January 2020 Newsletter

Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events

Once again we would like to thank the Clark County Historical Preservation Commission for the grant award that allowed us to give our Collections some much needed care and attention.

 

We have conducted a full inventory of all cultural and interpretive items associated with the Cathlapotle Plankhouse and Lifeways and Landscapes Program. One of the highlights of this project has been the ability to incorporate the Indigenous curation lens to objects in the Plankhouse, which will better inform our interpretation moving forward. Due to the nature of our education program, our interpretive items and materials receive a lot of handling by the public for much of the year, and preventative conservation is now a top priority. Our fears about our abilities to more actively address and combat Agents of Deterioration have been lessened through work with Greg Robinson with the Chinook Indian Nation, and Greg Archuleta with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

 

Greg Robinson was the Project Forman for the building of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse and this year we celebrate 15 years of the House being open! Currently we are featuring Greg Robinson’s art on items in the Friends Merch Shop.

 

- Juliet McGraw, Community & Cultural Education Director, Friends of RWNR 

 

Stop by the Friends merch shop here and grab a tshirt or sweatshirt, mug or tote bag, all featuring Greg Robinson's Chinookan Stellers Jay art.

 

Save the Date for 2020's Second Sunday Events! Indigenous Scholarship, Research, and Leadership is the theme for the 2020 Second Sunday Series. Every Second Sunday event will feature talks and panels focused on the theme, as well as kids crafts and activities, docent and self-led Plankhouse tours, and more. As always, our series will highlight issues most closely related to the work we do here at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

 

2020 SEASON I 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

The Plankhouse is also open every Saturday & Sunday, May 2nd- October 4th, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 

Stay tuned for more specific information about each date, including the speaker, and more, coming throughout the year!

Habitat Restoration Updates & Events

Tis the season to be grateful… Here is a thank you to my volunteers.

2019 is coming to an end and I have so much gratitude for the amazing people that have helped to make a difference over the year. While being in the position of Habitat Technician I have been able to work closely with my volunteers. From what I have seen, this close knit group has a great amount of pride in what they do. They come together and care for each other like family. Work parties generally consist of conversations to catch up with each other's lives since the previous week. I always hear someone ask another, “how are the pugs doing” - or my favorite, “is it break time yet???” Some of these people have been volunteering together for years!

 

One volunteer has been helping at the refuge for over 10 years, and he always shows up to a work party even if it is just the two of us. I receive so much support and kindness from these people, and I wanted to let others know how wonderful they are.

 

A good chunk of my volunteers are from the Ridgefield community, and some travel all the way from Portland! It does not matter what the weather is doing, or what the project will be, people will still come with a smile on their face. I encourage you to come out and experience what it is like to volunteer and help restore the native habitat. Projects like invasive removal and tree planting do not always provide that instant gratification of a job well done, but I have come to understand the beauty of working to create a better future. Volunteers work hard and quietly to restore a safe place for our woodland critters and to create a healthy habitat.

 

This month the habitat volunteers came out on Wednesdays and Thursdays to help clean up the refuge by removing invasive plant species such as himalayan blackberry, common mullein, and shiny geranium. We take out these plants because of their aggressive growth rates that outcompete the native plants. Other projects have included native plantings and barbed wire removal. This month we planted indian plum, red elderberry, pacific ninebark, Oregon ash, snowberry, and red osier dogwood! These plants are important for a healthy understory for birds, insects, and smaller animals.

 

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2020.

 

Contact elena_tinoco@fws.gov for more info and to sign up to volunteer.

Seeking Business Alliance Members

 

As a member of the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Business Alliance, you invest in one of our urban metropolitan area’s most unique and diverse natural and cultural resources. Click here to find out more!

Board Seeking New Board Members

Or, Join a Committee

The Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit dedicated to promoting educational and cultural programs of the Ridgefield NWR, and protecting and enhancing its wildlife habitat. We are currently seeking candidates to serve on our board of directors. We are recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds and skills for several open board positions, in addition to candidates interested in serving on a committee (board membership not required).

 

Find out more about the Friends, and contact us here!