Mt. Tabor Park’s Urban Nature Series continues into November with a series of free outdoor activities emphasizing the natural beauty of Mt. Tabor Park and the importance of large urban forests in our everyday lives. Activities include guided walks, nature presentations and hands-on projects.
Activities take place Sundays, 2-4 pm, and are designed to accommodate children ages eight and above, adults and families. Most activities last two hours or less and may include walking on dirt paths and up and down small hills. Activities start at the Mt. Tabor Visitor Center with the Activity Leader.
The Mt. Tabor Reservoirs History Walk takes place November 7, led by Hap Pritchard. The Walk will point out key features of the reservoirs and their history. Old photographs of the reservoir construction accompany the talk and the system for bringing water to Portland neighborhoods will be covered.
On November 14, the Native Plants Walk will educate participants about the plants found along the trails of Mt. Tabor Park, including the native Poison Oak. The walk’s route will be partially level and only moderately steep uphill and downhill. Lisa Gervais will be Activity Leader for this walk.
Bob Rodgers leads the November 21 Biology and Cultural History of Trees walk to several areas of the park. He’ll talk about the general biological characteristics of specific trees and their cultural history. Trees have been used as food and medicine, for construction and beautification and have been the source of major construction and restoration programs.
The final walk, November 28, looks at the volcanic history of Mt. Tabor Park. Portland is one of only three cities in the US that has a volcano within its city limits.
Learn about why there are river rocks at the top of Mt. Tabor and if the volcano could come back to life from Activity Leader Bill Brugel.
Register for the walks at taborfriends.org/urban-nature-series and direct questions to Hap Prichard (pritchap@spiretech.com, 503.880.4348) or Mo Klein (moklein74@gmail.com, 503.704.4488).