Letters of Intent deadline for neighborhood cleanup matching grants program approaches

Is your neighborhood planning a spring cleanup event? Let your local government know – and let Metro help cover the cost.

Hear the buzz? That's folks talking about hanging with the honeybees, learning with the ladybugs, walking in the wetlands, and other fun events going on this week.

Learn to spot birds, track mammals and care for nursery plants this week. Then sit back, relax and watch Ms. Frizzle's class learn how to fight climate change. This week is full on fun!

This weekend has a little something for everyone. Indulge your DIY spirit, help nurture growing plants, explore Mount Talbert's rocky past, or sit back and enjoy a ride with the Magic School Bus.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 16, check out the following opportunities to get dirty, have fun and help out.

Baltimore Woods was in limbo. While the recession kept developers at bay, the area gave rise to weeds, litter and neglect.

But neighbors around the 30-acre corridor in North Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood saw the land as a community asset. And with the support of a Metro Nature in Neighborhoods capital grant, the woods were given a new lease on life.

Join Metro for events that celebrate the season of thoughtfulness. Join professor Lisa K. Bates in a discussion on equity in decision-making. And get a fun start to your holiday giving with a trip to Metro's Native Plant Center. Once there, help care for plants and seedlings that will help green the region for years to come.

Close your eyes and imagine entering the woods. Breathe in the scent of mushrooms on the forest floor, see birds swooping from tree limbs, and hear the coyotes howl. These activities aren't imaginary – they're all happening Thanksgiving weekend.

Metro naturalist James Davis appeared on KATU's "AM Northwest" to share Metro's unique and intensive volunteer naturalist training program - Nature University. Learn how to help children and adults discover nature by enrolling in this 12-session training course where students are introduced to time-honored techniques of nature observation and principles of discovery learning.

Get outside this week with events that relax and inspire! Help nurture plants that will revitalize the region's natural areas at Metro's Native Plant Center. And whether you're paddling Smith and Bybee lakes or strolling through Oxbow Regional Park, now is a great time to take in nature!