Fall Nature Days At Columbia Springs Bring Free, Hands On Experiences To The Community - 10/09/26
Monthly community events feature seasonal themes, special guests, interactive activities, and opportunities to connect with nature.
VANCOUVER, Washington - Discover something new about the natural world at Columbia Springs Fall Nature Days, a series of free community events featuring hands on activities, special guests, demonstrations, and engaging monthly themes. From exploring the misunderstood creatures of spooky season to learning about fish and evergreen tree communities, these events invite community members of all ages to learn, discover, and connect with nature.
Once a month, Nature Days offer a new theme and opportunities to explore the natural world through interactive activities and educational experiences. Whether attending with family, friends, or on your own, visitors can enjoy a welcoming environment that encourages curiosity and environmental appreciation.
Monthly Themes and Special Activities
October 17, 10 am – 1 pm: (Not So) Scaries
Celebrate the spooky season by discovering the fascinating side of nature! Meet the creatures you thought you knew and discover they're not so scary after all. Get up close with the facts about spiders, bats, snakes, opossums, and raccoons. Learn what's really behind the behaviors we find spooky and uncover the truth about these misunderstood beings. Visit an opossum expert for some trivia and collect an exclusive zine available only at the event.
Special lamp repair and knife sharpening demonstrations by Columbia Springs Repairs’ volunteers will add to the fun. Visitors can learn practical repair skills and learn simple fixes for broken lamps and the best way to sharpen knives. Visitors can bring up to 2 broken lamps and 3 knives. Please be sure to bring replacement parts for lamps (switches, cords, etc).
November 21st, 10 am – 1 pm: Fish Games
Dive into the world of fish through play. Challenge yourself to jump as high as a salmon at our jump wall, navigate a salmon's life cycle through a labyrinth game, and explore fish-themed board and card games that bring aquatic science to your fingertips. Discover what makes these underwater athletes so extraordinary while gaming your way to a deeper understanding of the fish that shape our rivers and streams.
December 19th, 10 am – 1pm: Evergreen Tree Communities
Step into the hidden world of evergreen communities. Discover how these trees share nutrients through underground fungal networks, shelter wildlife in their canopies, and build soil with the help of decomposers. Explore how returning salmon feed the forest, and learn to read the trees by their needles, bark, and cones.
Free Community Events for All Ages
Nature Days at Columbia Springs make nature education accessible and engaging for the entire community. Each monthly event features a unique theme, hands-on learning opportunities, and special experiences designed to inspire curiosity and encourage a deeper appreciation for the environment. All are welcome.
Community members are invited to join the fun each month and experience the natural world in new and engaging ways. From discovering the surprising benefits of often-misunderstood wildlife to exploring aquatic ecosystems and evergreen habitats, Fall Nature Days offers opportunities to learn something new at every event.
For more information about Columbia Springs’ Fall Nature Days, including event dates, times, and activity details, visit https://www.columbiasprings.org/events/nature-days/.
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About Columbia Springs
Columbia Springs’ mission is to offer a unique setting and educational experiences that foster a greater awareness of the natural world and inspire stewardship. Located within a 100-acre urban natural area in Vancouver, Washington, Columbia Springs connects children and community members with nature through field trips, salmon education, community programs and hands-on learning.