Providing interpretive education on wetlands and wildlife, panoramic views, water quality, weather, natural resource management, trails, bird watching, recreation, exhibits, displays and an eagles nest, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is a treasure of the Hillsboro community.
The Preserve hosts a variety of fun and educational activities. Check this listing to find out what programs are coming up.
Every Wednesday beginning March 3
8:30-11:30am (FREE)
Meet Greg on the back deck of the Education Center. Dress for the weather and wear shoes or boots that get wet and/or muddy. No registration is required.
Every Wednesday
12:00pm - 1:00pm (FREE)
Join us for this great weekly event! We’ll provide spotting scopes, binoculars, field guides and expert birdwatcher, Greg Gillson, to help you identify the waterfowl and other birds that show up at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Meet at the north viewing shelter, next to the Clean Water Services treatment plant on Highway 219 south of Hillsboro. This event
is free. The site is wheelchair accessible. Contact Greg
at 503-681-6417 for more information. You do NOT need to register for this program! Effective April 7, Lunch With the Birds is moving to the covered viewing shelter at the south end of the Preserve, near the Wetlands Education Center at 2600 S.W. Hillsboro Highway.
Wednesdays beginning March 24
2:00-3:30pm (FREE)
Join Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve bird expert Greg Gillson for an informal bird walk around the Main Hillsboro Library and Dawson Creek area, 2850 N. E. Brookwood Parkway in Hillsboro. Please park in the north end of the parking lot and meet Greg at the bike pavilion. Space is limited to 15 so pre-registration is required. Please call Greg directly at 503-681-6417 to register.
Unless otherwise noted, register for the following classes through Hillsboro Parks and Recreation, 503-681-5397, or register on-line at RecXpress.
Appropriate for ages 7 through Adult (children must be accompanied by an adult)
Monday, January 25, #23905
Friday, March 26, #23906
7:00pm - 9:00pm
$6 resident, $9 non-resident
Learn about these amazing nocturnal predators and the adaptations that help them survive in their habitat. After the one hour classroom program, step out onto the Education Center deck and listen for Great Horned and Western Screech owls.
5-9 years old
Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24, March 17, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, May 5
3:00-5:00pm
Fee/Class: $16 Resident, $24 Non-Resident
Have a wild time at the wetlands while learning about science and nature! In these classes, children learn through hands-on activities, games and exciting up-close experiences with the natural world. Children will take home nature and science related crafts. Snacks will be provided. Tina Engelfried
Check our Events Calendar for details for a specific date.
4-7 years old
Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 27, March 6, March 13, April 10, April 24, May 8
10:00-11:00am
Fee/Class: $10 Resident, $15.00 Non-Resident
Join us on Saturday mornings for an hour of awesome games and crafts related to the theme of the day. Get ready for creative fun and new adventures! Tina Engelfried
Check our Events Calendar for details for a specific date.
Adult
Thursday, February 4, #23909
Tuesday, March 2, #23910
Thursday, May 20, #23911
1:00-2:00pm
$5 Resident, $8 Non-Resident
The first in a series of classes to help you identify and live comfortably with your backyard birds. Millions of people do it and you can too! Learn how to set up a bird feeding station and make your backyard attractive – and safe – for birds. You’ll learn about the different types of feeder designs, how to place them so they attract birds and what types of food to offer to attract different species.
Adult
Thursday, February 11 #23916
Tuesday, March 9 #23917
Thursday, May 27 #23918
1:00pm – 2:00pm
$5 Resident, $8 Non-Resident
Join Greg for the second class in our Backyard Birds series. You’ve set up your feeders and hopefully birds have found them and are taking full advantage of all the healthy food you are offering. Now it’s time to learn who is eating you out of house and home! Greg will lead you through the habits and behaviors of ten common backyard birds. There will be a slide show and time for discussion of our local feeder birds.
Thursday, February 18 #23919
Tuesday, March 16 #23920
Thursday, June 3 #23921
1:00pm – 2:00pm
$5 Resident, $8 Non-Resident
This is the third class in our series about backyard birds. They’ve been called “flying jewels” and rightfully so. Enjoy a slide show and discussion of our smallest birds. You’ll learn about their life history, habits and some amazing facts about these winged wonders. Greg will also bust some myths about hummingbirds you’ve probably heard before, and will settle the question once and for all as to whether or not they have feet!
Adult
Monday, February 22, #23922
Wednesday, March 24, #23923
Tuesday, May 4, #23924
Class 9:00am – 10:00am
Field Trip 10:00am – 11:00am
$8 Resident, $12 Non-Resident
This is the first in a progressive series of stand-alone classes on bird identification. Each class will include a classroom presentation and a guided walk around Jackson Bottom Wetlands so participants can practice their newly-learned bird identification skills. During the first class Greg will discuss how to use bird shape and behavior to begin bird identification.
Adult
Thursday, February 25 #23926
Tuesday, March 23 #23927
Thursday, June 10 #23928
1:00pm – 2:00pm
$5 Resident, $8 Non-Resident
Here are ten more backyard birds to learn! Greg will lead you through a slide show and discussion of an additional ten common backyard birds in our watershed. As always, he will answer questions and help you with the finer points of bird identification as you learn about the visitors to your yard.
Adult
Monday, March 1, #23929
Wednesday, March 31, #23930
Tuesday, May 11, #23931
Class 9:00am – 10:00am
Field Trip 10:00am – 11:00am
$8 Resident, $12 Non-Resident
The second in our progressive series of beginning bird watching classes. With so many different name brands, styles, sizes, powers, etc., etc. how can you choose the best binoculars or spotting scope for your particular use? Greg will help you learn how to use binoculars and spotting scopes, how to judge optical quality and features that are right for you, and put classroom instruction to use on a guided walk around Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.
5-9 years old
March 3 and March 10
3:00-4:30pm
Fee/Class: $10 Resident, $15 Non-Resident
Join us as we explore some of our favorite parks, ponds and natural areas around Hillsboro. This is the perfect way to introduce your little ones to birds, bugs and the art of observing nature in action. Tina Engelfried
Check our Events Calendar for details for a specific date.
3-6 years old
March 6, March 13, April 10, April 24, May 8
11:15am-12:00pm
Fee/Class: $8 Resident, $12 Non-Resident
Help us explore the wonders of nature and science through stories and exploration. Parents and children will listen to a story and bring the topic to life through hands on activities and exploration outside. Bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic after class on our beautiful deck overlooking the wetlands. Parent participation required. Tina Engelfried
Check our Events Calendar for details for a specific date.
Adult
Monday, March 8, #23932
Wednesday, April 7, #23933
Tuesday, May 18, #23934
Class 9:00am – 10:00am
Field Trip 10:00am – 11:00am
$8 Resident, $12 Non-Resident
The third class in our progressive series of beginning bird watching classes. Now it’s time to learn about field guides! Having the correct field guide can make all the difference between frustration and satisfaction in learning to identify birds. Greg will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of various field guides, and how to choose the correct field guide for you. He will also demonstrate how to use a field guide, and then will lead a guided walk around Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve so everyone will have the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom!
Adults and Youth
Saturday, March 13, #23899
Saturday, April 10, #23900
Saturday, May 8, #23901
Saturday, June 12, #23902
3:00pm - 6:00pm
$3 per person
Discover the magic of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve on this hike. Volunteer Rick Balazs will lead us as we view all that nature has to offer on the Preserve. The emphasis is on birds, but participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the natural world and all of its creatures. The terrain is mostly flat, and the pace will be slow so we don’t scare away the critters. Dress for the weather, wear shoes or boots that can get wet and/or muddy. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. These hikes are limited to ten participants, so register early. The trails are not wheelchair accessible. To register, call Sarah Pinnock at 503-681-6278.
Adult
Monday, March 15, #23935
Wednesday, April 14, #23936
Tuesday, May 25, #23937
Class 9:00am – 10:00am
Field Trip 10:00am – 11:00am
$8 Resident, $12 Non-Resident
The fourth in our progressive series of beginning bird watching classes. Well, you’ve got your binoculars, your field guide, you know how to use both and you know the basics of identifying birds. Now it is time to learn some basic techniques to help you get closer views of birds without frightening them away. Greg will also cover manners and the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Whether you are out on your own, or with a group of people, knowing the correct etiquette will help enhance your experience, and that of the folks you are birding with or around, not to mention the experience of the birds you are watching. Greg will lead a guided walk around Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve to put all this practical information to use.
8-10 years old
March 22 - March 26, 2010
9:00am - 3:00pm
$145 resident, $175 non-resident
Exploration, experiments, hiking, arts and crafts – this camp has it all! Discover the amazing diversity of tiny critters that live in soil by using Berlese Funnels and microscopes. Catch critters in a pond, find out how old trees are and spend time outside looking for tracks, scat, scrapes and chews to figure out who’s been around! This camp will be held at the Field Station at Camp Madsen.
March 24, 2010
2:00-3:30pm
Free
Join Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve bird expert Greg Gillson for an informal bird walk around the Main Hillsboro Library and Dawson Creek area in Hillsboro. Please park in the north end of the parking lot at 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway and meet Greg at the bike pavillion. Space is limited to 15, so pre-registration is required. Please call Greg directly at 503-681-6417 to register.
Adult
Monday, April 5
Class 9:00am – 10:00am
Field Trip 10:00am – 11:00am
$8 Resident, $12 Non-Resident
Although they look remarkably similar, there is definitely a system that will help you sort out all the LBJ’s (Little Brown Jobs) you come across! Greg will help you learn about plumage topography as it relates to sparrows and will guide you through the most common sparrow-like birds in Western Oregon. After the classroom presentation, you will go on a walk around Jackson Bottom Wetlands to put your new identification skills to use.
Grades 1-3
Free, pre-registration required
Monday, May 17 - Birds
Monday, June 21 - Insects
Monday, July 19 - Watersheds
Monday, August 16 - Nature Detectives
3:30-4:30pm
Programs will be held inthe Storytime room at the Main Hillsboro Library at 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway. Space is limited to 20 children. Programs will be taught by Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve staff or trained volunteers. Check our Events Calendar for details for a specific date. Pre-register by calling the Library at 503-615-6500.
Free, no registration required
Tuesday, May 18 - Attracting Birds to Your Yard
Tuesday, June 15 - Wetlands
Tuesday, July 20 - Leaves, Twigs, and Bark?
Tuesday, August 17 - Spiders
6:30-7:30pm
Programs will be held in the main meeting room at the Hillsboro Main Library at 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway in Hillsboro. Programs will be taught by Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve staff or trained volunteers. Check our Events Calendar for details for a specific date.
2600 SW Hillsboro Hwy. Hillsboro, OR 97123|fax: 503-681-6277|phone: 503-681-6206