Community Education at the ELC

We invite everyone in the community to join in the fun at the Environmental Learning Center!

Whether you want to learn how to attract wildlife to your garden, identify native wetland species, or gaze at the stars with Rose City Astronomers, we offer a variety of events and classes that bring the community together to enjoy what the Environmental Learning Center has to offer.

Our current offerings:

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Community education at the ELC

Wetland Wonders Live Speaker Series - summer 2025

Join us at the ELC for a series of presentations that explore wetlands, wildlife, and both current and historical human-wildlife interactions provided by professionals and experts in their fields.

Thursdays in July and August, 2025

Time: noon-1 p.m.
Location: Environmental Learning Center (Clackamas Community College, Oregon City Campus)
Cost: Suggested $10 donation
Drop-ins: On the day of the program, you can register with a staff member at the ELC. Please show up by 11:45 a.m. to secure your spot!

Topics

July 10 | TBD

July 17 | Five Insects and their Impacts on Human History
History has been influenced many times and in many ways by insects. Retired entomologist, Rob Wiedenmann, tells some of the tales from the book, "The Silken Thread," that he wrote with co-author Ray Fisher. This isn't just an insect talk. It's about history — the history you never learned in school.

July 24 | Restoring Oregon’s Coastal Balance: Bringing Sea Otters Back
Join Chanel Hason, Director of Outreach and Community Relations for the Elakha Alliance, for an engaging presentation about the organization’s efforts to restore sea otters to the Oregon coast. Discover how these charismatic marine mammals are vital to the health of our coastal ecosystems, the history behind their disappearance, and the collaborative work being done to bring them back. Learn how you can support this critical conservation mission and help make a lasting impact on Oregon’s marine environment.

July 31 | New Carissa Oil Spill Response and Natural Resource Protection and Restoration
Join Preston Sleeger, retired Regional Environmental Officer for the U.S. Dept. of the Interior (Pacific NW Region), to learn about the response to the grounding of the New Carissa and subsequent oil spill on the coast near Coos Bay, Oregon in February, 1999. We’ll hear about the efforts made to protect natural resources and their eventual restoration.

Aug. 7 | Portland Urban Coyote Project
Details coming soon!

Aug. 14 | Wild Mushrooms: Forage, Identify and Prepare
Oregon Mycological Society (OMS) is an educational and scientific organization. Its mission is to study, collect, and identify fungi, to educate members and the public in fungi identification, and to promote health and safety in the gathering and consumption of fungi. In this talk we will review the basics of mushroom identification as well as foraging and cooking safety.

Aug. 21 | The Wonders of Bird Migration
It's August, and many birds have already launched on an incredible journey from their breeding grounds here in Oregon to wintering grounds further south. Join Bird Alliance of Oregon biologist Candace Larson as we explore the what, why, when and how of bird migration and what you can do to help our feathered neighbors on their migratory travels.

Aug. 28 | Undersea Volcanoes
Details coming soon!

If you have questions about this series, please e-mail: michelle.scholz@clackamas.edu

Space is limited. Register to secure spot.

Registration coming soon!

Nature Spy Family Discovery Days - summer 2025

Intro To Nature Journaling - summer 2025

Stewardship Saturdays at the ELC - join us for volunteer opportunities

Evening at the ELC!

Wildlife and Water Friendly Garden Series 2025

Interested in donating to the ELC?

Your donation is tax deductible, and your generosity helps us continue to offer all our programming and scholarship opportunities.

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Community Education at the ELC

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