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Parks Stewardship Opportunities
We need your helping hands!
Lake Oswego works with volunteer Friends Groups to help keep our parks and open spaces healthy and beautiful. Join us to protect and restore natural areas in our community. New events are added regularly to this web site, please check back for updates. The City Calendar also lists current and future Stewardship events.
Want to coordinate a group volunteer opportunity to give Mother Nature a helping hand? We're here to help coordinate Stewardship events! Gather up some friends and contact Babs Hamachek, Parks Stewardship Coordinator, at 503-534-5697 or bhamachek@ci.oswego.or.us
We recommend volunteers wear long pants, sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing.Please bring a reusable water bottle and heavy-duty gloves. Before arriving, please fill out the Stewardship Volunteer Waiver (CLICK HERE).
Can YOU find these gnomes hiding in 3 park natural areas? The Stewardship gnomes roam to new natural areas each month so click "Read More" to find out details about where they are hiding!
In April, our gnomes, Blossom, Greenie and Oak will hide in:
- Hallinan Woods
- River Run Park
- Springbrook Park
Ivy, Blackberries & Hawthorne Trees, Oh My!
March 17, SU 1-3p
Put on your ruby boots, gardening gloves & restore the habitat at Woodmont Park. Friends of Woodmont Park will provide clippers, pruners, loppers & gloves, all you need to bring is your helping hands! Share a couple hours & make an impact on the habitat of this 7 acre natural park. No experience needed. Great activity for groups and children. Bring water to drink & we will supply a light snack. Please dress for the weather as we volunteer rain or shine.
Parking: Near the intersection of Atwater Rd. and Knaus Rd. Look for a graveled road alongside the old orchard that leads to the work site.
Contact: Heidi Schrimsher 503-754-6640 or heidigarden@msn.com
March 22, FRI 9 - 11 a
WE NEED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!
Get outdoors for Community Service Day! Springbrook Park needs your help to restore its important natural habitat. Habitat restoration provides shelter and food for the birds, animals, pollinators that live in this 52 acre park. We'll remove invasive species that crowd out native plants. Join Friends of Springbrook Park and make an impact in just two hours! No experience needed. Tools, gloves and KIND bar provided. Please bring water to drink. Springbrook Park is behind the playground at Uplands Elementary School. Look for work party signs.
Parking: Uplands Elem. School, 2055 Wembley Park Rd.
TO VOLUNTEER: Contact: Ginny Haines 503-442-4082 or vhaines@comcast.net
March 23, SA 9 - 11a
It's time for Spring Cleaning at Springbrook Park! We'll clear out invasive species that take up space needed by native plants. Invasive plants out-compete native plants for light, water and nutrients....so they need a one way ticket out of the park! Join Friends of Springbrook Park and pull together to restore the habitat.
April 4, TH 10:30-11:30a
Friends of Springbrook Park provide enthusiastic nature guides and exploration buckets…you provide the preschooler! Let’s Hug A Tree! Trees do so much for us and other animals and even plants - they provide a home, give food and shade, are an umbrella, and much more.
Oak Tree Mulch Spreading at the Brock Property
April 6, SA 8:45 – 12:00p
The recently planted White Oak trees at the Brock Property need some TLC. Join Friends of Trees as we spread mulch around the new trees to help hold in ground moisture. These White Oak trees are part of the natural habitat and will improve the Oak Woodland. No experience needed, just show up! Great activity for families. Gloves, tools and snack provided. Dress for the weather. Look for work party signs.
Parking: IMPORTANT! Parking for volunteers will be at Luscher Farm location at 125 Rosemont Road, West Linn. From the parking lot there will be a shuttle to the site and back to the farm during the event. For those who want to walk there is a paved pathway with lovely views of the farm. The site is about a 10 min walk.
Contact: Jenny, Pablo, and Carey 503 595-0213 or volunteer@friendsoftrees.org
Free the Trees in Iron Mountain Park
April 7, SU 1–3p
Spring has Sprung and this means Mother Nature has been busy! Join Friends of Iron Mt. Park as they remove invasive species that crowd out the native species. The native species thank you for clearing the forest of invasive plants that compete for the sun and soil. Make sure to allow extra time to wander the soft paths that wind through the 50 acres of forest to the eagle’s eye viewing platform.
Parking: Take graveled Brookside Rd. to the trail head parking lot, that is behind the Hunt Club. Brookside Rd. is off of Twin Fir Rd.
Contact: Mike Buck 503-914-8607 or m.bucks@comcast.ne
April 12, FR 10:30-11:30a
Friends of Springbrook Park provide enthusiastic nature guides and exploration buckets…you provide the preschooler! Let’s Celebrate Healthy Trees! Every living tree has at least one trunk, many roots, and will be growing new spring leaves. How do each of these help the tree to be healthy? We will make our own tree to answer this question as we explore the park trails looking for trees. Dress for the weather as we love our trees rain or shine!
Parking: Uplands Grade School (2055 Wembley Park Rd., Lake Oswego) Springbrook Park is behind the playground.
Contact: Laura Tanz 503-702-7937 or blmjt2205@gmail.com
Plant and Pull in Woodmont Park
April 13, SA 9 - 11am
Bring a friend and join Friends of Woodmont Park to remove invasive species that threaten the native species. Once the ground is clear, grab a shovel and help nestle tender native species into the forest floor to restore the natural area. The pollinators that depend on native species thank you for restoring their natural habitat! Please dress for the weather and bring water. No experience needed. Training, tools, gloves and a KIND bar are supplied.
Park at the intersection of Atwater Rd and Knaus Rd., Lake Oswego. Woodmont Park is down a wide graveled trail that runs along an old orchard.
Contact: Heidi Schrimsher 503-754-6640 or heidigarden@msn.com
Invasive Removal and TLC in Freepons Park
April 14, SU 1 - 3 pm
Bring a pal and volunteer to restore Freepons Park! We will tackle ivy and remove invasive plants. This beautiful park can also use some Spring cleaning and your helping hands will make a difference. Thanks to Friends of Hallinan Heights Woods for the years of Stewardship work done to prep this park for us
Parking: Intersection of Bickner Rd. and Hemlock St.
Contact: Dave and Debbie Craig 503-704-5732 or debbiefcraig@gmail.co
Create a “Nature Play” Area in Springbrook Park!
April 20, SA 9-11a
Help create a one-of-a-kind of “nature play” area in Springbrook Park! We’ll make a place in the woods where children can play, climb and explore…all while learning about nature! Join Friends of Springbrook Park to remove invasive species and reposition logs and branches to facilitate this unique play area. Dress for the weather. Tools, gloves and snack provided. Springbrook Park is behind Uplands Grade School’s playground. Look for work party signs.
Parking: Uplands Grade School, 2055 Wembley Park Rd.
Contact: Laura Tanz 503-702-7937 or blmjt2205@gmail.com
Help Mother Nature in Southwood Park
May 5, SU 1 - 3 p
Celebrate the joy of nature as you restore Southwood Park's natural areas. Mother Earth thanks you for this important habitat restoration that helps native plants, wildlife and pollinators. Join Friends of Southwood Park for a couple hours and make an impact in Nature that helps the environment.
Parking: 6200 Pamela St., Portland (Southwood Park is behind the Mormon Temple)
Contact: Mary Solares 503-320-2070 or solaresmm@gmail.com
Get ready to dig in and restore the natural areas!
A hearty "Thank You" to all of our Stewardship Volunteers! Check out the many accomplishments of our dedicated volunteers by viewing snapshots and summaries of past stewardship events here!
Plant Oak Trees at the Brock Property
March 9, SA 8:45a – 1p
Make history and help plant dozens of native White Oak trees along the natural areas of the Brock property. Join Friends of Trees for this monumental planting party and watch the landscape change before your eyes! White Oak trees are native to Oregon and help restore the native habitat. No experience needed, just show up! Great family activity! Gloves, tools and snack provided. Dress for the weather. Look for work party signs.
Parking: IMPORTANT! Parking for volunteers will be at Luscher Farm location at 125 Rosemont Road, West Linn. From the parking lot there will be a shuttle to the site and back to the farm during the event. For those who want to walk there is a paved pathway with lovely views of the farm. The site is about a 10 min walk.
Contact: Jenny, Pablo, and Carey 503 595-0213 or volunteer@friendsoftrees.org
Get Your Gloves On!
February 24, SU 1 - 3p
Join in and plant native species in the shady riparian area of this 50 acre natural park. Join Friends of Iron Mt. Park and help nestle native species near babbling Brookside Creek. We'll also tackle the ivy that creeps in this treasured natural area. Your restoration help makes a difference in this diverse ecosystem that's home to many species of plants, animals, pollinators and birds. No experience needed. Tools, gloves and snack provided.
Parking: Gravel trail head is off tiny Brookside Rd. behind the Oswego Hunt Club. (Brookside Rd. is off of Twin Fir Rd)
Contact: Mike Buck 503-914-8607 or m.bucks@comcast.net
Dig In at Springbrook Park
February 16, SA 9-11a
We have 250 native trees and plants…all we need is You! Plant native species and help restore the habitat in Springbrook Park. We’ll also Dig In and remove invasive species that threaten the habitat. Join Friends of Springbrook Park with ongoing restoration of this 50 acre forested park. No experience needed. Great for families. Tools, gloves and snack provided. Springbrook Park is behind the playground at Uplands Grade School. Look for work party signs.
Parking: Uplands Grade School, 2055 Wembley Park Rd.
Contact: Tom Bland 503-636-8696 or blandt50@hotmail.com OR Kim Sloat 503-667-7815 or kcsloat@aol.com
CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER! Get Wild in the Cornell Natural Area!
February 10, SU 1 - 3p
Discover your Inner Indiana Jones in the "on the wild side" wooded work site in the Cornell Natual Area! Join Friends of Hallinan Heights Woods to restore the habitat and remove invasive species. Please carpool & park off of Larch St. (There is no parking on Cornell St. ) We’ll meet at Larch St. & walk down to the work site. Terrain is a hillside and may be challenging for young children. Gloves, tools & snack provided. No experience necessary. Dress for the weather as we'll be out in the woods rain or shine!
Cornell Natural Area: 1185 Cornell St. (Please carpool & park on Larch St.)
Contact: Jim Fisher 503-636-3153 or fishergeologic@comcast.net
Pull Together in Lily Bay Natural Area
January 26, SA 1-3p
Help restore the habitat in a hidden natural area that hosts beaver, turtles, otter, deer, water fowl and birds of prey. Join Friends of Lily Bay Natural Area and remove invasive species that threaten native plants. We also will plant native sword ferns in areas cleared of invasive species over the last 3 years. No experience needed…just show up! Great activity for families. Gloves, tools and snack provided. Dress for the weather. Look for work party signs.
Trail head: At the corner of Diamond Head Rd., which turns into North Shore Rd.
Parking: Carpooling is recommended. Limited parking on narrow road.
Contact: Babs Hamachek 503-867-0083 or bhamachek@ci.oswego.or.us
lo-stewardship.org
Green Thumbs Needed
December 9, SU 1–3p
Put on your garden gloves and help plant over 400 native species in tranquil Hallinan Woods. Thanks to Friends of Hallinan Heights Woods, who cleared out the invasives, we can dig in and plant the sword ferns and other native species. We will keep an eye out for the deer that like to wander through this wooded area.
Parking: Hemlock or Hallinan St.
Contact: Barbara Fisher 503-636-3153 or lanefisher@comcast.net
Plant Native Species
December 8, SA 9:30 - 11:30 a
Dig in and help plant native swordferns in East Waluga Park. Join Friends of Waluga Parks as they do their third ever native species planting in this park! A big shout out to the volunteers who removed invasive species the past five years to prep the site! After the work party, explore the trails leading up to an old quarry tucked in the middle of this park.
Parking: 15505 Quarry Rd.
Contact: Will Mahoney-Watson 503-752-3430 or will@waluganeighborhood.org
Help Mother Nature at Springbrook Park
October 27, SA 9–11a
It’s time to Dig In and plant native species in this wonderful 52 acre natural park. Friends of Springbrook Park invite you to nestle tender plants into the forest and restore this natural area. Springbrook Park is behind the soccer field at Uplands Grade School. Look for directional signs for the planting site in the woods.
Parking: Uplands Grade School, 2055 Wembley Park Rd.
Contact: Tom Bland 503-860-8665 or blandt50@hotmail.com
Plant Native Species
November 11, Su 1–3p
Put on your garden gloves and plant sword ferns in tranquil Freepons Park. Friends of Hallinan Heights Woods have already cleared out the invasives, so the planting can begin! There may be a few invasives to tackle, and if we see any trash we will give it the Heave Ho! When you leave, you will see the impact you made in the health of this incredible forest.
Parking: Intersection of Bickner Rd. and Hemlock St.
Contact: Barbara Fisher 503-636-3153 or lanefisher@comcast.net
Let's Pull Together at Iron Mountain Park
November 18, SU 1 - 3p
Help Friends of Iron Mountain Park restore this 50 acre treasured natural area. We will plant native sword ferns to help restore the natural habitat. We'll remove invasive young hawthorn trees and do some trail work to help riparian maintenance. The native plants, birds, animals and pollinators all thank you!
Parking: Gravel trail head is off Brookside Rd. /Twin Fir Rd behind Oswego Hunt Club.
Contact: Mike Buck 503-914-8607 or m.bucks@comcast.net
Plant and Pull in Woodmont Park
November 4, SU 1–3p
Friends of Woodmont Park invite you to restore this tucked away natural park. Roll up your sleeves and help remove invasive species that threaten native species. Then, the real fun begins as we plant native species in these cleared areas. Look up in the trees and perhaps you’ll see the owl that calls this natural park his home.
Park at the intersection of Atwater Rd and Knaus Rd., Lake Oswego. Park is down a wide graveled trail.
Contact: Heidi Schrimsher 503-754-6640 or heidigarden@msn.com
Miles of Smiles at Springbrook Park
November 17, SA 9–11a
Join Friends of Springbrook Park with ongoing restoration and planting of trees and native plants to improve the natural habitat. After the work party, wander over 2 miles of tranquil paths through 50 acres of forested park. Springbrook Park is behind the soccer field at Uplands Grade School. Look for directional signs for the planting site in the woods.
Parking: Uplands Grade School, 2055 Wembley Park Rd.
Contact: Ginny Haines 503-442-4082 or vhaines@comcast.net
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