Goodbye spring. Summer is here. Wednesday, June 21 is this year’s summer solstice, the official start of summer and the longest day of our year in Corvallis at 15 hours, 33 minutes and 36 seconds of sunlight. The next day will be three seconds shorter, then seven, and by the fall equinox at the end of September, we’ll be losing over three minutes of light a day. But for now, enjoy the long sun and all the outdoor activities that come with it. There’s plenty to do for the science and nature enthusiast around town this week, with a particularly good variety of choices on Saturday:
Thursday: River Cleanup
The Willamette River provides us with so much over the summer months. The least we can do is help keep it clean. This Thursday, June 22, Willamette Riverkeeper and the City of Corvallis are looking for volunteers to help on a river cleanup from Crystal Lake to Michael’s Landing. This is a water-based cleanup, so either bring your own boat or register for a seat in one of Riverkeeper’s boats. Bring water, work gloves and good closed-toed shoes. The organizers will provide the rest. Volunteers will meet at the Crystal Lake boat ramp at 9 am. Click here for more information and to register. There is no charge, but space on Riverkeeper boats is limited.
Friday: Wings and Wine for Chintimini
Since 1989, Chintimini Wildlife Center has cared for over 30,000 injured and orphaned animals from the Willamette Valley and beyond. Though not every patient can be returned to the wild, that is always the goal, and this week, you can both help support Chintimini’s mission and watch one of their patients fly free again. This Friday, June 23, the center is hosting a Wings and Wine fundraiser at Cubanismo Vineyards in Salem. Along with a glass of wine and a meet and greet with some of the center’s education birds, the $30 ticket lets you watch as Chintimini staff release a rehabilitated great horned owl, Patient 22-220, back into the wild. The event runs from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Tickets are available here.
Saturday: First Foods, Native Plants, and Music at Bald Hill
Three local nonprofits have packed a whole week of volunteer opportunities and activities into one Saturday. First, if you want to get your hands dirty while helping support Indigenous food security and sovereignty in Oregon, the Institute for Applied Ecology and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde need your help to restore First Foods habitat in Champoeg State Heritage Area. The event runs from 9 am to 1 pm. Limited carpools may be available from Corvallis. For more details, and to register, click here.
If you can’t get away for the whole morning, or want to stick closer to town on Saturday, there’s another chance to help on Saturday. The Native Plant Society of Oregon is running a work party at Avery Park’s new native plant garden from 10 am to Noon. Volunteers will be put to work weeding, cleaning up the garden and working on fencing repair. Bring water, gloves and clippers. For more details, contact Esther McAvoy at estherco@peak.org.
Finally, it’s not all work on Saturday. The Corvallis-based Greenbelt Land Trust is bringing its Music on the Land concert back to Bald Hill Farm. Samba Ja and Grupo Masato will bring their unique Latin American sounds, with food and drink provided by sponsors like Sky High Brewing, Sabor Tamales and Terra’s Tastee Treats. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, with discounts for students and Greenbelt Trust members. The show runs from 4-7 pm. This is a bike-in or walk-in event (no car parking), but there will be a shuttle from the fairgrounds. For tickets and more information, click here.
Sunday: Beaver Talk at Common Fields
What better way to end a great week of science and nature events than a family-friendly talk about our state animal and the ultimate ecosystem engineer, the beaver. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ecologist Brian Bangs will give a talk titled “How to Beaver”, along with some all-ages beaver-themed activities, at 6 pm this Sunday, June 25, at Common Fields on SW 3rd Street. This is the latest in Common Fields’ Tap Talk series, and a portion of proceeds will go to support the Marys River Watershed Council.
By Ian Rose
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