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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Environmental Education offers outdoor programs that focus on stewardship and nature connection. All programs meet in PP&R parks and natural areas. For children and families, Environmental Education offers field trips, summer camps, and guided walks. For teens and young adults, Environmental Education offers stewardship, nature education, and jobs in natural areas.
Ladybug Nature Walks
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Age 6 & under with an adult | Children ages 15–24 months need to register but attend for free. Ladybug Nature Walks take place in Portland's parks and natural areas. They are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who want to explore in nature with a trained educator. Children attend with an adult who assists in guiding them along as they explore. Ladybug Nature Walks are a way for children ages 6 and under (and an adult) to explore a local Portland park. Nature educators guide families to notice plants and animals. Walks are child-directed and open-ended. Nature educators walk with the children in small groups. Children learn through questions, observation, and play. Groups move slowly through the park, stopping often. In this way, children have time to notice the plants and animals around them. If we have extra time we might also read a story, sing a song, or use puppets for imaginative play. Walks last one hour. Content is geared for children ages 15 months–6 years. (Younger siblings under 15 months are welcome. Please give us their names and ages when prompted during registration.) While exploring with a nature educator, children borrow a small ladybug backpack containing a few tools that are easy to clean: • Magnifying lens • Plastic bug box • Small plastic tub with a lid • Plastic paintbrush • Metal spoon • Small toy insect for imaginative play • Laminated color wheel for matching 9:30–10:30am • $3, $6, or $9 (per child ages 2–6)*
Day Date Location Activity
Th 6/23 Pendleton Park 1145488
M 6/27 Creston Park 1145489 Th 6/30 Fernhill Park 1145491 Th 7/7 Maricara Natural Area 1145492
M 7/11 Bloomington Park 1145505 Th 7/14 Columbia Park 1145506
M 7/18 Forest Park at NW 53rd Drive 1145507 Th 7/21 Dickinson Park and Woods 1145508
M 7/25 Midland Park 1145509 Th 7/28 Woodstock Park 1145510
M 8/1 Peninsula Park 1145511 Th 8/4 Alberta Park 1145512
M 8/8 Hoyt Arboretum 1145513 Th 8/11 Northgate Park 1145514
M 8/15 Kenilworth Park 1145515 Th 8/18 Gabriel Park Pollinator Meadow 1145549
M 8/22 Wilshire Park 1145517 Th 8/25 Kelley Point Park 1145555
M 8/29 Argay Park 1145556 Th 9/1 A Park 1145516 *PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Pay what you can to attend! Thanks to funds from the Portland Parks Local Options Levy, we are working to make programs more accessible. Add one or more discounts during the checkout process to pay the amount that works best for you.
City Nature Explorers
Grades 1–5
Parks are a magical place to learn about science and nature. Give your child a way to be curious about nature, ask questions, explore, and learn through play. Topics include birds, mammals, plants, invertebrates, pollinators, and more. Trained nature educators encourage children to share their own stories and make their own observations in nature. Lessons make space for both individual and group learning, incorporating games, discussion, and observation. W • 10:00am–2:00pm • $40*
Grades 1–3 Grades 3–5
Location
Sellwood Park Powell Butte Whitaker Ponds Mt. Tabor Park Hoyt Arboretum
Date Activity Date Activity
6/22 1145558 6/29 1145563 7/6 1145569 7/13 1145570 7/20 1145581 7/27 1145579 8/3 1145584 8/10 1145585 8/17 1145703 8/24 1145704 Before registering, read our policies regarding air quality, extreme heat, and lightning at the link below (or by scanning the QR code): portland.gov/parks/environmental-education/ city-nature-explorers#toc-policies-air-quality-extreme-heatlightning-wind-and-inclement-weather
What to know before you SIGN UP FOR SUMMER CAMP
ONLINE at portland.gov/parks/register CALL any community center or PP&R Customer Service 503-823-2525 during operating hours. IN-PERSON at any PP&R facility, including the Customer Service Center.
Pay What You Can
Using PP&R’s Pay What You Can option, City of Portland residents can reduce the price of summer camp to six different payment levels. No income verification is required. For 2022 summer camps, the Pay What You Can option allows for a maximum discount of 90% (in increments of 15%).
To use Pay What You Can, with online registration, enroll in your desired summer camp. At the payment screen, under enrollment details, you will see a discount window. Press add to select the number of discounts you need. If you are registering in-person or over the phone, please let the customer service representative know that you would like to use Pay What You Can to reduce the price of the activity.
Payment Plans
You may pay the entire balance or make a down payment of at least 20% for each camp you register for. If you are using PP&R’s Pay What You Can discount, the 20% deposit should reflect the balance after the discounts have been applied. Final camp payments are due seven days before the camp start date.
To help manage payments, PP&R encourages setting up automatic credit/debit payment plans, with the final payment being due seven days before the start of each camp. You may request to not have automatic credit/debit payment plans at time of registration by speaking with a customer service representative (in person or by phone only).
Withdrawal and Refunds
If you need to withdraw from camp, an 80% refund will be issued if notice is given at least seven days prior to the camp start date. This amount would reflect any Pay What You Can discounts that were applied.
No refund will be offered if notice is given less than seven days
before the start of the camp. In situations involving life changing events, severe medical issues, or financial hardship, customers may contact customer service for the site/program providing the camp to request an exception.
Requesting Support
Inclusion Services provides accommodations for people that need any additional supports or assistance to take part in PP&R classes and activities that are in their chronological age group. Activities are done in an inclusive setting.
To request an accommodation: 1. Register for your desired activity. 2. Once registered, please complete an inclusion request form which can be found online at portland.gov/parks/air. Once
Inclusion Services received the completed request form, you will be contacted by the Coordinator who will establish a support plan for the participant. Contact 971-284-5060 if you have questions.
Request for accommodations should be made a minimum of 10 business days prior to the start date of the class or program. Requests made fewer than 10 days in advance should still be submitted and all efforts will be made to provide an accommodation in a timely manner.
Portland Parks & Recreation uses ePACT to securely collect and manage critical emergency information for camps. Using ePACT replaces the need to fill out multiple paper forms and ensures we have the most up-to-date and accurate contact and medical information in case of emergency. Expect to receive one email invite per child from ePACT. To avoid duplication, one parent/guardian (one email address) should accept the invites and complete the detailed emergency record for ALL family members. Please
