* Monday, October 17th, 7PM - 9PM. The Walama Restoration Project. Presenter: Kris Elbree, Executive Director. The Walama Restoration Project is a community organized non-profit based in Eugene and founded in 2001. Walama Restoration Project is dedicated to environmental stewardship and biological diversity through education and habitat restoration. Currently we are working on habitat restoration in the Southern Willamette Valley and in the National Forest from the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and south through the Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests. Walama Restoration Project has incorporated educational programs into restoration projects and has succeeded with invasive vegetation management regimes without the use of herbicides. The location for this meeting will be the Amazon Community Center (2700 Hilyard St, Eugene). This is our first in-person program in over 2 years. We request that attendees follow proper health precautions including wearing face masks and to refrain from attending if experiencing cold symptoms.

* Sunday, October 9th, 1PM – 3PM. Afternoon Ramble at Dorris Ranch. Leader: Karl Anderson, Emerald Chapter Board Member. Join Karl for a walk at Dorris Ranch, to enjoy the turning of the seasons. We'll head a little over 1/2-mile down the paved path to the mature conifer forest, then subject to participant wishes, we can return the way we came or take the maintained trail west through the forest, and back north through the filbert orchards. Dorris Ranch is at the south end of 2nd Street in Springfield. When coming from Eugene on Hwy 126, 2nd St. is the first stoplight in Springfield, after crossing the Willamette River. There is ample parking at the main trailhead where we will meet. Remember to check the weather for that day, and dress accordingly. Please sign up here.

* Saturday, October 15, 1PM - 2PM. Museum of Natural and Cultural History Native Plant Garden. The property surrounding this museum, on the University of Oregon campus, bears an excellent native plant garden that is little known to the community. In partnership with the museum, Emerald Chapter members will be leading this short walk in and around the museum's Glenn Starlin Native Plant Courtyard. With over forty species, the courtyard offers a rich array of plant life that have provided nutrition and material for tools, shelter, and more for millennia. This is part of a monthly series of walks at this location. Limited free parking is in a designated lot located just west of the mammoths on East 15th Avenue, and metered parking is available on the street. The address is 1680 East 15th Avenue on the U of O campus in Eugene. Sign-up is not needed, and the tour is free to NPSO members.

*PLEASE NOTE* - You can watch Emerald Chapter's recent program on how to use the iNaturalist app here. You can also view other previously recorded NPSO Emerald Chapter Programs here.