What to expect?
An outdoor, activity filled day with events designed for, and by, the LGBTQIA+ community at Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge. We'll have a couple of programs, led by Rangers and local queer organizations, that will be free to attend. Throughout the day, we'll also have an information table where you can find out more about Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, get your face painted, and color in a tote bag. We recommend coming for the event (or events) of your choice, and then budgeting some time to explore the Refuge if you've never been!
Event Schedule
More detailed information about the activities below
- 8:30AM - 10AM Birding Outing with Feminist Birding Club
- 10AM -11AM Plant Walk with US Fish and Wildlife Ranger Natalie
- 11AM - 12PM Beginner Friendly Bird Art Workshop with Jazzy Vazquez
- 12PM - 1PM Cumbia Dance Lesson with Queer Baile PDX
- 1:30PM-2:30PM Doodle a Bunny Picnic Scene with April and Karen
Ongoing Activities
- Junior Ranger Activities
- Face-painting
- Color in Tote Bags
- Board Games
General Event and Facility Info
Parking/Travel:
- From Portland to the Visitor Center and Headquarters: Head to 1-5 S; remain on freeway and take exit 294 to merge onto Barbur Blvd/OR-99W/Pacific Hwy W toward Tigard/Newberg; continue on Pacific Hwy for 6.9 miles
- Paved parking lot onsite, which includes approximately 80 parking spots, including 4 designated ADA spots.
- Also accessible by public transit: Trimet Bus 94, stop ID 12743 (see Trimet schedule for details)
Facility Information:
- Water bottle fill stations/drinking fountains on site
- Bathrooms onsite, including 1 single-stall ADA portable restroom
- Multiple benches, picnic tables, and other seat options available with shade cover
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff onsite to answer questions, provide directions or any accessibility assistance needed
Activities Information
Birding Outing with Feminist Birding Club
Join us for this fun stationary birding event! This is an informal outing for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to be in community, learn from each other, and celebrate birds together. USFWS staff along with staff from Bird Alliance of Oregon and volunteers from FBC.PDX will be there to assist with bird ID. This event is beginner and family friendly.
We will meet about a ½ mile down the seasonal Wetland Trail at the shorebird ponds, near the purple martin boxes, and hang out there for the duration of the event. We are just at the beginning of shorebird season and hoping to spot some of these charismatic species. To get there, park at the visitor center and mosey down the path that is left of the building when you are facing it from the lot. This is a drop in event running from 8:30am-10am, you are welcome to come and go at your leisure.
Some binoculars are available to loan and we will also have a few spotting scopes. If you have a scope you’d like to bring, please do! We expect it will be hot, so we’ll have a few shade canopies set up. There will also be cold beverages provided and some chairs to sit.
Accessibility notes:
The trail down to the stationary birding site is approximately 0.5 feet of unpaved dirt and compacted gravel. If you require assistance reaching the site, we can drive folks down in our refuge vehicle. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reach out via email to ollie_zanzonico@fws.gov
Guided Plant Walk
We will be on the trail for approximately 1 hour, and will be moving at a leisurely pace (slow) and will be making very frequent stops to look at and talk about plants; maximum distance in total will be about 1 mile. This is open to any level of experience or knowledge of plants and ecology.
We will be venturing on the River Trail (Year-Round Trail)
- Open season: Open year-round
- Access: From the parking lot
- Uses: Pedestrian only. No biking, jogging, or dogs allowed. Great for wildlife observation and photography
- Length: 1 mile each way
- Difficulty: This trail is generally flat, except for descending short switchbacks at beginning of trail, near parking lot. Past the observation deck, please note that the optional side trail to the Ridgetop Overlook has steeper grade (20-25%)
- Route type: Point to point (out and back); connects to larger trail network (wetland seasonal trail)
- Surface: Compact gravel with some sections of natural material. Please note that during the rainy season, trail may be muddy, and in some cases may flood.
- Average width: 6.5 feet
- Max slope: 5% - optional side trail (Ridgetop Overlook) is 25%
- Bench locations: 1 bench at first switchback, multiple benches at study sites and wetland overlook
What to bring:
There is some shade on the trail, but please be prepared to be in warm/hot weather for 1 hour (might include water, snacks, sunscreen, warm-weather clothing, sun hat, etc).
Art Event with Jazzy Vazquez
Come learn how to recreate your favorite birds at this beginner friendly art workshop, taught by the fabulous Jazzy Vazquez. Jazzy is a professional colorist, artist, and leader of local birding club FBC.PDX (check out her art here). We will be hosting this workshop on the back porch of the visitor center, under a shade canopy. Supplies will be provided.
Accessibility Notes:
Route to the space, from the parking lot, is paved and flat. The teaching space is shaded. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reach out via email to karen_ceballos@fws.gov
Cumbia Dance Lesson with Queer Baile PDX
Join Queer Baile PDX for a free cumbia dance lesson. No experience or partner needed! We'll start the class with a little warm-up, go over the basic steps cumbia and then learn some partner-work. If you prefer to dance on your own or with a friend you came with, you are more than welcome to!
In addition to providing important community and celebrating joy within the LGBTQ+ community, queer salsa and bachata is non-gendered, which differs from dance spaces where “guys” are historically expected to lead and “women” are expected to follow. Non-gendered dance allows for any gender to lead or follow, which breaks gender norms, provides a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ+ folks, and invites expanded notions of how we think about dancing, gender expression, and gender identity. The queer dance community uses dance as a healing and community-building tool for folks who oftentimes have been mistreated in other spaces.
Accessibility Notes:
This workshop will be held under a covered, paved, outdoor area near the snack/water/bathroom station. It will be an hour long and involve moderately loud music and light to medium physical activity and movement. There will be benches nearby if you need to take little breaks during the class. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reach out via email to karen_ceballos@fws.gov.
Doodle a Bunny Picnic Scene with April and Karen!
Come learn how to create a little cartoon world in this beginner friendly art workshop, taught by April and Karen! No supplies or experience needed! We will be hosting this workshop in the shaded back porch of the visitor center. Supplies will be provided. See MORE of April's beautiful art here!
Accessibility Notes:
Route to the space, from the parking lot, is paved and flat. The teaching space is shaded. If you have any other questions or concerns, please reach out via email to karen_ceballos@fws.gov
Accessibility Questions or Concerns?
Visit the Tualatin Trails page for an in-depth description of our trails. For further questions, contact 503-625-5944 ext. 15222.
View Access Recreation's Map of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
COVID Policy
All of our activities will be outdoors, and there will be options to socially distance in each activity. Masks will be available and provided to folks who need it, but are not required for this outdoor event. Folks are welcome to wear masks and whatever PPE makes them feel comfortable and safe to attend this event.