Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Freshwater Mussel Monitoring Training: Learn to Survey These Silent Streamkeepers
Join Friends of Tryon Creek and Swap Rose Ecology for a hands-on training to explore the essential role of freshwater mussels in stream ecosystems and salmon recovery!

Freshwater mussels are ecosystem engineers—they filter and clean our waterways, stabilize streambeds, and support healthy salmonid habitat by improving water quality and clarity. Their presence (or absence) tells us a lot about the overall health of our watersheds.

At this training, you’ll learn how to:
• Identify native mussel species and the newest Oregon Conservation Strategy addition—fingernail clams
• Conduct mussel surveys and apply salvage protocols
• Understand mussels’ crucial role in salmon ecosystems and as indicators of aquatic health

Whether you’re a community scientist, restoration practitioner, or curious naturalist, this training will give you the tools to contribute to meaningful mussel conservation.

This event is free, but please RSVP HERE to join.

Please bring your own waders or rain boots, and come ready to get your hands (and feet) in the water! This event is open to participants age 16 and older.
Learn more about native mussels at pnwmussels.org.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Bioindicator Monitoring Training: Stream Insects & Salmon Habitat Health
Dive into the world of aquatic insects and discover how they reveal the story of our streams!

Join Friends of Tryon Creek and Swamp Rose Ecology for a hands-on training focused on benthic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring, where you’ll learn to identify and assess key aquatic insects from the EPT families—Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies). These organisms are critical indicators of water quality and ecosystem health, offering early warnings about pollution and environmental stress.

Not only are EPT insects signs of clean, healthy streams—they also form the foundation of the food web, providing essential nourishment for salmon and other aquatic species.

At this training, you'll learn how to:
• Identify the EPT families in the field
• Conduct basic biomonitoring surveys
• Understand their role in supporting salmon habitat and stream health

This event is free, but please RSVP HERE to join.

Please bring your own waders or rain boots, and come ready to get your hands (and feet) in the water! This event is open to participants age 16 and older.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Join the Autism Society of Oregon for a guided nature walk at Tryon Creek State Natural Area led by a Master Naturalist. These walks are for Autistic adults (18+), their families, friends, and supporters to enjoy and experience nature together without any agenda or judgment.

These hikes are free, but group size is limited so registration is required.

Register online.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.

Phenology Walk Training: Track the Climate Change Through Plants
Join us for a guided training to learn how to observe and record the seasonal rhythms of plants in our local ecosystem!

Phenology is the study of natural life cycle events—like flowering, fruiting, and leaf-out—that signal seasonal change. By tracking these visible shifts over time, we can better understand how plant communities respond to climate, habitat conditions, and environmental change.

At this event, you’ll learn how to:
• Conduct a phenology walk using standardized observation protocols
• Identify key life stages in native plants (budding, flowering, fruiting, leaf drop, and more)
• Help track long-term changes in plant populations and their ecological timing

This event is free, but please RSVP HERE to join.

Some plant ID experience is preferred, but not required—training and field guides will be provided. Whether you’re a plant lover, student, educator, or curious naturalist, this is a great way to connect with the landscape and contribute to community science. This event is open to participants age 16 and older.

Join Oregon State Park Rangers and volunteer Naturalists to venture out with a park guide for a free nature hike to explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call this natural area home. Topics will vary from week to week, and will be geared for ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. No registration needed, meet in front of the Nature Center at 10am.