Out & About

WTA plans hiker potluck Wednesday night in Vancouver

The Washington Trails Association will have its annual hiker potluck beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Clark Public Utilities Community Room, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way.

The Forest Service will be sharing a strategic plan calling for new trails and campgrounds in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

To RSVP, go online to www.wta.org/trail-news/rsvps/rsvp_potluck_vancouver/view.

Annual Outdoors Day event scheduled for June 9 at FVNS

Youth fishing opportunity, a climbing wall, archery targets and camp cooking will be among the activities offered at the fourth annual Get Outdoors Day even from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 9 in Vancouver.

The event will be at Fort Vancouver National Site, a change in venue from the Water Resources Education Center.

Drawings for prizes will occur during the day, The grand prize, donated by REI, is worth $500.

More than 2,000 people participated in the Get Outdoors Day a year ago.

Partners for the event include the Forest Service, National Park Service, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation, REI, and the Parks Foundation of Clark County.

Other government agencies, non-profit organizations and recreation providers will have booths and activities.

Garth Smelser, Gifford Pinchot National Forest deputy supervisor, said the goal is to help local residents, especially youth, connect to the outdoors and under why nature matters.

Three local campgrounds to open in Gifford Pinchot forest

CARSON — Three campgrounds at the southern end of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are scheduled to open Friday for the summer.

Beaver, Panther Creek and Paradise Creek will open with closing dates of Sept. 24.

Also opening on Friday are Iron Creek, Tower Rock, La Wis Wis and North Fork, according to the Forest Service.

The campgrounds are operated by concessionaires.

Camping is open at Lower Falls Recreation Area along the upper North Fork of the Lewis River.

Opening for Memorial Day weekend will be Atkisson Group, Peterson Prairie, Oklahoma and Moss Creek at the south end of the forest.

Opening on the north end of the Gifford Pinchot forest will be Adams Fork, Big Creek, and Blue Lake Creek.

Oregon Bass and Panfish Club to hear about Washington angling

PORTLAND — The Oregon Bass and Panfish Club will meet at 7 p.m. May 24 at the East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave.

Fishing instructor Don Samec will discuss warm water angling in Washington.

The public is welcome.

Free canoe trips to be offered on lower Columbia

Nine free trips in big canoes will be offered to the public this summer by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership.

Participants will paddle the 34-foot canoes with partnership educators aboard. Adults and children age 6 and older are welcome. Personal flotation devices are provided by the Estuary Partnership.

The schedule includes: June 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Vancouver Lake; June 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Scappoose Bay, Warren, Ore; July 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Coffenbury Lake, Fort Stevens State Park, Ore.; Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Willamette Park, Portland; Aug. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge; Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to noon, Sauvie Island’s Gilbert River boat ramp, Ore.; Aug. 29, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Willamette Park, Portland; Sept. 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Willow Grove boat ramp, Longview.

The ninth trip will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in October at the Ridgefield National Wildlife League’s Birdfest event.

Space is on a first-come basis. Reservations are required. To reserve a seat, contact McKenzie Miller at 503-226-1565, ext. 229 or email to mmiller@lcrep.org.

For more details, go online to www.lcrep.org.