Tours/Events

Corvids of Tryon Creek

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

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Join environmental educator Roland Begin for a hike down the trails of Tryon Creek SNA as we discuss the intelligent and talkative corvids who make the forest their home. As we'll see, ravens, jays and crows exhibit a wide variety of amazing behaviors, both inside and outside of the park.

Hike starts at 10am on the Nature Center front porch. The program theme will be geared toward adults and youth ages…

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The Deschutes River Equestrian Trail is a 22-mile round trip old railbed trail shared with mountain-bikers, fishermen, back-country campers and hikers. The trail starts at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area campground entrance parking lot and ends at Harris Ranch. It’s great for wildlife viewing, wildflower photography, and site-seeing in the Lower Deschutes River Canyon

Rules: Reservations are required. A maximum of…

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Join environmental educator Roland Begin for a hike through the Tryon Creek forest to learn how this and other PNW forests adapt to both gradual and sudden changes. We'll discuss the importance of disturbances (e.g. windstorms, landslides, wildfire, etc.) in the ecology of a forest, as well as how forests recover from such disturbances. As we walk the trails of the Tryon Creek forest, we'll also be looking…

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Forest Fungi and their Wood-wide Webs

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

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Join environmental educator, Roland Begin, for a hike through the Tryon Creek forest and its underground world of fungal webs. We will briefly review the nutrient cycling roles of most visible fungi in the forest, before then turning to focus on mycorrhizal fungi and the common networks that they can form between trees and other plants in the forest.  (Please note that this is not a hike to learn about edible…

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Tour Length: Approx. 2 hours.

Description: Fort Rock Cave is near Fort Rock State Natural Area. It is the site of instrumental archaeological discoveries dating back over 10,000 years. The Fort Rock Basin is a vital part of Native American history and life.  Fort Rock Cave is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public only by a state park guided tour. Join us in learning about Fort Rock Cave&rsquo…

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Fungi of Tryon Creek: Spring!

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

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Join environmental educator Roland Begin for an easy-going, fungi-hunting walk in the Tryon Creek forest. We'll focus initially on the basic physiology of fungi and the critical roles different types of fungi play in the ecology of the forest. With that information in mind, we'll then walk the trails looking for evidence of fungi. (Please note that this is not a hike to learn about identifying edible…

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Kayak interp tours

Prineville Reservoir State Park

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Description: The sweeping hillsides and cliffsides of Prineville Reservoir create a stunning backdrop for our guided kayak tour. Paddle with our interpretive staff and learn about local geology, area history, Water cycle and the plants and animals of the High Desert. Allow up to 3 hours for the tour, including pre-launch gear setup and post-launch check in. Kayak, paddle and PFD provided. Minimum age:  Children 8 – 11 must ride with an…

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Join environmental educator Roland Begin for a hike around Tryon Creek - and through 'deep time' - to learn about the unique geology of Tryon Creek SNA and its surrounding area. In the process we'll introduce geological maps and how to read them, with the specific intent to better understand the Tryon Creek landscape . We'll also learn how to use SLIDO, the state-supported tool to determine landslide potential anywhere in…

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Night Sky Over Cottonwood Canyon

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

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Join us for an evening of star gazing with volunteers from Rose City Astronomers and Oregon State Parks at beautiful Cottonwood Canyon State Park! Volunteer astronomers will help visitors find various objects of interest in the night sky throughout the evening. In the afternoon, starting at 3pm volunteers will be available for solar astronomy viewing, followed by a ranger led talk on night sky preservation at dusk. To cap off the night, volunteers will have…

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Plants of Tryon Creek: Summer!

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

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Join environmental educator Roland Begin for an easy-going walk among the native plants of the Tryon Creek forest. We'll focus on basic plant id, their seasonal cycles, as well as their many uses.

Hike starts at 10am on the Nature Center front porch. The program theme will be geared toward adults and youth ages 12 and up. Walking distances will average 2 miles.

Join a Park Ranger on a guided bicycle ride down the Banks-Vernonia State Trail! Explore the history of the Banks-Vernonia corridor from the depths of ancient oceans to the building of the rail road to the present day. Learn about local plants, animals, and ecology while getting some exercise in the great outdoors!

Participants must bring their own bikes and helmets. Be advised that the trailhead has no running water. Bring full water…

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Join a Park Ranger and learn about the basics of Disc Golf! L.L. Stub Stewart State Park offers three different Disc Golf courses that tarverse through beautiful forested landscapes. This event is targeted at beginners who are curious to get into the sport and will cover the basics of rules, proper form, and learning what the different numbers mean on discs. Discs will be provided to borrow for the day onsite, but you can…

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Come celebrate the yearly return of the swallows to Thompson’s Mills.  We will be wallowing in their presence from 10am to 4pm.  Trail around Mill property will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This year we will have birding volunteers available to answer questions and help guide people around the mill property.  We will have a limited number of binoculars available so you…

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Thompson’s Mills Birding and Nature Walk

Thompson's Mills State Heritage Site

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Join us for a birding hike here at Thompson’s Mills.  No birding experience is required, and experts are welcome to come share their knowledge. The hike is about a mile around the mill property.  Binoculars are recommended, and we have a few binoculars that first-timers may borrow.