Hike it Baby dba OutGrown
$49,900  Willamette Valley 

There has been a growing emphasis on expanding access to and enjoyment of Oregon's outdoors, focusing on enhancing recreational opportunities, introducing diverse communities to wildlife-associated experiences, and fostering responsible engagement with nature. This approach is crucial for connecting a broader range of Oregonians—including BIPOC families—to outdoor spaces in a meaningful way. OutGrown’s Rivulets to Rivers: Wonders of Our Watershed (WOW) program will offer family-friendly education, hands-on outdoor experiences, and an introduction to community science initiatives to strengthen the connection between BIPOC families and the urban watershed they are an integral part of, while supporting priority conservation species.Partnering with PDX People of Color Outdoors (POCO) and Portland/Vancouver US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) program, WOW will center the BIPOC community. The project will feature a participant “Oregon Wetlands Passport” educational booklet and WOW backpack exploration kits available through libraries. In addition to these lasting resources, the project will host 2 community wetland exploration days with guided paddle excursions to provide direct engagement with Portland Metro's urban watershed. Targeted recreation sites will include Smith-Bybee Lakes and Columbia Slough, the Lower Willamette River Floodplain, Forest Park, and Sauvie Island/Scappoose. During the community wetland exploration days, community science opportunities will be introduced and engage families in activities that emphasize responsible outdoor recreation and education on local ecology and wildlife conservation while raising awareness of priority species conservation.