Art supplies, wetlands, and a piece to take home.
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge hosts Art On The Refuge, a monthly teen art workshop series at the visitor center. The next fall session, a markers workshop, runs Saturday, October 24 from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, about ten minutes from 22379 SW 107th Ave.
Art On The Refuge is a monthly workshop series where teens make art about nature, in nature. Each session introduces a new medium, and every participant leaves with a finished project. The workshops meet at the refuge visitor center, 19255 SW Pacific Highway in Sherwood, on the last Saturday of each month from 11 AM to 1:30 PM.
September 26 kicked off the fall lineup with a pastels workshop. On Saturday, October 24, the series continues with markers, and all materials are provided, so you can show up with nothing but your ideas. The sessions are hosted by the refuge, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and promoted by the Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, the volunteer organization that supports the refuge.
What to Expect
A new medium every month.
A new medium each month
Pastels in September, markers in October. Each session introduces a different art form, so returning participants build a varied collection of nature-inspired work over the year.
Art about nature, in nature
Workshops take place at the visitor center with the refuge's wetlands, oak woodlands, and river channels as the subject. Expect to draw what you see, not copy a picture.
Take your work home
All materials are provided and each participant leaves with a finished piece. No experience or supplies required, just an hour and a half to slow down and look closely.
Plan the Day
A fall morning at the refuge.
The refuge sits about ten minutes south of 22379 SW 107th Ave via SW 115th Ave and Pacific Highway, with free parking at the entrance. Arrive a little early and the trails around the visitor center are open for a walk before the workshop begins.
October is also peak season for fall bird migration at the refuge, when arctic-nesting waterfowl, bald eagles, and shorebirds move through. A morning that starts with markers can easily end with binoculars.
Make a Day of It
Wetlands, birds, and a finished sketch.
The refuge is one of Tualatin's best outdoor assets, and fall is its showiest season. Our fall bird migration guide covers what to look for, and the full refuge guide maps the trails and access points. For families who like to paddle, the Tualatin River paddling guide rounds out a weekend on the water.
Keep an eye on the Tualatin events calendar for the full fall lineup, and check the refuge's own events page for registration details before each workshop.
Call It Home
Ten minutes from the refuge, every day.
From 22379 SW 107th Ave, the refuge, the greenway, and the river are all close enough for a spontaneous afternoon. Schedule a tour and see the neighborhood for yourself.
Schedule a Tour