Schedule of Programs

January 7, 2025: Where Are You in the Watershed?

We all live in a watershed! To launch the series, we’ll discover what a watershed is and which watersheds we live in. Key Concepts: maps, watershed, water flow

January 14, 2025: Mighty Tiny Wetland Creatures

We’ll look for the smaller, yet important, creatures that live in the water. We’ll explore their connections in the food web and how they are indicators of good habitat. Key Concepts: observation, animal structures, animal adaptations, food web, human impacts

January 21, 2025: Plants with Wet Feet

Join an ELC instructor as they put on waders and head into the water channel. We'll discover how wetland plants provide habitat to wildlife and help to clean the water. Key Concepts: observation, plant structure, plant growth, human impacts

January 28, 2025: Beavers: Nature's Builders

We'll learn about beavers' adaptations for living in and around water and how their dam-building benefits other wetland creatures. Key concepts: adaptations, wetlands as habitat, ecological connections

February 4, 2025: Are the Wetlands Home to Animals?

We’ll explore the different parts that make up a habitat: food, water, shelter, space, and air, and go on a habitat hunt looking for signs of good wildlife habitat. Key Concepts: observation, food web, living things affect physical characteristics

February 11, 2025: Wetland Wildlife in Winter

Winter at the ELC is about survival for our resident wildlife. We’ll explore the wetland to learn how some plant and animal species adapt to survive the season. Key Concepts: observation, animal senses, animal adaptations, living things affect physical characteristics

February 18, 2025: Duck, Duck, No Goose

Mallards are frequently seen at the ELC. Join us to discover how the wetland provides habitat to this common and beautiful bird. Key Concepts: animal structure, animal senses, animal adaptations, living things affect physical characteristics

February 25, 2025: Raccoon: Masked Bandit

Racoons are common predators in wetlands and a frequent night-time visitor at the ELC. We’ll discover more about its role in the wetland ecosystem and food web. Key concepts: observation, animal senses, animal adaptations

March 4, 2025: Water Temperature Check-up

Water temperature is an important part of a functioning watershed. We’ll take the temperature of the wetland to discover if it is in the “Goldilocks” zone for fish and macroinvertebrates. Key Concepts: measurements, human impacts

March 11, 2025: Waterflow in the Watershed

A guest from Clackamas Water Environment Services will help us visualize water flowing through the watershed system by putting dye in the creek. Students will observe the dye move through the wetland and learn about the effect water flow can have on water quality, erosion, and flooding. Key Concepts: observation, movement of water, rainfall shapes land, natural hazards, gravity, human impacts

ELC Livestream 2025: Wild in the Wetland, 4-5 grades