Choose your Tryon Forest Spring Adventure…
March 23 -27
Theme: Welcome Back Spring!
This week campers will:
• Identify forest plants by making tea, flower seed balls and ivy crowns.
• Learn about animals by examining pelts, paws and poop.
• Discover the beauty of the forest through arts and crafts projects such as leaf art and cordage making.
• Play in the meadow with fort building and camp games like the popular Poison Dart Frog!
• Care for the forest by planting trees and tending their own seeded pots to take home.
Cost & Registration Process
REGISTRATION FEES
Spring & Summer 5-Full Camp Days
Camp Day: 9am-4pm Drop off: 8:30-9am Pick up: 4-4:30pm
$475 non-members or $425 current Friends of Tryon Creek Members ($50 Family Level or higher).
REGISTRATION SYSTEM NEW LOOK
Current Friends of Tryon Creek members can login and access member prices (select the log in link on the top right hand of the event webpage). To begin or renew your membership with no processing time use the EXPRESS MEMBERSHIP option, then login or create an account to select the member discount. If you have questions, or are unsure of your membership status, contact our Development Director, James Neale.
Membership donations support Friends of Tryon Creek’s mission in partnership with Oregon State Parks, to inspire every community to identify, cultivate or reclaim their relationship with nature in this cherished urban forest. Your support makes a difference for the entire community – bringing us together to care for nature and each other, now and for future generations.
Questions? See below for FAQs or contact Friends of Tryon Creek, Education Programs Director, Jonathan Hayden (aka Mr Crabapple) at adventures@tryonfriends.org.
Meet the Team…
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
We prioritize a high instructor-to-youth ratio, with 2 leaders to every 15 youth (or less). Our Instructors are paid seasonal full time staff who often join the program with experience in youth and environmental education. Instructors attend our 5 day training week to improve and practice their safety and youth engagement skills within a dynamic natural environment like the Tryon forest. Instructor training includes: CPR and First Aid Certification, Restorative Justice practices, Cultural Competency, Social-Emotional skills and Environmental Education Curriculum development. Some Instructors have recently completed our Green Leaders Internship Program and others have grown up going to camp here at Tryon!
Camp groups are also supported by Assistant Counselors, volunteer high school aged youth who are being mentored in leadership and environmental education while assisting instructors in facilitating a safe, fun and educational outdoor experience for campers.
Camp programs are led by our full time Education Team:
Jonathan joined FOTC in 2018 as the camp coordinator. He has also served as a board member and in 2021 became the Education Programs Manager. He currently manages the education programs, specifically camp, field trips, open classrooms, and the Assistant Counselor program. Jonathan has a background as an educator with over 20 years experience mentoring youth and educating young people in the classroom, and 15 years experience working with non-profits. He has a passion for helping kids learn, grow and connect to each other, this park, and the community.
Betty joined FOTC in 2022 and focuses on field trips and adult education during the school year and camp and assistant counselor coordination during the summer. She has worked in Native-led non-profits for the last 7 years, and with youth for about 15 years. She is from Costa Rica originally, speaks Spanish and is a mom of 2 daughters.
Joseph started as a part-time substitute instructor for FOTC in 2022, and returned year after year. Born in New York with Cuban-American heritage, Joseph is always excited to share his knowledge of the outdoors and inspire generations of the natural world.
CONTACT US
Take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below and feel free to contact us with additional questions.
Jonathan Hayden, Education Programs Manager aka Mr. Crabapple (generally available M - F 9 am to 5 pm)
Email adventures@tryonfriends.org
Camp cell phone (503) 707-0256
Set up for Success…
EXPECTATIONS
Programs at Tryon cultivate a community of respect and inclusivity. We want all camp participants to feel connected and welcome while providing a safe space for learning and growth. Behavior that is not acceptable includes, but is not limited to, physical violence or threats, emotional abuse, bullying, and/or purposefully leaving adult supervision. Participants that engage in this behavior will be asked to leave and will not receive a refund.
That said, we can accommodate many learning and social behaviors, especially if our Instructors are prepared. Please share strategies that work well for your child during the online registration process. We may follow up with you individually if we need additional support or information.
Please review our current Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct.
SAFETY
During the registration process, parents/guardians will receive and are required to sign the following forms:
Emergency Contact Information Form
Liability and Medical Consent Waiver
Medical Authorization Form
Frequently asked questions…
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Use the full address fto get correct directions to Tryon Creek State Natural Area 11321 S Terwilliger Blvd Portland OR 97219
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No. Camp families are offered a 20 mintue no fee window durning drop off and pick up times. If plans are to stay longer than 20 minutes, a day or annual pass will need to be purchased and displayed.
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Based on previous years of programming, we know the additional staff and space are needed to adequately support youth under the age of 5 at the Park. We are not able to safely accommodate younger age groups.
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Fall/Spring: Registration begins at 8:30am with a 9am start time. Pick up will be between 3pm and 3:30pm. If you have issues picking your child up during this 30 minute window, please call us. Staff will stay on-site until all youth are picked up.
Summer: Registration begins at 8:30am with a 9:00am session start time; please drop your child off between 8:30-9:00am. Pick-up will be from 4:00pm until 4:30pm. If you have issues picking your child up during this 30 minute window, please call us. Staff will stay on-site until all youth are picked up.
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Yes. There is a limited waitlist for each weekly session. If space becomes available, you will be contacted. Not all waitlisted families will be notified.
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Yes, please contact us to see if other weeks are available.
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Yes, we do offer the opportunity for friends and siblings to be in groups together if they are in the same age range. Please indicate the name of the friend or sibling during registration. We will do our best to accommodate these requests.
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With reduced program size and space, we are still trying to make Tryon Adventures available to everyone who is interested. Please reach out via email to our Education Programs Manager, Jonathan Hayden at adventures@tryonfriends.org with any requests or questions.
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A backpack that your child is able to carry throughout the day
Food for the whole day — including a full lunch, a hearty snack
Refillable water bottle
Weather-appropriate clothes (we recommend long pants and layers), closed-toe shoes, hat, and a raincoat.