The Columbia River bisects the volcanic arc of the Cascade Range, pitting the forces of volcanism against the flow of waters draining a third of our continent. The resulting Columbia River Gorge exemplifies how nature's forces build and modify the landscape in ways that also shape local ecology and culture. This excursion will examine the evidence in the 100- mile stretch of the Columbia River within the Columbia River National Scenic Area.
     In particular, we will view some of the world's largest lava flows. These erupted 15 million years ago from vents near the Oregon/Idaho border and, flowing to the Pacific Ocean, filled ancient river gorges as they went. We will see evidence of humongous floods—perhaps the largest on Earth—during the last ice age, 15,000 years ago, which shaped the gorge by erosion and deposition and built up much of the landscape upon which the Portland metro area now resides.We will visit a large landslide that blocked the Columbia River fewer than 600 years ago, creating the "submerged forest of the Columbia" as well as Cascade Rapids. All of these events have left profound marks on the landscape and have shaped past and present human use.
     Join USGS geologists Drs. Richard Waitt and Jim O'Connor as we travel through this impressive country, witnessing the evidence of cataclysmic geologic forces.

• Cost: $50
• Trip Length: 9:00am–4:00pm
• Travel Time: about six stops; four to five hours on the bus
• Meals included: lunch
• Accessibility: many stops fully accessible, but a couple involve uneven ground and gravel surfaces; the stop at Cascade Locks has stairs
• Suggested Gear: rain gear, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Travel through time along the "Great River of the West." Following the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area from one end to the other, explore the cultural history of this remarkable breach through the Cascade Mountains.
     Kevin Price, district manager with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), will explore the cultural significance of Vista House as it relates to the Historic Columbia River Highway. He will provide insight into OPRD's work to ensure that the experience was fully accessible— no small challenge when dealing with a historic structure on the edge of a cliff.
     At Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon, Beth Rode, supervisory park ranger, will describe the history of the Forest Service in the Columbia River Gorge and how the National Scenic Area has impacted life in the Gorge.
     At the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Museum in The Dalles, Jeremy Five Crows,Nez Perce Tribe member and public information officer of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, will explain tribal history and culture. Ken Karsmizki, an authority on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, will talk about the impact of Lewis and Clark and the Oregon Trail on northwestern culture.
     At Bonneville Lock and Dam, Pat Barry, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supervisory park ranger and interpreter, will explain the historical significance and workings of this National Historic Landmark, which is also an operating multi-purpose dam.

• Cost: $45
• Trip Length: 8:00am–5:15pm
• Travel Time: three and a half hours
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: all sites are fully accessible
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, layered clothing, comfortable shoes, camera and day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Earthquakes and volcanoes reveal the power of Earth's forces that form the spectacular landscape of the Pacific Northwest. The May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens revealed in startling fashion how a dynamic landscape can affect our lives. Visitors to the region can be engaged not only in the haunting beauty of Mount St. Helens, but also in how scientists use high-tech instruments to monitor and forecast future eruptions. Indeed, this iconic mountain is as hardwired as any volcano on Earth.
     The reawakening of the volcano in 2004 provides a fascinating examination into how scientists and U.S. Forest Service interpreters collaborated to inform and interact with the media and general public in "real" time. This field excursion into the heart of the 1980 blast zone will examine interpretive facilities and programming at the Johnston Ridge Observatory (weather permitting) and provide behind-the-scenes visits to scientific monitoring instruments of EarthScope and the U. S. Geological Survey.
     EarthScope is a National Science Foundation-sponsored effort that applies the latest science and technology to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and to understand processes that cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Interpretive professionals in the Pacific Northwest have the unique opportunity to engage the public on the relevance of EarthScope and USGS discoveries as they are being made. The excursion will combine behind-the-scenes examinations of EarthScope and USGS scientific instruments with a look at how U.S. Forest Service rangers have integrated monitoring technology into their interpretive programming for visitors.

• Cost: $45
• Trip Length: 7:30am–4:45pm
• Travel Time: round trip four hours and 15 minutes
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: fully accessible (trail adjacent to the observatory is accessible, but rated as most difficult, 4,200 foot elevation)
• Suggested Gear: rain gear, layered clothing, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Come explore two key sites associated with the early EuroAmerican history of the Oregon Territory.
     As the principal supply depot of the British Hudson's Bay Company's vast Fort Vancouver served as the hub of an extensive fur trading network covering an extensive geographic range of 700,000 square miles that stretched from Russian Alaska to Mexican California and from the Rocky Mountains to the Hawaiian Islands. Living history programs, exhibits, audiovisual programs, and a behind the scenes tour led by Greg Shine from Ft. Vancouver National Historic Site will provide an opportunity for participants to witness high-quality interpretation while exploring some of the issues with managing historical sites. We'll look at developing living history programs, developing partnerships with a variety of public and private entities, and other aspects associated with managing these highly successful interpretive venues.
     After lunch, Dennis Wiley, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) district manager and past Champoeg State Heritage Area park manager and historian, will speak to our group on the significance of this site and how they interpret a place of such incredible natural and cultural importance.
     Participants will then learn about the variety of interpretive programs at Champoeg. Colleen Sump, education coordinator, and Kim Martin, public programming coordinator, both with Friends of Historic Champoeg, and Mike Niss, visitor services team leader, will discuss "How Do We Do What We Do?" They will address how the public/private partnership between OPRD and Friends of Historic Champoeg has resulted in many award-winning interpretive programs that capture all of Champoeg's compelling stories.

• Cost: $40
• Trip Length: 8:30am–4:30pm
• Travel Time: round trip up to three and a half hours
• Accessibility: uneven ground, concrete walkways
• Suggested Gear: hat, scarf, water, layers, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, comfortable shoes, camera, day pack, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

So you thought the best wines just came from the liquor store's top shelf. Join Portland State University soil scientist Scott Burns and learn how soil and site characteristics are critical factors in determining the success of a vineyard long before it reaches the corner liquor store.
     Larger and more consistent yields, higher wine quality, and more uniform ripening are goals of winemakers. The relationship between soil, site characteristics, and wine quality has been a recent topic at viticulture conferences and will be the focus of our Oregon winery tour.
     Nestled between the Coast Range on the west and Cascade Range on the east, the northern Willamette Valley is one of those very special places on earth where wines stand above the crowd. The Coast Range is a buffer, giving local wineries warmer summer temperatures and cooler winter temperatures. By wine standards, the Valley is considered cool, yet they have a long growing season. This extended "hang time" provides time for the complete development of grape flavor and texture.
     We will visit three Willamette Valley wineries, tasting the best they have to offer at each location, touring their facilities, and discovering how the soils and characteristics at each site differ, yet how each soil supports high-quality Oregon wines. Depending on the length of the 2008 growing season, we may be able to see various aspects of the harvest underway.

• Cost: $45
• Trip Length: 10:00am–5:00 pm
• Travel Time: three-hour round trip
• Meals Included: boxed lunch
• Accessibility: uneven ground
• Suggested Gear: hat, water, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 46

Are you ready for fun and adventure in the forest? The Tillamook Forest Center, Oregon's forest visitor and education center, beckons from the lush green landscape from the north Coast Range Mountains.
     Over a century ago, this territory was served by stagecoach and home to frontier families. A series of fires in the mid 20th century blackened the landscape and gave birth to an inspiring public movement to reforest "The Burn." Today, the Tillamook State Forest has plenty of stories to tell and special places to explore.
     During the bus ride, project leader Doug Decker will share the fund raising, planning, and building of the award winning Tillamook Forest Center. Upon arrival, discover first hand the power of fire, the miracle of the salmon lifecycle, and the resilient, dynamic, and productive nature of forests.
     Jim Quiring, center director, will greet you in the theater. After an introduction, you will see, hear, feel, and smell the Tillamook Burn by watching the film Legacy of Fire.
     At the top of the lookout tower you will enter the life of a lookout. Then stroll out onto the suspension bridge and peer into the rushing waters of the Wilson River to spy on spawning salmon.
     Join interpretive staff members Denise Berkshire and Chris Friend for a behind-the-scenes tour of the sustainable design and operations of the facility. From the forest to the floor, our future is in mind with caring carpet, wood pellet boilers, and a pond with a purpose.

• Cost: $40
• Trip Length: 9:00am–3:00pm
• Travel Time: 75 minutes (45 miles)
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: center is fully accessible; lookout tower has stairs
• Suggested Gear: hat, layered clothing, rain gear, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 45

Known for its dramatic, rocky headlands and spectacular seascape vistas, the Oregon Coast is a sightseer's paradise.We will travel to Cannon Beach, a town known for its magnificent natural setting and homey, village-like atmosphere.
     We will stroll along the beach with Lisa Sheffield from the Haystack Rock Awareness Program.We won't really comb beaches, but Lisa will interpret the flotsam and jetsam that we discover. Well enjoy the ambience of a 235-foot basalt seastack that towers over the ocean shore. Haystack Rock teems with life so varied and abundant that it has been designated a National Wildlife Refuge and Marine Garden. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program began as a modest pilot project in 1985 to protect the rock's delicate marine environment through on-site interpretation. Each summer, staff is on the beach at low tides with portable aquariums and spotting scopes to provide informative programs for visitors.
     After lunch we will head to Ecola State Park, which abounds in cliffside viewpoints, forested promontories, cultural history, and some of the most breathtaking and exquisite views to be found anywhere along the Oregon Coast. Ecola State Park is a hiking and sightseeing mecca with an eight-mile route over Tillamook Head that is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. As visitors to Ecola State Park, we will experience the natural beauty of the park and learn about the park's Native American relevance and its significance relative to the Corps of Discovery from Shelley Parker, Oregon State Park interpretive park ranger.

• Cost: $40
• Trip Length: 8:15am–4:30pm
• Travel Time: three-hour round trip
• Meals Included: boxed lunch
• Accessibility: uneven ground, loose sand
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera and day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Meet your group, then hop on the MAX (Metro Area Express) Light Rail train for a ride to Washington Park.We will start our day with a welcome by Rex Ettlin, CIT and zoo education program manager, who will share some of the unique interpretation challenges and unusual opportunities faced by the zoo. Then head off to search out their 1,029 animals (200 species, 21 of which are endangered). All along the way, we will come across their great ZooGuide "Animal Talkers," who will present brief interpretive experiences about selected animals.We will enjoy lunch at the zoo before we continue with our afternoon activities.
      Dramatic Cascadian architecture across the parking lot from the zoo will attract us inside to see the all-new, family friendly exhibits of the World Forestry Center's Discovery Museum, designed to engage visitors in learning. Join education director Rick Zenn for a behind-the-scenes tour of the new exhibits and learn how the international "Montreal Process" agreement provided the key theme structure to create a unique sense of place for telling stories about the world's diverse forests. Discover life under the forest, crawl though a nurse log, be a smoke jumper, try your hand at logging lightly, visit a tran-Siberian train, take a Songhua boat trip and a Kruger National Park safari, and see a Brazil canopy crane. Explore sustainability of forests, trees of the Pacific Northwest, and forests around the world.

• Cost: $35
• Trip Length: 9:00am–4:00 pm
• Travel Time: 45 minutes each way
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: fully accessible
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, light snack; there will be a lot of walking and the weather could be cold and damp; about half of your visit will be outdoors and you'll be on paved walkways, so dress warmly
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Enjoy the magical solitude, the amazing birding opportunities, the historical and cultural history of Lewis and Clark, and the Cathlapotle Plankhouse at the 5,150-acre Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The refuge is a locally significant site for wildlife observation, thousands of wintering waterfowl and waterbirds, and cultural resource interpretation.
     The refuge's rich archeological history has been protected from negative impacts and research continues to reveal time's secrets. Our tour with archeologist Anan Raymond will take us to the replica Cathlapotle Plankhouse to learn the lifeways of the people of the Cathlapotle Village, who thrived on the lower Columbia River's abundance.
     A tour and with Eric Anderson, instructional systems specialist, will provide a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fall migration of birds such as sandhill cranes, Canada geese, herons, swans, and ducks. Eric will identify waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and other western species that call the refuge home.
We will follow the paddle strokes of Lewis and Clark as we kayak one of the waterways they explored two centuries ago. The Ridgefield Kayak Rentals boathouse sits right on Lake River, a tributary of the Columbia River that tidally pools into and out of Vancouver Lake. The marina sits across from the refuge's marshes, grasslands, and woodlands. Well be carefully launched from a uniquely designed step-down platform for a dry, easy entry (and exit). No experience is necessary for this protected, flatwater, two-hour guided paddle.

• Cost: $45
• Trip Length: 9:00am–3:00 pm
• Travel Time: one and a half hours
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: the trail on the refuge consists of uneven ground with a natural surface consisting of dirt, rock, roots, steps, and narrow crossings; access to the Carty Unit includes a foot bridge and trail segments with a 20- percent grade over 150 yards; the Plank House access requires walking about 600 yards up a steep incline
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

Our adventure begins at the Multnomah Education Service District's (MESD) Arrah Wanna Outdoor School at the base of Mt. Hood. Established in 1966, this innovative residential environmental education program has weathered "climate changes" in funding by using adaptive management strategies, including employing high school students as science education instructors for sixth-grade field studies. Supervisor/consultant Margaret Eng and coordinator Dan Prince share their "secrets to a long program life"—building partnerships, creating friends groups,multi-grade-level programming, combining science and living history, and inclusion of children with special needs.
     After lunch we will follow the Bureau of Land Management's new Cascade Streamwatch Interpretive Trail along the banks of the Wild and Scenic Salmon River. Park manager Mark Marshall will guide us past old-growth trees and upon boardwalks suspended over beaver ponds to the new fish viewing window where visitors walk beneath a stream and experience the upstream migration of a Coho salmon.
     We will then ascend 6,000 feet up Mt. Hood, Oregon's tallest volcano, to Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark built of large, hand-carved timbers and rock during the Great Depression. Christy Covington, USFS timberline permit administrator, will lead our tour of Timberline Lodge, the largest 20th-century public building to be constructed and furnished entirely by hand. After the tour, participants can lounge by the fireplace, visit the lodge's Rams Head pub, or play in the snow.

• Cost: $45
• Trip Length: 9:00am–3:00pm
• Travel Time: up to three-hour round trip
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: partially paved uneven ground, loose sand, gravel, rock or stairs, accessible for wheelchair but may cover distances up to half-mile
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, rain gear, layered clothing with a warm insulating layer, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack, warm snow play clothing for Timberline Lodge
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

For centuries, dreams of flight have captured everyone's imagination. Join us at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum to learn the history of aviation through aircraft through stories and artifacts that show up-close and personal examples of human achievements. Museum staff members create an environment that teaches about the great milestones in the story of aviation and demonstrates the importance of other human skills like mathematics, teamwork, determination, perseverance, science, and technology.
     Many of the museum's volunteers are veterans with experiences in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Our group will be able to talk with a veteran who has first-hand flying experience.We also will visit a behind-the-scenes collections and restorations area, so we understand what it is like to curate an artifact the size of an airplane. The showpiece of the Evergreen Aviation Museum is a plane known around the world as the "Spruce Goose," which the museum acquired in 1990.
     We will see an IMAX movie on flight and enjoy flight simulations using state of the art simulator software to teach the basics of flight, navigation, and aircraft operations.
     Our visit to the Space Museum will follow lunch in the Spruce Goose Café. Here we will see the evolution of space flight from Sputnik to the modern space station. The centerpiece of the Evergreen Space Museum is the Titan II missile, standing upright and ready to launch. Journey into a replicated missile silo to see a simulated launch and talk with museum volunteers who actually worked on the Titan II.

• Cost: $70
• Trip Length: 9:00am–5:00pm
• Travel Time: two-hours round trip
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: fully accessible; the biggest challenge will be a considerable amount of walking around the museums and across the parking lot
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack; the old museum is not climate controlled and if we arrive on a cold day, you should be prepared
• Maximum Number of Participants: 40

As an idea born of community interest, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992, just 15 miles from downtown Portland. After 16 years of habitat restoration and the return of wildlife, the refuge opened to the public in 2006 with new trails, wildlife overlooks, environmental education study sites, and outdoor interpretive exhibits. A new wildlife center was constructed and opened in March of 2008. The center includes an exhibit hall, environmental education field laboratory, information desk, a Friends group nature store, indoor viewing area, and a multipurpose room.
     Come explore how the refuge acts as a springboard introducing the public to the National Wildlife Refuge System and encouraging visitors to get outside to experience first-hand wildlife in their native habitats. Meet with visitor services manager Kim Strassburg to learn how the refuge works with partners to develop curriculum-based environmental education programs and engage community volunteers who, in turn, welcome visitors, accompany school groups, and deliver interpretive programs. Explore the wildlife center, hike the nature trail, watch migrating wildlife, and talk with volunteers and partners.
     On the return trip from the refuge, the field trip will stop at the Audubon Society of Portland to learn about and explore several innovative education programs. Highlights will include a visit to Audubon's Wildlife Care Center, a talk about the traveling education program, and a description of the summer Swift Watch activity. While on site, participants could also walk Audubon's sanctuary trails or tour the visitor center.

• Cost: $40
• Trip Length: 8:30am–4:30pm
• Travel Time: one hour, 45 minutes
• Meals Included: boxed lunch
• Accessibility: centers are fully accessible; trails have uneven ground
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 40

The Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is a 160-acre floodplain wetland located along the east bank of the Willamette River. The city of Portland acquired the property in 1969 to block its development as an industrial park.
     This year NAI will assist Portland Parks and Recreation through our annual service project by making an access trail around a restored wetland possible for everyone. Bring your energy, work gloves, and waders/work boots, as we will be building an accessible trail around the wetland, creating sandy areas for environmental education projects, re-grading and graveling the Bluff Trail that connects the north and south ends of the refuge, and planting native rushes and sedges to stabilize the water's edge and create new habitat.
     Originally the wetlands were used as a landfill but they are now a birdwatcher's paradise. Hawks, bald eagles, quail, pintails, mallards, coots, woodpeckers, kestrels, and widgeon are just some of the birds that we might encounter. The star of the show is the great blue heron, the official bird of the city of Portland. This is one of their favorite places because of its proximity to one of the rookeries on Ross Island, which is adjacent to Oaks Bottom.
     The Friends of Oaks Bottom is a volunteer organization of interested citizens working in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation for the promotion, preservation, and management of Oaks Bottom. The Friends participate in habitat restoration, trail maintenance, guided hikes, information programs, and the publication of a newsletter. Trip leaders will be Faith L. Duncan and Louise Shorr.

• Cost $45
• Trip Length: 9:00am–4:30pm
• Travel Time: one hour
• Meals Included: lunch
• Accessibility: this is a construction site with obstacles and uneven surfaces; it will probably be muddy and it will definitely be wet
• Suggested Gear: hat, water, long-sleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes with tread for trail hiking, camera, day pack, binoculars, bird guides, light snack, rain gear
• Maximum Number of Participants: 50

This 90-minute walk clarifies why Portland is regularly recognized as one of the best places to live. You'll hear about both early and modern Portland as you experience an enlightened city rich with artwork, parks, bridges, fountains, countless coffee shops, brewpubs, and friendly people. Find out how this area grew from "stumptown" to a modern yet livable city. This tour features the stop that everyone loves, the world's smallest city park.

• Cost: $20
• Trip Length: 10:00–11:30am
• Meals Included: none
• Accessibility: uneven ground
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 35

Not all of Portland's illicit, naughty, bawdy, corrupt, controversial, and shady activities happened below street level, but all were underground and hidden. On this 90-minute walk, you'll be surrounded by stunning architecture as we reveal true stories about the buildings and the secrets they hold. A treat for lovers of all things sinister—crime, scandal, controversial characters, and unorthodox businesses—this tour winds through Old Town and Chinatown, exposing the city's sordid side. It's a no-holds-barred excursion into the worst Portland has to offer.

• Cost: $20
• Trip Length: 1:30–3:00pm
• Meals Included: none
• Accessibility: uneven ground
• Suggested Gear: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt, layered clothing, comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot, camera, day pack, binoculars, light snack
• Maximum Number of Participants: 40