Nadaka Happenings, Completion of the Park

By Monica McAllister, Nadaka Nature Park Coordinator

What We Have Been Up To!
The year 2015 is off to a great start at Nadaka Nature Park and Garden. The final stages of the park’s natural play area and community garden are progressing beautifully. As of February, Verde has finished seeding the eco-lawn and planting of hundreds of native plants. In addition, ADA ramps into the play area, wooden benches, and berry trellises around the community garden have been completed. The parking lot of St. Aidan’s has recently received some much need TLC and has been partially paved with gravel to make it more accessible to the nature play area.

A big thanks to Alpha High School students who planted over 400 hundred plants in the rain gardens along NE Pacific Street February 23rd. The projected was funded by Federal CDBG funds and will be a great tool for teaching the community about how rain gardens work to improve the health of our watershed. Alpha High School will also be visiting Nadaka every other Tuesday to do stewardship and educational activities starting March 3rd. If you are in the area come and let them know they are doing a great job.

More below this break including a photo gallery!

Alpha HS is not the only school who will be consistently at Nadaka this spring. HB Lee SUN students will continue to visit Nadaka once a week to learn more about plant, animals and forest ecology. The students are currently working on interpretive posters about the various native plants at the park. These posters will be showcased at the Grand Opening of Nadaka April 4th from 10-12pm. Nadaka Nature Park will be partnering with Slough School to provide classroom lessons to Hartley Elementary School’s SUN program monthly. These classroom programs will be paired with stewardship and a nature hike at Nadaka once a month. On April 17th, Hartley Elementary School and Salish Ponds Elementary school will be doing a SOLVE sponsored cleanup with their families at Nadaka.

Last of all, we are excited to announce that Monica McAllister has been hired as the Nadaka Nature Park Coordinator. Monica started this February and will have her office based out of St. Aidan Episcopal Church. To contact Monica for volunteer opportunities or events at the park and garden, email her at monica@friendsofnadaka.org.

Upcoming Events!
This spring and summer at Nadaka will be filled with fun activities for the whole family. Come join Outgrowing Hunger and Friends of Nadaka at St. Aidan’s Murdock Hall for the Community Garden Open Enrollment Sunday March 15th 1-3pm. Registration for the garden is typically done online through the City of Gresham but during this event, we will help register community members with limited access to computers, internet, or who simply have questions. This event will be a great opportunity to meet your fellow gardeners and community members while enjoying a potluck style meal. The Community Garden will also host future gardening workshops, seasonal potlucks, recipe exchanges and more. For additional information on our community garden and questions on how to sign up for a plot please contact Community Garden Manager Adam Kohl at 971-231-4191 or adam@outgrowinghunger.org. You can also go online at http://greshamoregon.gov/gardens/ and click “register online” for a plot in the community garden.

The Grand Opening of Nadaka Nature Park and Garden will be held Saturday April 4th 10am to 12pm. This event marks the official opening of the newly created nature play area and community garden on the south two acres of the park. Public officials and project partners will be there to say a few words about Nadaka. The Audubon Society of Portland’s Education Birds will be present and teaming up with Slough School to provide environmental education. Nature play experts from ONPLAY will be demonstrating the possibilities the nature play area can provide. Children and adults will be provided wildflower seeds to plant and grow at home as a souvenir from the event. After the ceremony stick around to explore all that Nadaka has to offer.

Looking for a way to give back to Mother Nature just in time for Earth Day? Join Friends of Nadaka and SOLVE Saturday April 18th 9-12pm for a SOLVE IT Cleanup event at Nadaka Nature Park. We will be pulling invasive species and doing a park cleanup. To save time and paper please register ahead of time by visiting: http://solveoregon.org/get-involved/events/nadaka-nature-park-cleanup. In addition to the SOLVE Cleanup, Nadaka will be having a Stewardship Saturday the first Saturday of every month with the exception of July and September. The specific dates for the spring/summer are May 2nd, June 6th, July 11th, and August 1st. Equipment and light refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

Other events include our first “Walk and Talk” of the year led by a former Campfire girl April 25th from 10am to 12pm. During this hike you will learn about the history of Nadaka, the Campfire Girls, and identify the various native plants and animals. Those of you with little ones can look forward to Tadpole Tales. This event is hosted by Slough School and held May 6th-27th every Wednesday morning 10-11am starting at the picnic shelter. We invite parents and children ages 3-5 to enjoy a short story and a guided nature hike. Watch birds fly overhead, search for hidden animal homes, and learn about local trees and flowers. The event runs rain or shine so pull on those boots and join us! Each week has a new theme so there is always something new and exciting to learn. There is a $3 suggested donation per child, no charge for adults. For more information and to register visit http://columbiaslough.org/index.php/activities_events/tadpole_tales/ or call 503-281-1132.

The fun continues with the first Annual Nadaka Tea Fundraiser June 20th 1-3pm honoring the Campfire Girls. Come mingle with community members and sample some delicious teas, scones, sandwiches and desserts at St. Aidan’s Murdock Hall. At 2:15pm we will begin a “Walk and Talk” around the park to learn about the wildlife and history behind our amazing park. This event is intended for adults and teens only and has a registration fee of $20 dollars. To register and arrange payment for yourself or a group please email monica@friendsofnadaka.org or call 702-672-6822 no later than June 6th.

The Fifth Annual Nadaka Nature Park Festival will take place August 22nd from 12-3pm. This family friendly event will include a visit from the Audubon Society of Portland’s Education Birds, crafts, face painting, free hot dogs and drinks, dance and music performances. Slough School will provide hands on learning activities for the whole family. Various organizations working with Friends of Nadaka will have information booths and activities. If you are interested in volunteering or being on the Nadaka Community Festival Committee, please contact Monica McAllister at monica@friendsofnadaka.org or Lee Dayfield at leedayfield@hotmail.com or call at 503-998-1044.

Tentative Events!
Keep an eye out for these exciting opportunities whose dates are to be determined. Audubon Society of Portland will be hosting adult workshops at Nadaka on various wildlife and environmental topics. Kid friendly activities and environmental education will also take place during the spring and summer months. Monthly guided Bird Walks will help you brush up on your birding basics and identification. Backyard Habitat Certification workshops will provide you with valuable knowledge to create the perfect environment for you and wildlife to enjoy.

Volunteer!
Looking for more ways to be involved with Nadaka? Become a volunteer for one of our many events, train to be a Nadaka Nature Park Ambassador, or join an event committee team through Friends of Nadaka. We also need Spanish, Eastern European, African and Asian language facilitators to help us get the word out and communicate with the community. If you are unable to donate your time, feel free to donate field guides, children’s books related to wildlife/nature, art supplies, office supplies or tools for the community garden. Money donations to Nadaka can be made out to Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC) who is our fiscal agent. You can mail your donation to Columbia Slough Watershed Council at 7040 NE 47th Ave Portland, OR 97218. On the memo line write “to benefit Nadaka Nature Park” and include your contact information so that your gift can be properly acknowledged and you will receive a confirmation letter for tax purposes. Even easier go online to our website www.friendsofnadaka.org and click the donate link. These donations will be used to fund the creation of interpretive signs, outreach materials, refreshments and activities for events. For Nadaka updates and more information visit www.friendsofnadaka.org, Friends of Nadaka on Facebook or visit wilkeseastna.org. We are look forward to seeing everyone soon!

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