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.
What a great way to combine community service with learning. Our service learning programs can be custom designed for your students. From learning about the habitat needs of Red-legged Frogs to discovering the nesting requirements of Bald Eagles, there are many choices for engagement at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.
Students will receive an overview of the Wetlands, why it is such a special ecosystem, and information about their specific area of study. Then the shovels come out, the gloves go on, and it is time to do some work in the field. Planting trees, removing non-native invasive species, cleaning up trails and helping to restore habitat are just a few of the service opportunities students have been involved with at the Preserve.
Programs last approximately two and one-half to three hours and cost $125 per class. Contact Sarah Pinnock at 503-681-6278 for more information.
In 2000, Metro and the Board of Directors of Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve entered into a Natural Area Management Agreement regarding the use and ongoing operation of the Madsen property. Located just 2 ½ miles from the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve Education Center on 62 acres near the Tualatin River, the deep forest, wetlands and large pond on the Madsen property create the perfect setting for outdoor education and recreation activities. Whether hiking in the forest, planting native trillium, canoeing in the pond, or listening to raptors calling overhead, the multi-sensory experiences at the Madsen property make a lasting impression and help instill a life-long love and respect for the outdoors. In 2008 the idea of a rustic campground on the property quickly was embraced and became known as “Camp Madsen” named after Roger and Gail Madsen who originally sold their land to Metro in 2000.
The initial development of Camp Madsen in 2009 created incredible opportunities for community involvement, meaningful partnerships, and long-term outdoor education experiences. Summer campers (age 7-14) engage in activities like critter catch, team building, canoeing, bird watching, map making and compass skills. All of the youth registered in our summer camps will be taught Leave No Trace principles, with 13 & 14 year old campers taking part in a unique overnight camping experience at Camp Madsen.
This fall, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve staff will work closely with a nearby elementary school to develop curriculum for a satellite outdoor education program that will be piloted at Camp Madsen during the 2009-2010 school year. The content of this science based outdoor program would support the Hillsboro School District curriculum goals and benchmarks, providing a valuable opportunity for future programming involving more Hillsboro elementary and middle school students. 5th & 6th grade students from this school will also be participating in a monthly afterschool program based at Camp Madsen. This “Junior Naturalist” group will explore Camp Madsen and compile a first edition field guide for the flora and fauna found during their surveys at Camp Madsen.
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve staff will continue to involve Eagle Scouts, local organizations, and volunteers in projects related to the development and sustainability of the recreation site at Camp Madsen. Development projects would include the addition of rustic structures, such as lean-tos and picnic shelters, in the overnight camping area to enable the growth of these programs and support the use of this camp despite changing Oregon weather conditions. Volunteer efforts would also be used in various restoration projects throughout the Camp Madsen property.
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve has been able to make a start on the development and use of Camp Madsen, but would like to expand this program to reach and inspire more elementary and middle aged Hillsboro School District students. Our goals will allow us to move towards the development of successful year-round education and recreation opportunities at Camp Madsen.
Saturday, June 2, 9:00am-1:00pm, Free
Join trip leader Rick Balazs for this wonderful annual visit to the Great Blue Heron rookery at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Meet at the Education Center, 2600 SW Hillsboro Highway, Hillsboro, Oregon, at 9:00am sharp. Adults and children ten and older are welcome! The outing is limited to 15 people and is free. The hike will be about three miles over flat terrain.
Please pre-register by calling Sarah Pinnock at 503-681-6278.
If your school or group cannot come to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, we can come to you! Our enthusiastic and experienced instructors present one-hour classroom programs for grades K through 6. All programs are hands-on, interactive, educational and fun. For school groups, all of our programs are aligned with the Oregon Common curriculum goals and State benchmarks for education.
All Hillsboro schools receive a 10% discount.
A minimum of two of the same program must be offered at a single location on the same day.
Beavers: Their Gnawing Effect on Ecosystems
Grades: 3-4
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
Beavers are the largest rodents in North America and can change entire ecosystems with a flash of their huge, orange teeth! In this interactive program, students will learn about their amazing adaptations by building a beaver, examining pelts and skulls, and learning about beaver family life and what goes on inside the lodge. Students will gain an understanding of these amazing mammals, where they live and what they need in order to survive.
The Wonderful World of Birds
Grades: 1-2
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
One of the most successful groups of animals on the planet, birds live in all kinds of habitats; come in all sizes, shapes and colors, and have amazing behaviors and adaptations. With lots of hands-on exploration and small focus groups, students will learn what birds are, where they live and what things they need in order to survive. Students will also handle feathers and bones, see nests and eggs close up, and gain a greater understanding of how birds use their beaks by trying to eat like a bird.
Amazing Amphibians
Grades: K-1
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
This is a great program that introduces students to amphibians in general and frogs in particular. Students will break into groups for hands-on learning stations where they will build a wetland habitat and figure out where different animals live and how frogs fit into their watery world. Students will learn what amphibians are, where they live and what they need to live both on land and in the water.
Watersheds: Where and What are YOU?
Grades: 4-6
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
We all live in one, yet most of us are still unaware of how human and natural events can impact a watershed. Students will use models and maps to discover the dynamics and qualities of a general watershed. They will participate in hands-on activities to learn more about pollution and the role wetlands play in keeping our watershed healthy.
Native Hillsboro
Grades: 4-6
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
Why do people need plants? Learn about the ways we use, or have used them in the past for such things as food, medicine, ceremonial items, utensils, toys, transportation and homes. No shopping malls were around in the early days…the Atfalati, native people of the Tualatin Basin, used plants that were available. Native plants such as cedar, red alder, camas, red-osier dogwood, wapato, stinging nettle, Oregon grape, horsetail, thimbleberry and wild rose have been important to both native cultures and contemporary residents. Students will make cordage at the end of the class.
Skulls and the Art of Inferential Classification
Grades: 4-6
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
Besides being extremely cool to look at, the study of skulls and bones can add greatly to our understanding and appreciation of the natural world. The art of inferential classification is a tool to help us analyze skeletal structures to infer an animal’s eating habits, or environmental lifestyle. By learning about skulls and bones, we can develop an understanding of the relationship between skeletal structure and an animal’s general behavior.
Tracks, Tracks, Tracks!
Grades: 2-4
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
Animals have different body shapes and ways of moving. Through hands-on activities and observation, students will learn the basics of identifying animal tracks. They will also learn about different environmental lifestyles (omnivore, carnivore, herbivore) and how animals interact in their habitats. The program leader will also demonstrate how to make a plaster cast of an animal track that will be given to the class for their room.
Those Incredible Insects
Grades: 2-3
Length: One hour
Fee: $85 per class
Insects are all around us and have amazing adaptations and strategies to survive in their habitats. Students will learn the characteristics of an insect, how they are different from spiders, study their adaptations and solve five insect mysteries focused on identification, life cycle, adaptations, behavior and interaction with humans.
Register for the following camps through Hillsboro Parks & Recreation at 503-681-5397 or on-line at RecXpress. Registration begins April 23.
Super Nature Sleuths, 7-8 years old
Date: 6/25 - 6/29 (5 days), Monday - Friday
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Place: Camp Madsen
Super Sleuths needed to solve some natural history mysteries! Each day will present a new mystery to be solved. Sleuths will put their heads together to become animal trackers as we search for clues that animals leave behind and decode crazy bird behaviors. We’ll build forts and explore the pond and the woods as we learn about the amazing critters that live in different habitats. There e will also be time to record our discoveries in a naturalist journal, create memorable arts & crafts and play games both inside and out. Please be sure that each day your child brings a snack, a bag lunch, a water bottle and dresses for the weather, including comfortable boots or shoes that can get wet and/or muddy.
Course #: 33845
Fee: $150 Resident, $180 Non-resident
Habitat Adventures, 9-10 years old
Date: 7/9 - 7/13 (5 days), Monday - Friday
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Place: Camp Madsen
Pond, woods, meadow, riparian and edge zones! We’ll learn about all the different habitats where animals live and the special behaviors and adaptations animals have to live successfully in such different areas. Birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and spiders—on the ground, in the air, swimming in the ponds and marshes! Let’s explore them all. From sweep nets for catching insects, using binoculars correctly, to making plaster casts of animal tracks, campers will learn different field techniques to help them explore the natural world in a safe and respectful way. Each day we will focus on a different group of animals. Dress for the weather, bring a water bottle, morning snack, lunch, and wear shoes or boots that can get wet and/or muddy.
Course #: 33846
Fee: $150 Resident, $180 Non-resident
Outdoor Skills, 11 - 12 years old
Date: 7/16 - 7/20 (5 days), Monday - Friday
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Place: Camp Madsen
This week long camp will focus on learning outdoor and camping skills, including building a shelter, pitching a tent, and cooking over a fire! Thursday night we will camp overnight at Camp Madsen. Using the Principles of Leave No Trace, campers will gain knowledge to reduce their impact and camp more safely for both themselves and our natural areas. Campers will also have the opportunity to learn canoe and kayak skills on the pond at Camp Madsen. Please be sure that each day your child brings a snack, a bag lunch, a water bottle and dresses for the weather, including comfortable boots or shoes that can get wet and/or muddy. Most supplies for the overnight camping trip will be provided, however campers will need to supply their own sleeping bag. A list of any additional supplies for the overnight will be distributed at the start of the week.
Course #: 33847
Fee: $155 Resident, $185 Non-resident
Outdoor Adventures, 7-8 years old
Date: 7/23 - 7/27 (5 days), Monday - Friday
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Place: Camp Madsen
This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to explore the natural world, learn about everything from insects to plants, build a fort, do lots of hands-on activities and have a great time outside. We’ll have a different focus each day while learning more about different habitats and all the amazing creatures that live in ponds, meadows and forests. Art projects, games and lots of time outside are all on the agenda! Have your child dress for the weather, bring a snack and water bottle, and wear comfortable shoes that can get wet and/or muddy.
Course #: 33848
Fee: $150 Resident, $180 Non-resident
Bobcats Cubs Club, 4-6 years old
Date: 7/30 – 8/3 (5 days), Monday - Friday
Time: 9:00 – 11:00am
Place: Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve Education Center
Here’s a wonderful opportunity for our youngest nature-lovers to come and explore Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Each day will have a different focus, so we will be learning about reptiles, insects, birds, pond life, and plants. Each topic will be explored through hands-on activities, an art project, time outside, and a story to wrap it up! Have your child dress for the weather, bring a snack and water bottle, and wear comfortable shoes that can get wet and/or muddy.
Course #: 33850
Fee: $60 Resident, $80 Non-resident
Outdoor Survivors, 11-12 years old
Date: 8/13 - 8/17 (5 days)
Time: 9am - 4:00pm
Place: Camp Madsen
This week long camp is all about exploring the out-of-doors and (safely) venturing outside your comfort zone by challenging yourself both mentally and physically. Campers will participate in a variety of group and individual games, activities and projects that will teach us about basic outdoor skills with the inclusion of Leave No Trace, Naturalist skills such as track and skull identification and more. Campers will learn basic canoe and kayak skills on the pond at Camp Madsen and will camp out in tents on Thursday evening. Thursday they will also be able to participate (if they so choose) in the first-ever Nature Triathlon! Please be sure that each day your child brings a snack, a bag lunch, a water bottle and dresses for the weather, including comfortable boots or shoes that can get wet and/or muddy. Most supplies for the overnight camping adventure will be provided, however campers will need to supply their own sleeping bag. A list of any additional supplies for the overnight will be distributed at the start of the week.
Course #: 33849
Fee: $155 Resident, $185 Non-resident
Bucket Biology
Grades: All ages
Length: 1-1/2 hours
Fee: $90 per class
Wander the wetlands with a naturalist on an informal tour to discover the wonderful things that are all around us. Ask any nature-related question you want, and we will try to figure out the answer. Each Bucket Biology tour will be unique and full of surprises. Staff will customize the tour depending on the interests and needs of your group.
Sensory Fun in the Wetlands
Grades: K-2
Length: Two hours
Fee: $95 per class
Here’s an opportunity to check out your senses…sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste! We will discover what a wetland is, cool things about the critters such as Bald Eagles, bats, coyotes, raccoons, and insects that live here and explore how their senses are different than ours. How do bats catch bugs? How well do Bald Eagles see? How are insect eyes different than ours? Bring your eyes, noses, hands, and feet for some serious wetland fun!
Jackson Bottom Wetland Birds
Grades: 1-2
Length: Two hours
Fee: $95 per class
Birds are some of the most fascinating and conspicuous animals on the planet. Join us at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve for a two-hour exploration into the world of birds. Students will have the opportunity to use binoculars while on a bird watching walk, eat like a bird, handle feathers, bones and nests, and discover how birds fit into this wetland ecosystem.
Biodiversity
Grades: 4-6
Length: 2-1/2 hours
Fee: $135 per class
What is biodiversity? Why is it important to the world and you personally? Students will rotate through four different learning stations, using scientific tools to get a glimpse of ecosystem health through the study of water quality, wildlife habitat, soils and plant diversity, and the food chain. Students can then take these skills and ideas back to the classroom for a study of biodiversity at their own school site.
Preserve Inquiry
Grades: 5-6
Length: Four hours (fall, spring and summer seasons only due to winter flooding)
Fee: $160 per class
How do people find out things about the world? One major way is by the process of Scientific Inquiry. Let’s learn how to learn! We will practice framing a question, planning an investigation, collecting and recording data, analyzing data and sharing results with others. As students become more familiar with the process of scientific inquiry, they will learn how to follow up on their curiosity, excel at asking and answering questions and learn how to be a problem-solver.
Riparian Forest Inquiry
Grades: 5-6
Length: Four hours (fall, spring and summer seasons only due to winter flooding)
Fee: $160 per class
Riparian forests are some of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. During this field experience, students will learn about these amazing ecosystems by conducting an assessment of the riparian forest at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Students will learn about disturbances in an ecosystem and discover why canopy does matter! They will also conduct a wildlife survey, comparing diversity between two different habitat zones in the Preserve. This is a very hands-on program where students will learn to use various scientific tools and instruments and practice their inquiry and data collection skills.
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve offers a variety of science and nature-related educational programs for students in grades K – 6. Our programs are hands-on, aligned with the Hillsboro School District curriculum and meet benchmark requirements.
Education Center
With the help of generous donations and dedicated volunteers, the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Education Center opened on September 27th 2003. Click on the link to learn more about what the building has to offer.
Community Programs
The Preserve hosts a variety of fun and educational activities. Check this listing to find out what programs are coming up.
Teacher Education
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve offers a wide range of workshops, in-services, and customized school involvement programs for schools and educators from throughout the Northwest.
School Programs
Register your school or group for an amazing program at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Our staff have designed a wide range of interesting programs that will enthuse and enlighten all ages. One- to four-hour programs are available. All programs are hands-on, interactive, educational and enjoyable. For school groups, all the programs are aligned with the Oregon Common Curriculum Goals and State Benchmarks for education. We offer two types of school programs: Traveling Programs and Field Programs. Click here for information on how to register for school programs.
Summer Camps
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve offers a variety of summer camps for kids. Descriptions and dates will be posted mid-April. All registrations go through Hillsboro Parks and Recreation and will begin on May 1st. Please do not call before May 1st.
2600 SW Hillsboro Hwy. Hillsboro, OR 97123|fax: 503-681-6277|phone: 503-681-6206