

For Zito, having a child has increased her desire to get outside and her appreciation of the world around her. “It made me slow down and re-inspired my love of nature,” she says. “Before it was about getting to the top. Now it’s about the journey.”

Hoping to connect with other parents who wanted to spend time out-doors with their young children, Zito formed the Little NW Hikers Meetup Group. Now she and her son get together with others in the group several times a week to explore parks, woods and open spaces in the Portland metro area. “It’s good to have other people in the same situation,” she says.

Carlie Kallmann, who also lives in Vancouver, Wash., discovered Little NW Hikers when her daughter was about 9 months old and now helps organize the group. She, too, was an avid outdoorswoman before starting a family, spending weekends hiking, climbing and cross-country skiing. She met her husband at a rock gym in Portland. Their dedication to outdoor adventure was so much a part of their lives they had a climbing-themed wedding.

As soon as Kallmann became pregnant with her first child, however, she found her interest in high-risk activities diminished considerably. “I felt nauseated,” she recalls. “I felt different. Cross-country skiing was out, and I definitely didn’t feel like hanging from a rope.”

Still, soon after her daughter Caylie was born, Kallmann began putting her in a front pack and taking her out on hikes. With Little NW Hikers, she and Caylie, now 2, have explored Tryon Creek, Forest Park, Mt. Tabor and parts of the Columbia Gorge. They also went on a one-night camping trip with other families, choosing a walk-in site away from the main camping area so crying babies wouldn’t disturb other campers at Battle Ground Lake State Park.

“It’s been a completely different experience for me because I just couldn’t go as easily and my craving for adventure had changed,” Kallmann explains. “Changing my toddler’s diaper on a rock on top of Angel’s Rest – what used to be an easy hike for me – brings a whole new meaning to adventure.”

For Kallmann and others, the key to having fun outdoors with young children is remaining flexible. The first time she and her husband, Paul, took their daughter snowshoeing, Caylie started screaming the minute they put her in the pack and they turned around after only 25 yards on the trail. Even so, Kallmann says they’re glad they gave it a try and she remembers it as a good family day together, complete with a stop at Joe’s Donuts.

Kallmann is now pregnant with their second child and continues to get outside as often as she can. Covered head to ankle in a long raincoat, Caylie goes out in any weather to check out sticks and rocks.

“I let her stop and really look at what’s around her,” Kallmann says. “I’ve seen it all before, but it’s all new to her. It’s really about the process and not how far we get.”

The Early Years (Ages 2 and under):

Keep On Trekking!

“Before (having

a baby) it was

about getting to

the top. Now it’s

about the journey.” Shareen Zito, Vancouver, Wash

Green Business Guide

Raising a Nature Lover continues on page 14


“Forest Kindergartens” serving children ages 3 to 6 have been popular in Europe for decades, and it’s no wonder they’re becoming increasingly popular here in the outdoorsy Pacific Northwest.

The idea behind outdoor preschools, says Chrissy Larson, who directs Port-land Parks and Recreation’s Nuts About Nature! Outdoor Nature School, is to immerse kids in the natural world. Teachers combine natural themes with developmental-ly appropriate activities and kindergarten readiness skills, directing the learning based on the children’s interests.

Mother Earth School at Tryon Creek State Park, Woodhaven Preschool in

Beaverton, and Nuts About Nature!, held at various parks throughout Portland, are three local preschools that meet outside most of the year, regardless of the weather.

Larson says good communication helps parents prepare their children for spending the days outside and kids quickly learn to dress in layers and wear hats and mittens in the colder months. Preschoolers stay warm by hiking, playing games and exploring, and they learn to find natural places to take shelter during heavy downpours.

Woodhaven Preschool meets at St. Bartholomew’s Church (although the school is not affiliated with the church), adjacent to C.E. Mason Wetlands. Kids keep their coats and boots in a shed on the church property and sometimes gather at a covered picnic table there. A canopy of Douglas firs also blocks much of the rain.

“We’ve been outside every day this entire school year and I haven’t had one complaint about the weath-er,” says Woodhaven teacher Heidi Mann. “If the kids are dry and warm on the inside, they are able to enjoy the rain and the wind and the cold.”

For Mann, outdoor preschools are a way to repli-cate the free outdoor play previous generations took for granted. Kids at Woodhaven engage in imagina-tive games, hike to the wetlands to observe the daily changes in the flora and fauna, and tend a small garden. Sometimes the class follows a theme that goes with the

Raising a Nature Lover continued from page 13

The Preschool Period (Ages 3 to 5):

Preschool Outside the Box

Portland Parks & Recreation offers its “Nuts About Nature!” outdoor nature school program at numerous parks around the area.

Traditional preschool activities like story time are easily adapted to an outdoor environment.

Making friends with a salamander

is just one of the many perks of

attending an out-door preschool!

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Ages & Stages


season. Other times the lesson comes out of the moment, like the day the field was flooded by rain and they built pontoons.

Kids follow their interests and engage with nature, but they learn about much more than the environment. Larson says outdoor programs encourage children to make choices and be involved in decisions that can feel quite challenging for them. In her classes, rather than having a lot of rules, she and the kids brainstorm possible solutions to potential problems.

There’s no blanket rule about kids playing with sticks, for example. In-stead, Larson and her students talk about potential hazards and discuss how they can manage their behavior when they’re holding and carrying sticks.

Mann believes outdoor classrooms help children become independent learners who are interested in forming questions – and finding answers. “They have learned how to learn,” she says. “They have the thirst for knowledge and the self-confidence in their learning abilities.”

Nature, fans of outdoor preschools say, is a perfect classroom in which kids this age can learn just about everything they need to know.

Get in Touch: Some outdoor preschool programs in the area include:

Mother Earth School: 11640 SW Boones Ferry Rd. 503-893-9774. motherearthschool.com.

Portland Parks & Recreation Nuts About Nature Program: Outdoor preschool, after school and other nature programs for ages 3 to 8. Multiple locations. 503-823-1149. portlandonline.com (search “Nuts About Nature”)

Woodhaven School: 11265 SW Cabot St., Beaverton. 503-520-0807. woodhavenschool.com.

If you’re interested in joining group hikes for families with young children, check out Muddy Boots Family Nature Club (muddybootspdx.org), as well as the resources listed under “Get Connected” on page 12.

“If the kids are dry

and warm on the

inside, they are able

to enjoy the rain

and the wind and

the cold.” Heidi Mann, Woodhaven Preschool




According to a 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, today’s 8- to 18-year-olds spend an average of 7 hours and 18 minutes every day staring at electron-ic screens, from watching television to playing video games to texting their friends. The amount of time kids spend in these sedentary activities has been associated with rising obesity rates, sleep deprivation and social isolation, among numerous other ills.

Concurrently, because they’re spending so much time indoors engaged with electronics, kids aren’t reaping the benefits of outdoor play, which range from increased focus to greater agility and even better sleep (see The Nature-Sleep Connection on page 20). Studies also show kids who regularly engage in free play outside feel less stress in their lives than those who don’t.

In addition to being good for our children, spend-ing time outdoors is good for the health of the planet. As Gala Miller, executive director of Columbia Springs environmental education center in Vancouver, Wash., says, “When kids have positive experiences at a young age and you plant those seeds early, they care about the earth and can be good stewards.”

So how do we pry our children away from those end-lessly fascinating gadgets and encourage them to spend at least part of each day outside?

“Let the experience be compelling,” says Tony Deis, founder of Trackers Earth, which offers outdoor pro-grams and camps for kids as well as training programs for adults. “I’ve never been a fan of making kids go out-side. Instead, the skills we teach are larger than life and we build a compelling story around them.”

Trackers camps for school-age kids center around engaging themes such as Pirate Adventure, Huck Finn Fishing and Forest Ninja. Kids become heroes of their own stories, says Deis, while also learning how to carve, whittle, build a shelter, take care of livestock and survive in the wilderness.

“Parents can cultivate that sense of adventure, too,” he says. “Go out and build a shelter with your kids. Lure them away from the computer by telling them you need help in the yard, then tell them you’re going to build a fort.”

Columbia Springs offers summer camps, educa-tional field trips, family workshops and night hikes as well as a place where families can explore on their own. According to Miller, once kids arrive at the 100-acre open space – with two lakes, forests, trails and a trout hatchery – they find plenty to do.

The goal of the center is not to overwhelm young people with information, but to give them tools to explore the world around them. They’re encouraged to ask questions and seek answers by looking not just at things, but over, under and around them as well.

“We give kids time to look and observe,” says Miller, “so that they see the natural world in a whole new way.”

Elementary Concerns (Ages 6 to 10):

Nature, UnpluggedThe First Step: ‘Screen-Free Week’

Screen-Free Week (formerly “TV Turnoff Week”) will be observed April 30 to May 6 this year, giving your family an ideal opportunity to unplug and play.

During the week, families across the country will refrain from electronic entertainment, rediscovering the joys of nature and of connecting with one another in real life rather than via electronic screens. Organizers hope families who participate will be inspired to make lifestyle changes that will last year round.

For information about Screen-Free Week, the effects of exces-sive screen time on children, and resources for making the most of your unplugged family time, visit commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek.

“Go out and build a shelter with your kids. Lure them away from the computer by telling them you need help in the yard, then tell them you’re going

to build a fort.” Tony Deis, Trackers Earth


So much better than a video game! Campers learn stealth archery skills with bows they make themselves (using safe foam arrows) at Trackers Earth’s “Archery Apprenticeship” camp.

Who needs TV? These girls are mixing dough to make

pizza in a wood-fired outdoor kitchen at Trackers Earth’s

“Little House” camp.

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Ages & Stages


Go Outside and Play!

If your kids need some incentive to unplug and explore the great outdoors, get in touch with the organizations below, all of which offer year-round outdoor programs for school-age kids:

Audubon Society of Portland: 5151 NW Cornell Rd. 503-292-9453. audubonportland.org.

Columbia Springs: 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy., Vancouver, Wash. 360-880-0936. columbiasprings.org.

Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI): Classes held at vari-ous locations. omsi.edu, 503-797-4000

Portland Parks & Recreation: Multiple locations. 503-823-PLAY. port-landonline.com/parks.

Trackers Earth: 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave. 503-559-2825. trackersearth.com.

Tryon Creek State Natural Area: 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-4398. tryonfriends.org.

Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District: Multiple locations. 503-629-6305. thprd.org.

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation: Multiple locations. 360-696-8236. cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation.

To help make nature exploration a family affair, check out Nature Rocks (naturerocks.org), a national program aimed at inspiring families to get outside. Their expansive website offers a wealth of activity ideas and local areas to explore.

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Since 1966, Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) Outdoor School has provided experiential learn-ing opportunities for thousands of sixth graders and their high school counselors throughout Multnomah County. According to Outdoor School director Dan Prince, both age groups reap numerous benefits from the program.

“What sixth grade students talk about most on the academic side is how interesting it is to observe and do science experiments outside where the plants and ani-mals are,” Prince says. “They’re really excited to engage in authentic scientific tasks.”

Prince, who has worked for Outdoor School since 1988, also says kids who might not do well in the classroom often thrive at Outdoor School as the pro-gram relies on observation and experience rather than textbooks.

On the social and emotional side of things, kids report feeling a sense of accomplishment after living away from home for a week – or even a few days – meet-ing new friends and being put in challenging situations. “Kids say they’re really transformed by it,” Prince adds.

For many high school students, spending a session at Outdoor School as a student leader can be equally, if not more, profound. After every session, the high school participants are asked to respond to a survey about their experience at Outdoor School, with a focus on the 40 Developmental Assets identified by Search Institute as building blocks of healthy development. (Learn more at search-institute.org/developmental-assets.).

In addition to reporting that they learned more about sustainability and other information that will help them in their science and math classes, these stu-dents say they learned how to mediate conflicts among their peers, developed leadership skills and discovered activities they love doing and are good at.

“A lot of kids find their path at Outdoor School,” Prince says. “It might be teaching or social work or an-other helping profession. It’s really exciting to see them find their way.”

Oliviah Frankel, a senior at Grant High School in Portland and soon to be a four-time student leader, says volunteering at Outdoor School helped shape her goal of becoming a teacher.

“One of my favorite moments is the ‘aha!’ moment when kids finally understand something that you’ve been trying to teach them,” Frankel says. “I love helping out and knowing how much I’m needed there.”

Frankel also loves working with kids outdoors, where they can see firsthand how a bird adapts and touch the plants they’re studying, rather than reading about them in a book. Another bonus of the outdoor classroom, she says, is that things aren’t always planned which she thinks helps kids learn to be flexible and adaptable.

Five-time student leader Chiara Forrester, a senior at Pacific Crest Community School, says she was shy and self-conscious before working at Outdoor School. Seeing others take risks, whether by leading a group of sixth graders on a hike, performing a skit before a hundred people, or singing songs at meal time, helped her break

The ‘Middle Ages’ (Ages 11 to 14, and beyond):

Long Live Outdoor School!

Ages & Stages

“Everyone who’s

from Portland has

been changed in

some way by the

program. Even if

they didn’t go,

they’ve been

touched by

someone who

did.” Chiara Forrester, former MESD Outdoor School student leader



Life sciences truly come to life when you move the lessons to the great outdoors.

Hands-on exploration and learning to work

cooperatively are two of the biggest ben-

efits of the Outdoor School program.

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The 411 on Outdoor School

For more information about MESD’s Outdoor School, visit mesd.k12.or.us/os/OutdoorSchool or call 503-257-1600.

The Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) runs a similar program, Northwest Outdoor Science School, serving students in Washington and Columbia counties as well as several counties outside the metro region. Visit nwresd.k12.or.us or call 503-614-1428 to learn more.

Students in some North Clackamas School District middle schools at-tend MESD Outdoor School while others attend the NWRESD program.

According to representatives from both Evergreen and Vancouver school districts, outdoor school is no longer offered to their students.

For additional information, contact your local school district.

Save Outdoor School

In the last year, MESD’s Outdoor School budget was slashed from $2.3 million to $1.5 million. The core staff was cut from 13 full-time employees to eight, and the number of seasonal workers was reduced significantly. Now the three largest school districts sending kids to Outdoor School – Portland, David Douglas and Gresham-Barlow – can afford to send students for only two nights instead of five as in previous years.

At the same time, according to Outdoor School Director Dan Prince, the number of students attending the program increased last year from 3,500 to 4,000 and likely will be even higher this year. The program also is draw-ing students from farther away, including Bend and Sheridan.

To help keep the program running – and to try to restore it to the full week-long experience of years past – former and current student leaders have formed Save Outdoor School, a group dedicated to raising funds and educating the public on the myriad benefits of the program.

Find out what you can do to help save Outdoor School at saveoutdoorschool.org.



The Nature-Sleep Connection

The National Wildlife Federation recently issued a guide for parents detailing how outdoor time can help kids get a good night’s sleep. Called “Green Time for Sleep Time,” the report says young children and teens are losing between 10 and 14 hours of sleep each week due to overstimulation from electronic devices, staying up late texting, and not getting enough outdoor exercise.

According to studies cited in the report, regular doses of bright natural light help children stay alert during the day, elevate their moods and make it easier to sleep at night. Nature also offers calming qualities that relieve stress and have been found to help kids with attention disorders concentrate better. Exercise releases soothing endorphins and can help with the production of melatonin, a natural sleep aid, too. The report also notes that unstructured outdoor play encourages more opportuni-ties for exploration – as well as more jumping, climbing, tumbling and running – than indoor exercise.

Learn more at nwf.org/sleepreport.

out of her shell. “I decided that I would just go out of my comfort zone all of the time,” she says.

Since then, Forrester has helped dozens of sixth graders step out of their comfort zones to take advantage of all that Outdoor School has to offer. In the process, she’s become passionate about the educational and emotional benefits of hands-on learning. She also has noticed deep and lasting changes in her peers.

“Outdoor School helps people become more caring and empathetic,” she says, “and it helps people become leaders in our community. Everyone who’s from Portland has been changed in some way by the program. Even if they didn’t go, they’ve been touched by someone who did.”

Both Forrester and Frankel are active in Save Outdoor School (see side-bar, page 19), working to keep the program healthy and vibrant so future generations can continue to experience what they love so much.

Anne Laufe is a Portland freelance writer and mom.


Ages & Stages


Earth Day is a worldwide celebra-tion that has inspired environmental responsibility and green action for 42 years, but if you want to take your commitment beyond April 22 and live each day with respect for our planet, it’s time to examine your carbon footprint.

Carbon foot-what? A carbon footprint calculates how much carbon dioxide (CO2) – a global warming pol-lutant – is released from the energy or fuel associated with your daily activities.

Flip on a light switch and your footprint grows slightly; take the bus instead of

driving (better yet, bike or walk) and your footprint shrinks.

“When we’re in tide pools or wildflower meadows, we step carefully to protect the beau-

tiful surroundings,” says Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) Outreach Director Jen Coleman.

“Tracking your carbon footprint is the same idea, but it’s about protecting our climate. Stepping lightly

today with eco-friendly and energy-saving habits is good for Oregon right now and has lasting meaning for the planet you leave for your children and generations to come.”

Americans have big carbon footprints. We each generate, on average, almost four times more carbon dioxide each year than the rest of the world. Thank-fully, OEC (oeconline.org) has come up with easy ways to lower your footprint at home and on the go. These simple steps will help you reduce your impact on the environment, and maybe even put a few dollars back in your pocket!

Calculating Your Carbon FootprintWhen you start a diet, you typically begin by step-

ping on a scale to establish a baseline. Similarly, when you begin taking steps to “green” your lifestyle, you’ll want to calculate your current carbon footprint. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Carbon Calculator (deq.state.or.us) is a great tool for doing just that. By entering your daily habits – such as how much you travel, the kinds of food you eat, and how much you spend on shopping trips – you’ll get a good idea of where you stack up against your neighbors. Shift a few numbers around and you’ll quickly see how small changes – like the ones outlined below – can significant-ly reduce your family’s carbon footprint.

Five Simple Steps – At Home, On the Road and On the Ballot

Step 1: Set Your ‘StatOne of the most

effective ways to begin reducing your carbon tally is by getting smart about your programmable thermostat. Typically, if you can limit your thermostat to no more than 68 degrees in winter and no less than 78 degrees in summer, you’ll cut your CO2 output between 10 and 20 percent. (Be sure to use the convenient program-mable features to further maximize savings by adjusting the temperature settings accordingly when you’re out of the house or asleep.) Shifting your thermostat just two degrees to conserve heat and air conditioning can save you $100 or more every year.

Step 2: Cool Your JetsYou might also be surprised to learn how much en-

ergy it takes to heat water. Lowering your hot water tank to 120 degrees, installing low-flow showerheads and washing your clothes in cold water – many detergents are now designed for cold water washes – all will add up to both carbon and cash savings.

Bonus Step: Go Beyond Simple Temp SettingsIf you’d like to go above and beyond these simple

temperature tips, Energy Trust of Oregon (energytrust.org) is a great resource. Their website has a free Home Energy Profile tool that gives customized energy recommendations based on factors such as your heat-ing system, insulation and appliances. Energy Trust can also point you toward rebates on energy-efficient appliances that can take a big bite out of energy bills, helping you recoup your upfront investments sooner than you think.

If you’re ready to give your whole house an en-ergy face-lift, check out Clean Energy Works Oregon (cleanenergyworksoregon.org), an all-in-one program that gives you access to low-cost financing, energy experts and certified contractors.

Earth Day, Every DayBy Jared Ishkanian, Oregon Environmental Council

Five Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle

“When we’re in tide pools

or wildflower meadows,

we step carefully to

protect the beautiful

surroundings. Tracking

your carbon footprint

is the same idea, but it’s

about protecting our

climate.” Jen Coleman, OEC

Shifting your thermostat just two

degrees to conserve heat and air condi-

tioning can cut your CO2 output between

10 and 20 percent and save you $100 or

more every year.


Step 3: Trim the FatWhen it comes to our dinner plates, we’re regularly reminded to count

calories for the good of our waistlines, but those same decisions also can help determine our impact on the planet. Meat and dairy items typically have much higher carbon footprints because of the effort and resources it takes to raise, produce, package and transport them.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to food is the more often you can eat plant-based meals from local sources, the better for reducing your

Eating more plant-based meals – with an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients – has a huge impact on the health of the planet and your family.

Earth Day Every Day continues on page 24


greenhouse gas emissions. OEC’s Vote With Your Fork e-newsletter (oeconline.org/fork) is a great resource for choosing healthier, more sustainable foods. Other simple steps like shopping at farmers markets or sup-porting community supported agriculture programs are fun ways to rally your family around healthier alterna-tives to processed foods. And don’t forget to bring your reusable bags when you shop!

Step 4: Bike, Bus or Hybrid “The beauty of Portland is that with a little prac-

tice, it’s pretty easy to find streets with more room and less traffic that make biking a breeze,” says northeast Portland dad Dave Van’t Hof, who logs about 50 miles a week biking to work and occasionally to school with his kids. “Biking is a great way for us to have fun as a family and spend time together in a way that driving in a car just can’t touch.” Metro’s interactive Bike There! map is great for planning family-friendly trips (oregonmetro.gov).

If the wet weather or long distances are standing in the way of your two-wheeled trip, taking public transportation is another option. Transportation is the second largest contribu-tor to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (behind electric-ity generation), so anything

you can do to keep your own car in park will help your carbon footprint trend in the right direction.

Even if your commute or lifestyle requires a vehicle to be on the go, if you can afford to invest in a hybrid you can still make a big difference. By switching from a conventional gas-powered vehicle to a hybrid, you’ll save as much as 16,000 pounds of CO2 and $3,750 a year according to stopglobalwarming.org.

Step 5: Get Political

When you decide to bike instead of drive or upgrade to energy efficient appliances, you can feel good about improving our community and showing your chil-dren how to live a greener lifestyle. But environmentalists are quick to point out there’s another way you can make an impact that ulti-mately might be the most important step in reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

“Making your voice heard and holding politicians responsible for decisions that have monumental envi-ronmental consequences is perhaps the greatest gift you can give back to your kids and the planet,” says Jana Gastellum, program director for climate protection at OEC. She encourages Oregonians to sign up for Climate Coolers (oeconline.org/climatecoolers), an e-newsletter that provides carbon-reducing tips and helps rally citizens to political action around today’s most pressing climate issues.

“Political action takes time and a lot of patience,” Gastellum notes, “so it’s important to balance activism with eco-friendly behavior like recycling and shopping local. Small payoffs like these help remind us that every action counts, and collective action can make a big dif-ference.”

Jared Ishkanian is communications director for the Oregon Environmen-

tal Council

Learn More

Oregon Environmental Council: The OEC website (oeconline.org) provides a wealth of resources for families, including information about eco-friendly schools and childcare, healthy toys and more. Sign up for their Vote With Your Fork food-relat-ed e-newsletter at oeconline.org/fork, and their Climate Coolers political e-newsletter at oeconline.org/climatecoolers.

Oregon Department of Envi-ronmental Quality: Find their Carbon Calculator at deq.state.or.us (search “Carbon Calcula-tor”).

Energy Trust of Oregon: Fill out a free Home Energy Profile to find out how you can save energy at energytrust.org (click on “How Efficient is Your Home?”). They also offer home energy assessments by phone and at your home.

Clean Energy Works Oregon: Find out about low-cost financing, energy experts and certified contractors at cleanenergyworksoregon.org.

Metro (Metropolitan Service District): If you’re looking for safe bike routes and fun fam-ily bike rides, check out the interactive Bike There! map at oregonmetro.gov (search “Bike There”).

Celebrate Earth Day!See page 38 for a list of local Earth Day events.

“Biking is a great

way for us to have

fun as a family

and spend time

together in a way

that driving in a car

just can’t touch.” Dave Van’t Hof, northeast Portland

Biking together on short trips around town – or just for fun – is a great way to introduce kids to the benefits of pedal power!

Earth Day Every Day continued from page 23


summer camps


Out & About

The long northwest rainy season can leave all but the most intrepid parents to wait out the weather, dreaming of the outdoor adventures they’ll enjoy come summer. But get-ting out in nature during the off-season can be surprisingly enjoyable for the whole family. Plus, with so many beauti-ful natural spaces scattered throughout the metro area, you can take advantage of even a brief reprieve in the weather to explore the great outdoors with your kids.

Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly urban hiking spots:

Forest Park’s Macleay TrailOn New Year’s Day I hiked Lower Macleay Trail with my husband and

kids, ages 10 and 8. I was surprised to find so many people out hiking on a cold, winter day, but with its stunning beauty and convenient access, it was easy to see why we weren’t alone on the trail.

Macleay Trail winds through a quiet, lushly-wooded area along Balch Creek on the edge of Forest Park. If you didn’t already know, you would never guess you’re only a stone’s throw from bustling NW 23rd Avenue. A 1.8-mile up-and-back route runs along Lower Macleay Trail to Stone House, the remains of a 1930’s-era public restroom that was destroyed by the 1962 Columbus Day Storm and proved too costly to repair. This is a great place to take a short break and explore a little piece of Portland history.

If you’re feeling energetic, you can extend the hike – to 5 miles round trip — by continuing straight ahead onto the Wildwood Trail, which intersects with Lower Macleay at Stone House. The trail crosses busy Cornell Road, so keep kids close and use the crosswalk! After crossing, you can continue follow-ing Wildwood Trail or take Upper Macleay Trail, both of which lead to

the Pittock Mansion. The second half of this hike is quite steep, but you’ll be rewarded at the top with breathtaking views if the day is clear.

During the wet season, many small streams and tiny waterfalls spring from the hillside along the trail, adding their own charm. My kids enjoyed setting twigs and leaves afloat downstream and imagining we were giants on the banks of a river in a miniature world.

If You Go:The Lower Macleay trailhead can be accessed from Macleay Park at NW

29th Ave. and Upshur St. Download a trail map at forestparkconservancy.org (click on “Trails and Maps”).

By Madeline Cox Landis

Urban Hiker

Exploring Nature

Close to Home

Find More Urban Hikes

Websites:Learn more about hiking in Forest Park and download trail maps at forestparkconservancy.org.

Find more local hikes at localhikes.com, portlandhikersfieldguide.org and gorgefriends.org. Check your local parks and rec website for more ideas (search word “trails”).

Books:Best Hikes with Children: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson (Mountaineer Books, 2007)

Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Hen-derson (The Mountaineers, 1999)

100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington by William L. Sullivan (Navillus Press, 2006).

Wild in the City: Exploring the In-tertwine: The Portland-Vancouver Region’s Network of Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas by Michael Houck and M.J. Cody (OSU Press, 2011)

Follow Forest Park’s Lower Macleay Trail along Balch Creek to Stone House (right), a historic structure and a great place to rest little legs.

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summer camps


Tryon Creek State Natural AreaI hadn’t visited Tryon Creek since my kids were younger and their little

legs grew tired quickly, so a recent excursion with my 8-year-old son felt like our first real hike there. The park offers many trails of various lengths and elevation changes. We chose a 2.5-mile loop that took us along Old Main Trail to the bottom of the hill along the creek and back up along the Middle Creek and Lewis and Clark trails before connecting with the cement bike path for the last stretch near Lewis and Clark Law School.

My son loved the many bridges we crossed along the way, especially the Terry Riley Bridge – a small suspension bridge on the Lewis and Clark Trail that bounced and swayed as we traversed it. I knew instantly when we reached the other side that I needed to let him make a repeat crossing. He also enjoyed exploring the many rotted tree stumps that served as homes for the various animals the park brochure listed as residents.

Perhaps because we hiked in winter, we didn’t spot any animals – “Not even a bug,” as my son said – but the heavily-treed park, thick with moss, and the sound of birds nearby made for a perfect afternoon in nature.

If You Go:Tryon Creek can be reached from Terwilliger Blvd. between Portland

and Lake Oswego. Some trails were washed out in the heavy January rains, so stop at the Nature Center (open from 9 am to 4 pm daily) for a map and trail recommendations. Visit tryonfriends.org for more information.

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge

Really more of a nature stroll than a hike, Oaks Bottom is a great place to escape the concrete jungle with younger kids. I brought along a friend and her 4-year-old daughter, who seemed the perfect age for this outing.

summer camps

Local families love exploring nature – and the educational exhibits in the Nature Center – at Tryon Creek State Natural Area.

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summer camps


summer camps

Bluff Trail meanders along Wapato Marsh in this 170-acre refuge where we spotted ducks and other birds basking in the quiet, protected oasis. Along the trail we found rocks for plopping in the water, furry caterpil-lars and a small wooden bridge crossing a stream. Although the trail is just beneath busy Milwaukie and Sellwood Avenues, it feels surprisingly remote. You can make the full 4-mile loop along Bluff Trail to the paved Spring-water Corridor Trail and back along North Woodland Trail, or make it an out-and-back stroll of any length.

If You Go:Access Oaks Bottom from the parking lot along SE Milwaukie Ave., just

south of McLoughlin Blvd. To find Bluff Trail, walk down the paved North Woodland Trail connecting the parking lot to Springwater Corridor Trail. Look for a dirt trail with a wooden entrance gate on the left toward the bottom of the small hill. For a map and more information, go to portland parks.org and search “Oaks Bottom.”

Madeline Cox Landis is a Portland freelance writer and mom.

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Oaks Bottom is a great place to explore nature with young children.


summer camps


Watching the children at southwest Portland’s Hayhurst Elementary wash milk cartons and sort recyclables, one hears a chorus of “What can I do?” from the enthusiastic grade schoolers. The kids who participate give up part of their recess to help out.

Why do they do it? First grader Olivia sums up the sentiments of many of these young environ-mentalists: “I really like it because ... I just feel like it saves the world a lot.”

Hayhurst is part of the Portland Eco-School Network created by the Center for Earth Leadership. The Network consists of parents from 40 Portland-area public and private schools, primarily elementary, who are implementing sustainable practices and raising eco-awareness using a framework designed to help parents and teachers develop contacts and share ideas. Although Portland is the hub, the Center spawned a separate network in Lake Oswego and is now forming one in Beaverton.

The children involved in these programs are expe-riencing what it means to be “green” and they love to share their thoughts about it. Read on!

Hayhurst Elementary SchoolIn 2009, parent Kendall Kic started the Without a

Trace Team at Hayhurst after she observed two overflow-ing dumpsters headed to the landfill every week. She dragged a week’s worth of waste into a PTA meeting and convinced the board to replace plastic “spork” packets and plastic straws with reusable forks and paper straws.

Kic now supervises the recycling system in the school’s cafeteria, which is run by student volunteers. The children who participate have learned that when an items is recycled, it’s made into something else. As first grader Olivia puts it, “it just makes different things for you. And what you’re given, you should be thankful for it and recycle it and use it again and again.”

Jack, a fourth grader, has learned how to make recycling pay. “I’ve already turned in a whole bag of recyclable things to the school so they could turn it in and get money,” he explains. “We got like a hundred dollars or something.”

The achievements at Hayhurst don’t stop there. The Without a Trace Team successfully rid the school of poly-styrene lunch trays which means the school no longer sends 38,940 trays to the landfill each year.

Hayhurst is now certified as a Green School (oregongreenschools.org) and has many other projects

underway, including a compost bin for food scraps and a school garden. A depaving project also is planned to create more garden space.

Alameda Elementary SchoolAt northeast Portland’s Alameda Elementary, the

parent-led Junior Green Team is currently focusing on raising awareness about energy conservation. Students have helped make signs for the school’s light switches (“Kindly switch off when our classroom is not in use”) and computers (“Save energy, it’s cool for our school”).

Already Alameda has removed half the light bulbs from the hallway corridor lights. (Every other bulb was taken out.) According to one parent, no one has noticed the light difference except the people who saw the bulbs being removed. The energy differences the Green Team is making might seem small, but the students are already learning to that small changes can make a big impact on the future.

For Alameda fourth grader Sam, being “green” means, “to take care of the Earth and make sure it’s ready for the next generation – and the generation after that, and so on.”

Skyline Elementary SchoolThe Green Team at southwest Portland’s Skyline

Elementary has been busy trying to establish sustainable practices at school like reducing cafeteria waste, saving energy and making improvements to the school yard.

Fifth grader Eli is particularly interested in sustain-able energy. “We have a windmill at our school,” he says. “I think wind power is a good thing.” Fellow fifth grader Duncan adds, “There’s a little kiosk in the library that you can look at and you can see how much energy [the windmill is] generating, and it generates quite a lot of energy, so that’s good.”

Another earth-friendly effort is that cafeteria scraps are collected and used as feed for chickens and pigs. (A parent who has pigs takes the meat and dairy scraps while a teacher who keeps chickens takes the vegetable waste.) “I think it’s pretty cool,” Duncan says. “There’s not nearly as much trash.”

Why Local Students Love the

Eco-School Network

By Marie Langager

Kids Say the Greenest

Things!

Students at Hayhurst Elementary in south-west Portland give up their recess to run the school’s cafeteria recycling program.

“(W)hat you’re given, you should be thankful for it and recycle it and use it again and again.” Olivia, first grade, Hayhurst Elementary

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Duncan points out that kids can teach each other about respecting the planet. When he sees people putting paper in the trash can, “I tell them, ‘Can you please take that out of the trash can and put it in the recycling bin?’”

Kids like Duncan are why parents and faculty involved in the Eco-School Network put so much effort into making these activities accessible and fun for youngsters. By educating children about sustainable practices, they hope to instill a healthy respect for the environment in the next generation and provide the tools and knowledge they’ll need to make a difference.

Mainly they hope more kids will begin to think like Eli, who says, “I think the environment is really important because what we do to it, it does back to us.”

Marie Langager is a Portland freelance writer.

Get Involved! You might consider becoming part of the Eco-School Network if you want to:

• Work toward a sustainable future for our children.

• Promote sustainable practices and raise ecological awareness at a school.

• Support other members’ efforts and collaborate when possible.

• Take the Center for Earth Leadership’s no-cost course, “How to Be an Agent of Change in Your Circle of Influence.”

• Share a common framework and language from the course experience.

Network resources and activities include:

• Periodic gatherings and field trips to share information with other parents.

• Tools for use in schools, created and used by Network members and shared online.

• Information sharing, troubleshooting and feedback among parents through the online forums and in-person gatherings.

Visit earthleaders.org/eco-school-network for more information.

Students on the Green Team at Alameda Elemen-tary in northeast Portland post signs reminding fellow students to “Save energy. It’s cool for our school!”

“I think the environment is really important because what we do to it, it does back to us.”

– Eli, fifth grade, Skyline Elementary


Northeast Alberta Street is a hotbed of trendy Port-land eateries, but are they family friendly? We can’t speak for all of them, but the Tin Shed Garden Café is one of our favorites.

With a children’s menu that includes baby food, two outdoor dining areas, a serious commitment to sustain-ability and a casual, welcoming vibe, the Tin Shed epito-mizes everything we love about Portland’s family-friend-ly dining scene. They even have a doggie menu for the canine members of your family! (Dogs are welcome on the covered patio and the open garden area.)

What could be more family-friendly?

What’s Cooking: Beginning with fresh, free-range, sustainably raised ingredients, the Tin Shed’s menu of-fers something for everyone in the family, from vegans to serious meat lovers. My family shared a decadent “skinny dip” starter – “a creamy blend of artichoke, lemon, parmesan and garlic” served with crostini – that’s anything but “skinny.” My son then devoured a bacon blue cheese burger while I enjoyed the “Baby Beluga,” a vegetarian feast of black lentils and veggies in a yellow curry sauce served over rice with raisins, nuts and avocado. My husband’s wild salmon over pepper-coconut rice was equally delicious.

The kids’ menu begins with pureed sweet potato and fresh fruit for the youngest diners. Older kids can enjoy scrambled eggs, French toast and oatmeal for breakfast or quesadillas, noodles, grilled cheese and PB&J for lunch and dinner. The doggie menu includes a garden burger, grilled free-range chicken breast and a free-range hamburger, all served with rice.

Liquid Refreshment: The Tin Shed boasts a full bar, beer, wine and your choice of non-alcoholic beverages.

What’s Cool for Kids: The two outdoor areas – a covered patio complete with fireplace for colder days and nights and a colorful, open garden area for soaking up rays when the sun comes out – provide the ideal atmosphere for casual family dining. Plus, with dogs welcome in both outdoor spaces, Fido can join you for a true family-friendly dining experience!

Ringing It Up: Appetizers run in the $7 to $8 range and are plenty big enough to share. Soup and salad options range from $4 to $12, and most entrees fall under $10, topping out at about $13. Kids’ meals are $3, and doggie treats run about $5 to $6.

Keep In Mind: Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 pm every day – and from 3 pm to close on Sundays! – with dis-counted prices on drinks and some menu items.

Where and When: Open daily from 7 am to 10 pm. 1438 NE Alberta St., 503-288-6966, tinshedgardencafe.com.

Family Fare

By Emily Puro

A Garden of Good Eats

at the Tin Shed

Garden Café

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The covered patio, complete with cozy

fireplace, is open year-round.

The Tin Shed Garden Café welcomes the entire family – includ-ing canine companions! – to trendy northeast Alberta St.

The Tin Shed’s color-ful garden area is a

big draw for families during warmer

weather.


According to a third grader from Rosa Parks Elemen-tary School in north Portland, “Kale is the bomb!”

Few parents would expect to hear these words from their child, but Anna Goldrich, executive director for the Sauvie Island Center, wasn’t surprised. “When chil-dren have the opportunity to see how things are grown and taste vegetables they’ve picked themselves, they like almost everything they taste,” Goldrich says.

For more than five years, the Sauvie Island Center has been providing an opportunity for Portland’s elementary school children to spend a day on a real, working farm. Field trips take place on the grounds of the 16-acre Sauvie Island Organics farm and the adjacent 120-acre Howell Territorial Park.

Founded by Sauvie Island Organics owner Shari Raider, the Center was developed in response to com-munity demand. Raider received numerous calls from Portland schools, each echoing the same sentiments: “We want to take our kids on a farm tour. Yours is close by. Can we come?”

Again and again Raider said, “Yes,” but it became difficult to keep up with the demand. She teamed up with chef Cory Schreiber of Wildwood Restaurant and recruited a team of teachers and educators to help de-velop an engaging, hands-on curriculum for elementary school students – and Sauvie Island Center was born.

Currently, there are five parts to the Sauvie Island Center curriculum. Each piece is designed to educate children about the relationships between the food they eat, farming and the land.

• Soil Exploration: Students dig into the compost pile to discover what constitutes “healthy” soil and to better understand its relationship to the farm system.

• Seed to Harvest: Students plant, tend and/or harvest vegetables from a special farm row in the Grow Lunch Garden.

• Plant Parts Investigation: Students explore the farm while searching for and tasting food that represents each of the six plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flow-ers, fruits and seeds.

• Wildlife & the Food Chain: To learn about the food chain, students hone their sensory awareness skills while inspecting the landscape for signs of wildlife foraging on the farm and in Howell Park.

• Pollination Station: Students search for pollinators at work in the native hedgerow, the heritage orchard and on the farm while learning about the critical role pollinators play in our food system.

In 2008, the Center hosted approximately 375 children. By 2011, that had grown to more than 1,300. Many of the children served by the Sauvie Island Center attend Title I (high poverty) schools. Fundraising efforts

and grants allow the Center to offer scholarships to those schools. Given Portland Public Schools tight funding situation, a trip to the Sauvie Island Center often represents the only outdoor field trip a classroom will take all year.

Volunteer participation is crucial to running the program. Each season, Program Manager Jennifer James trains approximately 20 volunteers to help lead field trips and assist with farm cleanup and events.

This summer the Center will offer a week-long day camp. Children entering third, fourth and fifth grades will explore the farm while digging more deeply into the Sauvie Island Center’s curriculum. Each day will be devoted to one aspect of the curriculum, which will be complemented by related arts and craft activities and journaling. Campers also will gather fresh produce from the Grow Lunch Garden every day and prepare a healthy snack. One day, a chef from New Season’s Mar-ket will lead a unique fresh-harvest cooking workshop.

The Center also will host its fourth annual Barn Dance this summer to raise funds for the program. The event will feature a gourmet barbeque, live music, square dancing, a program-related tour of the farm and a silent auction. The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, from 5:30 to 8 pm. For more information, visit sauvieislandcenter.org

The Center relies on grants, donations and revenue from events like the Barn Dance to fund the program, but demand is outpacing resources. To find out how you can support the Sauvie Island Center as a volunteer or donor, contact Executive Director Anna Goldrich at [email protected] or 503-231-2757. Learn more at sauvieislandcenter.org.

Angels Among Us

The Sauvie Island CenterEducating Kids about Food, Farming and the Land

By Joanne Lazo, Sauvie Island Center

Tasting farm-fresh produce is one of the highlights of a field trip to Sauvie Island Center.

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The Storm in the Barn. Oregon Children’s Theatre presents a musical adapta-tion of Matt Phelan’s tale of the 1937 Dust Bowl. Will 11 year-old Jack and his family survive? What is that sinister figure with a face like a thunderstorm? Best ages 10+. 2 pm April 28, 29, May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20. 5 pm April 28, May 5, 12 19. $13-$28, plus surcharge. Winningatad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-228-9517. octc.org.

Ag Fest. Take your city slicker kids to this fun festival to experience life on a farm. Plant a seedling, ride a pony, dig for pota-toes and more. Kids can learn where their food and fiber comes from! 8:30-5 pm April 28, 10 am-5 pm April 29. $9 adults, free ages 0-12. Free parking. Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem. 503-535-9353. oragfest.com.

Sunday, April 1

Busytown. Northwest Children’s Theater presents this musical of the Richard Scarry book What do People Do All Day? Best ages 4+. Noon, 3 pm. $18-$22 adult, $13-$18 youth. 1819 NW Everett St. 503-222-4480. nwcts.org.

Trillium Festival. Hikes, kiddo nature activities, music, plant sale. 10 am-4 pm. FREE. Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-4398. tryonfriends.org.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest. 40+ acres of flowers, play area, weekend enter-tainment. 9 am-6 pm through April 30. $10 car weekends, $5 car M-F. 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn. 503-634-2243. woodenshoe.com.

Jardin De Suenos. Legendary creatures help teen discover her heart and voice. Best ages 10+, nobody under 5. 2 pm April 1, 8. 7:30 pm April 5, 12. 8 pm April 6, 7, 13, 14. $10-$29. Miracle Theatre, 525 SE Stark. 503-236-7253. milagro.org.

OMSI $2 Day. Explore OMSI for $2 every first Sun. 9:30 am-5:30 pm. Parking $3. 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.

Mr. Ben and Friends. Sing along, stories, more. Ages 1-7. Noon-1 pm Sun. Dona-tion. Rhythm Traders, 3904 NE MLK Blvd. 503-890-6456. mrbenmusic.com.

Monday, April 2Mommy and Me Mondays. Listen to a story (parents enjoy coffee). Ages 0-6. 10-11 am April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. Free w/ admission of $9 adults, $6 ages 3-18, free ages 0-2. World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road. 503-228-1367. worldfor-estry.org.

Overlook Story Hour. Stories, songs, games. Ages 1-12 w/grown-up. 3:30-4:30 pm April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. FREE. Over-look House Community Center, 3839 N Melrose Dr. 503-285-0555. historicover-lookhouse.org.

Momtopia. Bunny hop for kids, treat for grown-ups. Ages 0-6. 10-11 am. FREE. Lloyd Center, by Legacy Funland. 503-282-2511. lloydcenter.com.

Tuesday, April 3Bunny Babies. Spring tunes and craft. Ages 0-6 w/grown-up. 4-5 pm. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

Preschool Play & Skate. Skate lesson, games, snack. Ages 0-6. 10-11:30 am Tues & Wed. $5.50 per child ages 1+. Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way. 503-233-5777. oakspark.com/chippersrides.html.

Story Time at Café Sip-n-Play. Storytell-ing, music, ABCs. Ages 0-5. 10 am Tues. FREE. 3000 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver. 360-896-4446. cafesipnplay.com.

Wednesday, April 4Tadpole Tales. Story, guided walk. Ages 3-5 w/grown-up. 10-11 am April 4, 11, 18, 25. $3 per child, registration required. Whitaker Ponds, 7040 NE 47th Ave. 503-281-1132. oregonmetro.gov.

Ladybug Theater. Ages 2 1/2+. 10:30 am. April 4, 5, 11, 12: Baby Bear and the Beanstalk. April 18, 19, 25, 26: What a Beautiful Garden. $4, babes in arms free, reservations. Smile Station, 8210 SE 13th St. 503-232-2346. ladybugtheater.org.

Thinker Toys Jammers. Play some music with Sound Roots. Ages 0-4. 10-11 am. FREE. Thinker Toys, 7784 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-245-3936. ThinkerToysOregon.com.

Honeybee Hike. Garden walk, craft/story. Ages 2-6 w/grown-up. 10-11 am Wed. $2 per walking child. Leach Botani-cal Garden, 6704 SE 122nd Ave. 503-823-1671. leachgarden.org.

Symphony Storytime. Oregon Symphony members tell stories, show instruments. Ages 3-6. 10:15-11:15 am April 4, 11, 18, 25. FREE. Hillsboro Library, 2850 Brookwood Pkwy. 503-615-6500. wccls.org.

Milagros Jamboree. Lorna Miller performs. Ages 0-8. 10:30 am Wed. $3 donation. Milagros Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Ave. 503-493-4141. littlekidsjambo-ree.com

Fireside Story Time. Craft and a tale. All ages w/grown-up. 11-11:30 am Wed. FREE. Southwest Community Center, 6820 SW 45th Ave. 503-823-2840. port-landparks.org.

Preschool Play & Skate. See April 3.

Thursday, April 5OVO. Cirque du Soleil casts its magical spell. April 5-May 13, check website for show times. $24.40-$255. Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Dr. 866-624-7783. cirquedusoleil.com.

April Family Calendar

In the Spotlight

Give your kids a fun day on the farm at Ag Fest

April 28 and 29.

Tears of Joy Theatre brings the classic chil-

dren’s book Stellaluna to life this month.

Stellaluna. Tears of Joy’s pup-pets tell the enchanting story of a baby fruit bat who falls into a bird’s nest, based on the beloved book by Jannell Cannon. Will this odd-bird-out ever fit in? 7:30 pm April 13. 11 am April 14, 21. 2, 4 pm April 15, 22. 7 pm April 20. $20 adults, $17 children, plus surcharge. Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-0557. tojt.org.

Oregon Children’s Theatre travels back in time to the 1937 Dust Bowl for The Storm in the Barn which

opens April 28.

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Think Fun Thursdays. Different project weekly. Ages 3-8 w/grown-up. 4-5 pm Thurs. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-644-2197. beaver-tonlibrary.org.

Passover Stories for Preschoolers. Jewish Theatre Collaborative tells sea-sonal tales. 10:15-10:45. FREE. Hillsdale Library, 1525 SW Sunset Blvd. 503-988-5388. multcolib.org.

Ladybug Theater. See April 4.

Jardin De Suenos. See April 1.

Friday, April 6Ladybug Nature Walks. Explore with a naturalist. Ages 2-5 w/grown-up. 10-11 am. April 6: Laurelhurst Park. April 13: Forest Park, Newton Rd. April 20: Kelley Pt. Park. April 27: Tideman Johnson. $3 per child. 503-823-3601. oregonmetro.gov.

Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. 5 pm April 6. 7: Velveteen Rabbit. April 13, 14: Mulan. April 20, 21: The Sound of Mu-sic. April 27, 28: The Tale of Desperaux. FREE. 3000 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver. 360-896-4446. cafesipnplay.com.

Story and Stroll. Storytime, nature walk. Ages 3-6 w/grown-up. 1-2 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27. FREE, reservations required. Tryon Creek State Park, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-9886. tryonfriends.org.

Target FREE First Friday. FREE from 4 -8 pm. Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org.

Parents’ Night Out. Games, crafts, gym, movie, treat for kids while parents get some time alone. Ages 3+. 6:30-10 pm April 6, 21. $35, reservations required. The Children’s Gym, 1625 NE Sandy Blvd. 503-249-5867. childrens-gym.com.

Music with Mr. Hoo. Music fun. Ages 0-5. 11 am Fri. $3 donation. Milagros Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Ave. 503-493-4141. milagrosboutique.com.

Saturday, April 7Queen Melissa Tea Cruise. Join Queen Melissa for high tea, story time, face painting, treasure hunt, more aboard the Portland Spirit. Noon-2 pm Saturdays through May 26. $28 adults, $20 ages 1+. Board (11:30) at Salmon Street Springs Fountain. 503-224-3900. portlandspirit.com.

Hearing Voices Storytelling Festival. This annual festival runs from April 7-14. Today’s kick-off features Leslie Slape and Habiba Addo. 1 pm. FREE. Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd. 503-684-6537. See the full schedule at wccls.org/voices.

Safe Routes to School Kickoff. $5 helmets, bike ride, activities, games. 10 am-2 pm. FREE, reservations. Russell Academy School, 2700 NE 127th Ave. 503-823-4998. portlandoregon.gov.

Kids Junk Orchestra. Work-shop with instruments from castoffs. Ages 4-12. 10 am. FREE. Salmon St. Studios, 109 SE Salmon St. 503-877-9516. kidsjunkorchestra.com

Guided Nature Walk. Explore Tryon Creek park, different

topic weekly. All ages, but grown-up must be w/kids. 10-11:30 am April 7, 14, 21, 28. FREE. 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-9886. tryonfriends.org.

Alphabetiticians Family Happy Hour. Groovy music, room to dance. 4-6 pm. $10 family. EAT, 850 NE 81st Ave. 503-548-4096. thealphabeticians.com/announcements.

You’ll find MANY, MANY more events in our online calendar

at Metro-Parent.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WCCLS

Metro Parent believes all calendar information to be correct as of the date of publication; however, you may want to call to confirm events as scheduling and other changes may occur.

Habiba Addo is one of the talented performers who will mesmerize all ages during Washington County Cooperative Library Services’ annual Hearing Voices Storytelling Festival. See April 7.


Egg-citement! Here are just a few of our favorite egg hunts and celebrations in the area. Don’t forget to bring your basket! (Unless indicated otherwise, all events are on April 7 and are free.)

Alpenrose Dairy. Hunt and prizes. Ages 3-5 at 10:30 am, ages 6-8 at 12:30 pm. Special hunt for moms. 6149 SW Shattuck Rd. 503-244-1133. alpenrose.com.

Blue Lake Bunny Bonanza. Egg hunt, face painting, more. Ages 0-4 at 10:30 am, ages 5-10 at 10:45 am. Free w/$5 parking. Blue Lake Park, 20500 NE Marine Dr. 503-665-4995. oregonmetro.gov.

Zoo Rabbit Romp. Hunts every 20 minutes for kids ages 0-10, spe-cial hunts for kids ages 0-2. Games, petting zoo. 9 am-3 pm. Free w/admission: $10.50 adults, $7.50 kids 3-11, free 0-2. $2 to park. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.

KUIK’s Great Westside Family Easter Event. Bouncy castles, photos with bunny, fire trucks, crafts, petting zoo, more. Walkers ages 0-10 hunt. Staggered starts by age 10 am-1 pm. Mom hunt 2 pm. FREE (some activities small fee). Washington County Fairgrounds, 873 NE 34th Ave, Hillsboro. 503-640-1360. kuik.com.

Kruger’s Farm. Live music, hayride tours, baby chicks, egg hunt (1 pm). Noon-3 pm. 17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-286-6346. krugersfarm.com.

Vancouver Egg Hunt. 8 am-noon. Esther Short Park, Columbia & 6th St. visitvancouverusa.com.

Easter EGGstravaganza! Meet the bunny, relays, egg derby, egg hunt, more. Ages 3-10. 6:30-8:30 pm. $14.95/child, res-ervations required. Kids Club Fun and Fitness, 13914 NW 3rd Ct., Vancouver. 360-546-5437. kidsclubfunandfitness.com.

Mt. Scott Community Center egg hunt 9-11 am, music, brunch and more. Hunt, ages 0-3 10 am, 4-6 10:30 am, 6-10 11 am. Donation $2 egg hunt, $3 brunch or $4 both. 5530 SE 72nd Ave. 503-823-3183. portlandparks.org.

Tualatin Easter Egg Hunt. Ages 0-8. 3-4 pm. Tualatin Com-munity Park, 8515 SW Tualatin Rd. 503-691-3061. ci.tualatin.or.us.

Wilsonville Egg Hunt. 10 am. Wilsonville Memorial Park, 8100 SW Wilsonville Rd. 503-682-2744. ci.wilsonville.or.us.

Camp Namanu. Egg hunt 1 pm, smores, boating, crafts, more. 12:30-3 pm. 10300 SE Camp Namanu Rd, Sandy. 503-224-7800.

Special Needs Hunt. Kids or adults with special needs hunt eggs, wheelchair/walker accessible. 2-5 pm. FREE, reserva-tions required, donations appreciated. McKenzie Stadium, 2205 NE 138th Ave, Vancouver. 360-852-8369. autismempow-erment.org.

Love Your Mother (Earth). Naturally, the metro area celebrates Earth Day with gusto. We’ve listed some fun area events here.

Clark Public Utilities sponsors a day of activities including a FREE EcoFair with family entertainment, eco info and more from 10 am-2 pm April 21 at Salmon Creek Park. 1112 NE 117th St., Vancouver. 360-992-3000. clarkpublicutilities.com.

City Repair. Music, info booths, kiddo circus, vendors, more. 11 am-6 pm April 22. FREE. PCC Cascade Campus, 705 N Killingsworth. 971-227-1963. earthday.cityrepair.org.

Oregon Garden hosts Earth Day fun from 10 am-4 pm April 21. Garden admission: $10 adults, $8 ages 8-17, free ages 0-7. 879 W Main St. 503-874-8100. oregongarden.org.

Marshall Community Center in Vancouver gets its green on with free (with can of food) crafts, games, demos and more. 10 am- 3 pm April 21. 1009 E McLoughlin Blvd. 360-487-7100. cityofvancouver.us.

Portland Children’s Museum celebrates 10 am-3:30 pm April 22 with the grand opening of its outdoor maze, plus activities and shows. Free w/admission: $9 ages 1-54. 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org.

Tryon Creek State Park celebrates crows for Earth Day from 2-4 pm April 22 with activities and stories. FREE, reservations required. Tyron Creek State Natural Area, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-4398. tryonfriends.org.

SOLV hosts projects all over Oregon from 9 am 1 pm April 21. Families can plant trees at Rooster Rock, clean up Gladstone or other important projects. 503-844-9571. solv.org.

Meatballs Before Cupcakes. Rick Huddle tells tales. Best ages 3-10. 3 pm. FREE. Kenton Library, 8226 N Denver Ave. 503-988-5370. rickhuddle.com.

1840s Kitchen. Reenactors show what’s cooking at Ft. Vancouver. 10 am-3 pm April 7, 21. $5 family $3 adults, free ages 0-15. 1001 E. 5th St. 360-816-6230. nps.gov.

Movie Night at Café Sip-n-Play. See April 6.

Egg-sitement! See Family Favorites.


Sunday, April 8Spring Celebration. Felt flowers 9:30-11:30 ($2 extra), 11 am-1 pm dancing, Greasy Kid Stuff. 1-3:30 pm planting ($2 extra). Free w/admission: $9 ages 1-54. Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org

Passover Stories. Best preschoolers. 2:30-3:15 pm. FREE. Hillsboro Library, 2850 Brookwood Pkwy. 503-615-6500. wccls.org.

Mr. Ben and Friends. See April 1.


Monday, April 9Noontime Showcase. Dance West performs. Noon-1 pm. FREE. PCPA, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-4335. pcpa.com.

Mommy and Me Mondays. See April 2.

Overlook Story Hour. See April 2.

Tuesday, April 10Hopworks Tot Tuesday Storytime and Crafts. Every second Tuesday at 11 am. Arts activity, storytime and light snacks. Ages 1-8. FREE. Hopworks, 2944 SE Powell Blvd. 503-232-4677. hopworksbeer.com.

Young Artists. Winners of the 18th an-nual Young Artists awards perform. 7:30 pm April 10. $17-$27, plus sur-charge. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-4335. pcpa.com.

Tricksters from Africa. Habiba Addo tells stories. Ages 6+. 7 pm. FREE. Tuala-tin Public Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi Ave. 503-691-3074. wccls.org.


Family Favorites

The Blue Lake Bunny Bonanza egg hunt – frantic but fun – is just one of the many hunts families can enjoy this month. PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO


Dora and Diego Pajama Party. Stories, games, crafts. 6:30-7:30 pm. FREE. Fairview-Columbia Library, 1520 NE Village St. 503-988-5655. mult-colib.org.

$4 Zoo Tuesday. See the Oregon Zoo for $4 per person. 9 am-4 pm. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.


Story Time at Café Sip-n-Play. See April 3.

Wednesday, April 11Slough Tour: Frogs. Look for frogs, learn about life cycle. Ages 4+ w/grown-up. 5-6 pm. $5 donation, reservations. Columbia Slough Water Quality Facility, 19595 NE Sandy Blvd, Gresham. 503-281-1132. columbiaslough.org.


Honeybee Hike. See April 4.

Tadpole Tales. See April 11.

Symphony Storytime. See April 4.

Fireside Storytime. See April 4.

Milagros Jamboree. See April 4.


Thursday, April 12Superkids Resale. Bargains on kids, teen clothing, toys equipment. Face painting, balloon animals, more. FREE admission. 9 am-8 pm April 12, 13. 9 am-5 pm April 14, 15. Plaza 205, 10445 SE Washington St. 503-866-1875. superkidsresale.com.

Read-In. Celebrate Beverly Cleary’s birth-day with reading, refreshments, drawing for books. 3:30-5:30 pm. FREE. Fairview-Columbia Library, 1520 NE Village St. 503-988-5655. multcolib.org.

Think Fun Thursdays. See April 5.



Friday, April 13O’ My Hammer and other Tales from Deep Down South. Kirk Waller tells sto-ries. Ages 6+. 6:30 pm. FREE. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Pdwy. 503-615-6500. wccls.org.

Family Friday Concert. Oregon Renais-sance Band. 7:15 pm. $5 donation, $15 family. Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis St. 503-823-3177. communitymu-siccenter.org.

Teen Night. Explore OMSI, science demos, Segway rides, music. Ages 13-18 only. 7-10 pm. FREE. 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu.

Toys for Ramona. Make simple toys from castoffs. Best ages 4-10 w/grown-up. 1-3 pm. FREE. St. Johns Library, 7510 N Charleston Ave. 503-988-5397. multcolib.org.

Alphabeticians at Jam. 5-6 pm. $10 family donation. Jam on Hawthorne, 2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 503-234-4790. thealphabeticians.com.

Stellaluna. See In the Spotlight, on p. 36.

Story and Stroll. See April 6.

Superkids Resale. See April 12.


Ladybug Nature Walk. See April 6.


Music with Mr. Hoo. See April 6.

Saturday, April 14Marine Science Day. Meet scientists; enjoy interactive exhibits, activities, tours, more. 10 am-4 pm. FREE. OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr, Newport. 541-867-0234. hmsc.oregonstate.edu.

Packy’s 50th Birthday. Music, games, activities, cake (at noon) and more. 10 am -4 pm. Free w/admission: $10.50 adults, $7.50 kids 3-11, free 0-2. $2 to park. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.

Junior Gardener Club. Worms, dirt, compost. Ages 5-10 w/adult. 10 am. Ad-mission + $5 per child. Oregon Garden,


penny’s puppets is celebrating 10 years (!) of family-friendly puppetry.

see april 20.

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879 W Main St., Silverton. 503-874-8100. oregongarden.org,

Final Concert-Hearing Voices. Washing-ton County Library storytelling fest ends with four tellers. Ages 6+. 6:30-8 pm. FREE. Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, 12930 Old Pumpkin Ridge Rd, North Plains. wccls.org/voices.

Family Day. Native American games and toys. 10 am-2 pm. FREE. Washington County Museum, 17677 NW Springville Rd. 503-645-5353. washingtoncounty museum.org.

Monster Suit. Mo Phillips CD release party. 5 pm. $10 family. McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave. 503-249-7474. mcmenamins.com.

Family Dance. 4:30-6:30 pm. $6 adult, $5 child, $20 max family. Fulton Park CC, 68 SW Miles St. 503-775-6537. portlandcountrydance.org.

Critter Count. Water Resources Educa-tion Center’s annual wildlife count. All ages. 9 am-1 pm. FREE. 4600 SE Colum-bia Way, 360-487-7111. cityofvancouver.us.

Second Saturday. Amphibian and reptile show 1:15, 2:15. Ages 3-12 w/grown-up 1-3 pm. FREE. Water Resources Educa-tion Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way. 360-487-7111. cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.

Crafts at Ledding. April 14: Earth-friend-ly craft. April 28: Spring craft. Ages 5+. 2 pm. FREE. Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st, Milwaukie. 503-786-7580. milwaukie.lib.or.us.

Learning Palace 30th Anniversary Cel-ebration. Join in the festivities to honor this area educational icon. Giveaways and goodie bags at all locations; kids’ activities and refreshments at Cascade and Beaverton locations. Noon to 4 pm. Learningpalace.com.

You and Me Yoga. Ages 2+ with grown-up. FREE. 10:30-11am April 14: Capitol Hill LIbrary, 10723 SW Capitol Hwy. 4-4:30 April 21: Midland Library, 805 SE 122d Ave. 4-4:30 pm April 24: Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Ave. 541-778-4541. yogaplaygrounds.net.

Little Kids’ Jamboree. Best ages 0-7. 4-5 pm. $5 per family. Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave. 503-288-3231. littlekidsjamboree.com.


Guided Nature Walk. See April 14.


Toys for Ramona. See April 13.


Queen Melissa Tea Cruise. See April 7.


Sunday, April 15UP Reading Fair. Literacy games, crafts, free book. 11 am-3 pm. FREE. University of Portland Chiles Center, 5000 N Wil-

lamette Blvd. 503-943-7135. up.edu.

Cathlapotle Plankhouse Open-ing. Tours, kids’ activities. Noon-4 pm. $3 per vehicle. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. 28908 NW Main Ave. 360-887-4106. ridgefieldfriends.org.

Community Day and Student Show-case. Pendulum Aerial Arts host a day of games, activi-ties, circus. 12:30- 3 pm. $10, ages 0-6 free. French American School, 8500 NW Johnson St. 503-319-5486. pendulumaerialarts.org.

They’re back! cirque du soleil’s talented

performers work their magic beginning

april 5.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL





Monday, April 16Spring Walk. Nature walk. Grades 1-3. 3:30-4:30 pm. FREE, registration required. Hillsboro Library, 2850 Brook-wood Pkwy. 503-615-6500. wccls.org.



Tuesday, April 17Preschool Play & Skate. See April 3.


Wednesday, April 18Party in the Land of Oz. Crafts, games. Ages 2-11. 4-5 pm. FREE, registration required. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonli-brary.org.








Thursday, April 19After School Nature Club. Hikes, games crafts. Ages 7-10. 3:30-5:30 pm April 19, 26. $13, reservations. Cooper Mountain Nature Park, 18892 SW Kemmer Rd., Beaverton. 503-629-6350. oregonmetro.gov.



Friday, April 20Jubilation Celebration. Penny’s Puppets perform, celebrate 10 years. 10:30 am. $5 each, 4 for $17, free ages 0-1. Off Broadway, Central Lutheran Church, 1820 NE 21st Ave. 503-282-9207. PennyPuppets.com.






Saturday, April 21National Parks FREE Week. April 21-29 National Parks are free! Visit nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm for details.

Parents’ Survival Night. Kids have fun with fitness, crafts, music, snack, while parents get some alone time. Ages 3-12. 6-9:30 pm. Call for pricing, directions. The Little Gym, Lake Oswego. 503-595-9702. tlglakeoswegoor.com.


There are lots of opportunities this month to get the kids out exploring nature, like Tadpole Tales, featuring a hike, a story and crafts. See April 11.

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OHS Family Day. See the cool kite ex-hibit and make a kite. 11 am-3 pm. Kids free in April, Multnomah Cty residents always FREE. Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Ave. 503-222-1741. ohs.org.

Earth Day. See Family Favorites.

You and Me Yoga. See April 14.





Parents’ Night Out. See April 6.

1840s Kitchen. See April 7.

Sunday, April 22Music in the Making. Workshop and student concert sponsored by Portland Symphonic Girlchoir. 3 pm. $10. Zion Lutheran Church, 1015 SW 18th Ave. 503-226-6162. girlchoir.com.

Kids’ Nature Walk. Explore Mt. Talbert. 10 am-noon. FREE, location provided upon reservation. 503-496-0908. oregon-metro.gov.


Earth Day. See Family Favorites, on p. 38.


Monday, April 23Recycled Crafts. Art from castoffs. Ages 2-12. 10:30-11:30 am. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.



Tuesday, April 24Preschool Play & Skate. See April 3.


You and Me Yoga. See April 14.

Wednesday, April 25Preschool Play & Skate. See April 3.







Thursday, April 26Canta Conmigo. Bilingual program of music with Gerardo Calderon. 11 am-noon. FREE. Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Ave. 503-988-5387. multcolib.org.

After School Nature Club. See April 19.



Friday, April 27Just Between Friends. Huge children’s, maternity consignment sale. Noon-7 pm April 27, 9 am-4 pm April 28, 9 am-2 pm April

29. FREE admission. Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Dr. 503-944-9837. portland.jbfsale.com.

Home Grown Inspiration. Kids can make a dino terrarium, plant a sunflower, play salmon mini golf, more, at this home idea fair. 9 am-6 pm April 27, 28. 10 am-5 pm April 29. FREE. Clark County Event Center, 17402 NE Delfel Rd, Ridgefield. 360-992-3000. clarkpublicutilities.com.





Saturday, April 28Air Force Band Concert. Music. 7-8:45 pm. FREE. Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. 503-434-4185. evergreenmusuem.org.

Muddy Boots Family Trail Day. Activi-ties, fun fact stations. 10 am-1 pm. FREE. Tryon Creek Nature Center, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-4398. tryon-friends.org.

Star Parties. Astronomy Day celebration. Dusk. FREE, $5 parking. Two locations: Rooster Rock State Park and Stub Stew-art State Park. 503-797-4610. omsi.edu/starparties.


Ag Fest. See In the Spotlight, on p. 36.

Just Between Friends. See April 27.

The Storm In the Barn. See In the Spotlight, on p. 36.




Crafts at Ledding. See April 14.

Home Grown Inspiration. See April 27.

Sunday, April 29Hillsboro Latino Cultural Festival. Entertainment, soccer, parade, art, more. Noon-5 pm. FREE. Civic Center Plaza, 150 E Main St. 503-726-2150. hillchamber.org.

The Storm In the Barn. See In the Spotlight, on p. 36.

Ag Fest. See In the Spotlight, on p. 36.

Just Between Friends. See April 27.


Home Grown Inspiration. See April 27.

Monday, April 30Mommy and Me Mondays. See April 2.


Calendar Deadline Details. The calen-dar submission deadline is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publica-tion. All submissions must be made in writing and e-mail submissions are preferred: [email protected].

You’ll find MANY, MANY more events in our online calendar

at Metro-Parent.com.


don’t miss packy’s Half-century Birthday

celebration! see april 14.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OREGON ZOO


aBc doula...........................7

academy Theater ..............35

aHsc Yu miao chinese immersion preschool .........28

artists repertory Theatre ..43

Baby sensory .......................7

Bob eaton magic ..............47

Bob’s red mill....................19

camp invention .................31

camp nor’wester ..............25

catlin Gabel ......................29

childbloom® Guitar program of portland ..........10

children’s Gym, The ..........27

circuit Bouldering Gym ....29

clark public utilities...........43

cLass academy .................9

clogs -n- more Kids .........33

d’Onofrio & associates .....21

delphian school ................27

dentistry for Kids .................3

der rheinlander/Gustav’s ..10

do Jump............................30

eclectic Home ...................13

ecomaids ...........................13

evergreen aviation ............25

French american school ...34

French Hill Farms ..............29

Friends of Outdoor school summer camp ..................29

Friends of Trees .................15

Funny Farm .........................7

Green drop Garage ..........13

Greenfield Health ..............17

Gresham pediatric dentistry ............................39

Harmony road/ Westside music .................20

Heartwood preschool ........17

HeLp ..................................39

Hidden Valley camp .........28

Hollywood Bowl ................47

Hollywood children’s dentistry ..............................8

Hopworks ..........................15

international school ..........11

John’s incredible pizza .............................20, 47

Just Between Friends ........15

Kindercare ........................11

Learning palace .................11

Little Garden preschool .....19

Little Gym ..........................20

Little smiles pediatric dentistry ............................33

Living school, The .............23

Living Wisdom...................27

metro arts day camp .......31

micha-el school .................23

multisensory Learning academy ...........................34

music Together..................45

musikgarten.........................8

my masterpiece art studio ..........................30

mybabybuddy.com .............7

natural Furniture ...............19

northwest children’s Theater 31, 42

northwest dance project ..31

northwest primary care ....21

northwest surrogacy center................................10

Oaks park ..........................46

OHsu doernbecher children’s Hospital ............48

Old mcdonald’s Farm .......28

Omsi .................................21

Oregon ag Fest ................43

Oregon children’s Theater ..............................41

Oregon dept of Fish & Wildlife ..............................23

Oregon episcopal school................................27

Oregon music Teacher’s assoc. ................................33

Oregon pacific railroad ....46

Oregon Zoo.........................4

Organics to You .................19

Osu Hatfield marine science center ..................40

pacific camps ....................30

penny’s puppets ................47

philip Foster Farm national Historic site .......................28

pirates movie .......................7

play Boutique ....................47

portland children’s museum.............................39

portland spirit....................40

portland symphonic Girlchoir .............................40

portland Youth philharmonic ......................37

power Brain Training center ..................23

reading ToolKit ................23

rose Bowl .........................46

rose city music academy ...........................27

royal ridges ......................30

run Like a mother ............45

run mama run (adoption mosaic) .............37

schoolita alegria ...............28

sound roots ......................25

sunriver resort ....................2

superKids resale ...............17

swallowtail school .............19

Tidee didee ......................17

Tillamook state Forestry ...43

Tualatin Hills park Foundation ........................25

Tucker maxon school ..........2

u of O academic extension ...........................29

Vancouver clinic, The ........10

Willowbrook camp ...........31

Women’s Healthcare associates..........................45

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