EVENTS

Speaker Series: Green Schoolyards - Native Plants and Habitats in Local Schools
Oct
19

Speaker Series: Green Schoolyards - Native Plants and Habitats in Local Schools

🌿 Speaker Series: Green Schoolyards - Native Plants and Habitats in Local Schools, a presentation by Jane Tesner Kleiner🌱

Join us to learn about the exciting projects, partners, and initiatives that bring hands-on learning to our local schools, including the creation of native plant and habitat gardens! This session is perfect for beginners or teachers looking to inspire their students to explore the outdoors and learn how to care for our local pollinators. 🐝This is a free event hosted by Vancouver Bee Project in the Columbia Room at Vancouver Community Library on Saturday October 19 at 4:30pm.

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City Council Comment on Bee City USA
Oct
28

City Council Comment on Bee City USA

Make your voice heard! 🐝 Join the Vancouver Bee Project at the Vancouver City Council meeting on October 28th to advocate for making Vancouver a Bee City USA. During the 3-minute public comment period, you'll have the chance to express your support for pollinator-friendly policies that promote habitat protection and sustainable landscapes.

Your voice can help Vancouver take a big step toward creating a healthier environment for bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators. 🌼 Let’s unite in our commitment to protecting biodiversity!

Sign up early to secure a spot to speak.

6pm - Vancouver City Hall Council Chambers

415 W 6th Street, Vancouver, WA 98660

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Pollinator Patch Workshop with Kyle from Vancouver Bee Project
Nov
2

Pollinator Patch Workshop with Kyle from Vancouver Bee Project

SAVE THE DATE: Do you like birds, butterflies, bees and flowers? Do you have lawn or a space that you would like to convert to a wildflower pollinator patch? If so, this workshop is for you!

 

Join Vancouver Bee Project and the Water Resources Education Center in a morning meadowscaping workshop. Removing lawn and converting barren or weedy areas to native plant zones helps provide habitat for pollinators and birds and can help conserve water. In this free hands-on workshop, learn the basics of how to convert barren areas or lawn into a bustling pollinator patch. Participants will plant a native wildflower patch that has been in the solarization phase since spring and help prep other areas for winter plantings.

 

Expect to be stationary for a small portion of time, and active while planting, weeding, and seeding pollinator patches. 

 

Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Sign up on City website open soon!

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3rd Annual Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning Event
Nov
9

3rd Annual Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning Event

Event: 3rd Annual Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning
Date: Saturday, November 9
Time: 11:30 am - 2pm
Location: Fourth Plain Community Commons

Join us for the 3rd Annual Mason Bee Cocoon Cleaning event hosted by the Vancouver Bee Project! 🐝 This hands-on event will teach you how to clean out your mason bee houses and cocoons, ensuring healthy bees for next season. We'll also cover common diseases that can impact mason bees and how to prevent them.

No RSVP is needed—just bring your mason bee houses and cocoons, and stop by at 11:30 PM. This is a free event, perfect for both beginners and seasoned bee enthusiasts! Let's work together to support our pollinators. 🌼

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Farm Demonstration Meadow Planting Event
Oct
12

Farm Demonstration Meadow Planting Event

Join the Vancouver Bee Project for a hands-on Native Demonstration Meadow Planting at Flat Tack Farm! 🌾🌼 Learn how to create a thriving pollinator habitat using native plants that support local bees, butterflies, and other beneficial species. This community event is perfect for anyone interested in sustainable gardening and biodiversity. We'll provide the seeds and tools—just bring your enthusiasm! 🌱 Let’s work together to create a beautiful meadow that will support pollinators for years to come. No RSVP needed, just come by the farm at 11am.

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Old Apple Tree Festival
Oct
5

Old Apple Tree Festival

Celebrate the Old Apple Tree Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of October at Old Apple Tree Park, located on Columbia Way just east of Interstate 5 Bridge.

The annual Old Apple Tree Festival is a celebration centered on the oldest living apple tree in the Northwest, planted at Fort Vancouver in 1826.

Providing fun, food, music, and history of Vancouver’s Old Apple Tree, the festival celebrates our community and its rich heritage. Throughout the day Urban Forestry Commissioners give away cuttings from the Old Apple Tree; cuttings are limited and will be given out until they are gone. This free, family friendly event, features activities for children, food for sale, apple tastings and sales, live music, cider pressing and walking tours of Fort Vancouver Village, the Fort Vancouver Historic Orchard and the Land Bridge. Local musical groups will provide live music throughout the day. Check out your favorite artists: The Ottomatics at noon and JT Wise Band at 1:45 p.m.

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Native Plant & Seed Library
Sep
22
to Sep 29

Native Plant & Seed Library

Discover the beauty and benefits of native plants with our Native Plant & Seed Library! 🌼 Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, come explore a diverse selection of native seeds and plants to create a pollinator-friendly garden at home. 🐝🌸

Exchange seeds, get tips from local experts, and learn how to support local ecosystems while beautifying your space. Let’s grow together and help our local pollinators thrive! 🌺

For more information check out our #GrowNativeVancouver page.

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Introduction to Native Bees and Native Meadowscaping
Sep
21

Introduction to Native Bees and Native Meadowscaping

Registration required - email info@naturescaping.org to sign up. Join us for an informational introduction to native bees and meadowscaping. Learn about the vital role of native bees in our ecosystems by expanding your borders or filling in that ugly and underused parking strip with a pocket meadow. Learn tips to help prepare for and create beautiful, pollinator-friendly meadows in your own yard. This hands-on workshop will cover the basics of native bees, meadow design considerations, and sustainable gardening practices. Send in photos (info@vancouverbeeproject.org) of your space and we’ll talk about some things to consider when updating them with native plants or meadow flowers. Perfect for beginners and garden enthusiasts alike! See the flier below for details and registration.

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Art & Nature in the Park
Aug
24

Art & Nature in the Park

This will be a special Art & Nature in the Park just in time for Back to School! Stop by and say hi while we table at Art & Nature in the Park. There will be lots of great resources and things to do!

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Bee Stroll
Aug
11

Bee Stroll

Join us for a Bee Stroll at the Fort Vancouver historic garden! We will provide education on how to identify bees and walk through the lovely Fort Garden. Bring your cameras and photograph pollinators and plants or use your cell phone and document your observations on iNaturalist. Please plan on wearing appropriate clothing/shoes and make sure and bring water.

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Speaker Series - Introduction to Native Bees
Jul
13

Speaker Series - Introduction to Native Bees

SPEAKER SERIES: Join us Saturday July 13th at the Vancouver Community Library’s Columbia Room to learn about native bees. Participants will learn about the diverse types of native bees, their vital roles in ecosystems, and their unique behaviors and habitats. The course will cover how to identify common native bees, the challenges they face, and practical steps to support their populations, such as creating bee-friendly habitats and gardening practices. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a gardener, or simply curious about these essential pollinators, this class offers valuable insights and hands-on knowledge to help protect and appreciate native bees. Our new speaker series will replace our popular Bee City USA Committee meetings we’ve been having the past few years. About the speaker: Kyle Roslund is the founder of the Vancouver Bee Project and is a current volunteer with the Washington Native Bee Society, the Washington Bee Atlas and is a part of the OSU Master Melittologist Apprentice Program.

Vancouver Community Library - Columbia Room

901 C Street, Vancouver WA 98660

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Bee Stroll
Jul
7

Bee Stroll

POSTPONED DUE TO HEAT. Join us for a Bee Stroll on the Farm! We will provide education on how to identify bees and walk through all the beautiful native meadow spaces we’ve been creating at Flat Tack Farm. Bring your cameras and photograph pollinators and plants or use your cell phone and document your observations on iNaturalist. Of note, this is a working farm and you will be traversing uneven terrain. Please plan on wearing appropriate clothing/shoes and make sure and bring water.

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BioBlitz - Water Resources Education Center
Jun
29

BioBlitz - Water Resources Education Center

Join Vancouver Bee Project at the Summer BioBlitz at the Water Center brought to you by the City of Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center. VBP will be leading a bee walk looking for native bees at the Water Center and VBP Board Member Almendra Velazquez-Perez who will lead a Spanish-language nature walk. All BioBlitz events encourages the use of iNaturalist to photograph local flora and fauna. Sign-up is required on the City’s website (coming soon). Check out our blog on how to use iNaturalist! Requires a sign up through the City Website.

Water Resources Education Center

4600 SE Columbia Way

Vancouver WA 98661

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Bee Stroll - June 23
Jun
23

Bee Stroll - June 23

Join us for the return of our popular Bee Strolls. We will provide education on how to identify bees and walk through a private garden during the Clark Green Neighbors Natural Garden Tour. Bring your cameras and photograph pollinators and plants or use your cell phone and document your observations on iNaturalist.

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Pollinator Week Proclamation - Vancouver City Council
Jun
17

Pollinator Week Proclamation - Vancouver City Council

Join Vancouver Bee Project on Monday June 17th at City Council to celebrate they city’s Pollinator Week Proclamation. Please join us to show your support and feel free to sign up during the public comment period to tell council about your support for pollinators and making Vancouver a Bee City USA affiliate. Just showing up helps us show council you support our advocacy efforts!

Vancouver City Hall

415 W 6th St

Vancouver, WA 98660

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Bee Stroll
Jun
16

Bee Stroll

POSTPONED due to weather: Join us for the return of our popular Bee Strolls. We will provide education on how to identify bees and walk through all the beautiful native meadow spaces we’ve been creating at Flat Tack Farm. Bring your cameras and photograph pollinators and plants or use your cell phone and document your observations on iNaturalist. Of note, this is a working farm and you will be traversing uneven terrain. Please plan on wearing appropriate clothing/shoes and make sure and bring water.

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LCRG Multicultural Resource Fair
Jun
1

LCRG Multicultural Resource Fair

You don’t want to miss out on all the great resources from over 60 organizations and agencies that will be present that day. LCRG will also have raffles, food and cultural dances for all to enjoy! It’s all FREE!! Stop by the Kid Zone and visit Vancouver Bee Project’s table!

Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA 98663

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Cinco de Mayo Mercado
May
5

Cinco de Mayo Mercado

Join Conexión Cultural at their first Cinco de Mayo Mercado! 🎉 You won’t want to miss this vibrant celebration! 🌮🎶✨ Bring the whole family for FREE entry and immerse yourself in the community, art, delicious food, local vendors, and joyful music! 🎊🍴💃 Let’s dance and enjoy our traditional festivities while we remember our beautiful celebrations! 💫✨ Vancouver Bee Project will be there tabling and providing pollinator resources and education. Event is at La Casita Art Gallery and Cultural Center 205 E. 16th Street, Vancouver WA 98663.

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2024 Mason Bee House Sale
Apr
13

2024 Mason Bee House Sale

SOLD OUT FOR 2024. We are excited to offer mason bee houses for pre-order at $30 each. These houses are compact, sturdy and waterproof. Each house comes with the following:

  • 1 - 3" diameter painted PVC mason bee house (paint color cannot be ordered but colors include silver, beige, and dark brown)

  • 1 - 3" diameter PVC mounting bracket and screws

  • 50 - 6" new mason bee tubes

  • 2 tubes with mason bees (~20 cocoons)

Houses will be available for pickup at the following events:

  • March 17 at our Introduction to Spring Mason Bees event at the Downtown Vancouver Community Library.

  • March 23 at the Water Center Bioblitz event.

  • April 13 at the Water Center Meadow Care and Weeding Native Spaces event.

  • Pickup at VBP Board private home in Central Vancouver.

Payment options include cash, check or Venmo at ordering or pickup. For a deeper read on mason bees check out the OSU Extension 2016 publication Nurturing Mason Bees in Western Oregon.

If you need mason bee cocoons feel free to reach out.

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Meadowscaping Spring Cleanup at the Water Center
Apr
13

Meadowscaping Spring Cleanup at the Water Center

This is part of VBP’s ongoing meadowscaping series. Meadows need care and weeding and we’ll show you things to look for when doing spring cleanup in your meadow. Registration is required. Sign up today! Join Vancouver Bee Project and Water Center staff in caring for our newly planted meadow. Grass was removed and wildflower seed sowed last fall. Spring is the time to assess the project and clean out any unwanted plant species from the meadow. We will also have projects for volunteers to help keep our Backyard Habitat Certified gardens in tip-top shape. Volunteer activities may include weeding, mulching, trimming and raking pathways. All necessary tools will be provided.

All ages welcome.  Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form. Youth under 13 must have an adult guardian present.

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Friends of Bees/Friends of Trees Planting
Apr
13

Friends of Bees/Friends of Trees Planting

Central Vancouver residents in Bagley Downs, Fourth Plain Village, Green Meadows, Maplewood, Meadow Homes, Ogden, Vanmall, Walnut Grove, and West Minnehaha neighborhoods are eligible to receive a free pollinator plant for co-planting with their Friends of Trees planting during the April 13th event. Just sign up on the FOT website and when you go to checkout you’ll see our Vancouver Bee Project logo under the “add-ons” section. Click there to select your free pollinator plant. Sign up today with Friends of Trees! Pollinator plants are sponsored by a neighborhoods grant from the Watershed Alliance through the Meadow Homes neighborhood association.

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Bees! Gardening, Citizen Science, and the WA Bee Atlas
Apr
10

Bees! Gardening, Citizen Science, and the WA Bee Atlas

When we hear ‘bee’ we often think of the European honey bee, but there are at least 600-700 species of bees in Washington and Oregon. Native bees are very different, but we know very little about their status. What flowers do they pollinate? Where and when do they nest? How can we use our gardens to support them?

Washington has implemented the Washington Bee Atlas (WaBA) to find out more. It was formed in 2023 and modeled after the successful Oregon Bee Atlas, which has added 220 bee species to their state list! These community science groups train volunteers to collect, pin, and label bee specimens. Many of the volunteers have no science or entomology background. They post data through the app iNaturalist, providing date, location, collector and host plant information. The specimens are then identified by professionals, deposited at WSU or OSU insect collections, and the data made public! This information is highly valuable to conservation efforts of all 600+ species of native bees known to occur in the PNW.

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Volunteer at Campus Community Garden & Meadow Cleanup
Mar
30

Volunteer at Campus Community Garden & Meadow Cleanup

Join the City of Vancouver’s Volunteer Programs department to clean up Campus Community Garden in honor of Cesar Chavez Day. We will be removing litter, mulching the perimeters and pulling some invasive plants and weeds to get ready for the 2024 garden season. Registration required.

Training, gloves, tools, water, and snacks will be provided. This opportunity is family-friendly and great for teens – people of all ages and abilities are welcome. Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Many of the volunteer activities require bending, stooping, kneeling to the ground and lifting over 10 pounds. Please reach out to Volunteer Programs staff if you would like to request an accommodation in order to improve your volunteer experience.

Youth under 18 must bring a signed minor consent form.

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World Water Day BioBlitz
Mar
23

World Water Day BioBlitz

Every year, World Water Day is celebrated around the globe to highlight the importance of freshwater for humans and our vital ecosystems. Join us this year in a BioBlitz at Vancouver’s Water Center to explore the freshwater ecosystems around the education center and collect data about the living creatures inhabiting our area.

A BioBlitz event gathers community members in a specific place to take a snapshot of the ecological biodiversity. Small, guided nature walks will happen throughout the morning. Walks will focus on finding plants, animals, birds, insects, mushrooms, amphibians and more. Use iNaturalist to catalog all the living things found in the area. No previous knowledge of iNaturalist is required.

City Registration is Required

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Introduction to Spring Mason Bees
Mar
17

Introduction to Spring Mason Bees

Sunday March 17 we will be providing an introduction on how to keep and support spring native mason bees. This is a free event and open to the public at the Downtown Vancouver Community Library (901 C Street) in the Columbia Room. 2:30pm.

We will focus on some basic mason bee education and talk about tips on the best things you can do to support these pollination powerhouses. This event is free and open to the public. Those in attendance can enter a free drawing to win a free wooden mason bee house with free mason bees! Please contact Vancouver Bee Project with questions.

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Event One
Jan
31

Event One

Rescheduled January 31 - NEW VENUE! Bee City USA Committee meeting at the new Fourth Plain Commons building 5-6:30pm. Topics include “How can we make Vancouver a Bee City in 2024?” and an introduction to cleptoparasitic bees from special guest Michael O’Loughlin.

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