Forest Crafts
2025-04-27 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join us once a month and explore your creative nature here at World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum with our friend at RAD Creative. From Forests in a Bottle to paper snails, seed shares, and fairy houses – tap into your creative side and make something memorable.
This event is family-friendly, and crafts are geared toward kids who can independently use scissors, glue sticks, and basic school supplies or with parental assistance. All crafts vary in presentation. Adult supervision at all times is required. Craft supplies, tools, and guidance are included with museum admission and do not require pre-registration.

Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum
2025-04-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Explore the wonders of World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum at no cost today, from 10 am – 4 pm. Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum is brought to you by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation, in celebration of the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary and its enduring commitment to community.
Join us for the full series: March 24, April 27, August 24, October 26, and November 30.
About the Ben B. Cheney Foundation: Businessman, entrepreneur, and sports enthusiast Ben B. Cheney lived life fully and richly, devoting himself to his work, his family and his community. The Ben B. Cheney Foundation strives to carry on his hopes and dreams by making grants and helping to improve the quality of life in the communities where the Cheney Lumber Company operated.
About the Discovery Museum: Located in Portland’s forested Washington Park, World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum invites visitors to examine forests and consider all the ways they impact our lives. Visitors get a bird’s-eye view of a northwest forest, explore society’s connection to the woods, and learn about the challenges and opportunities facing this critical natural resource. Through interactive and featured art exhibits, visitors can learn how the way forests are managed affects everyday lives and how they are crucial to the forestry conversation.

Forest Crafts
2025-03-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join us once a month and explore your creative nature here at World Forestry Center's Discovery Museum with our friend at RAD Creative. From Forests in a Bottle to paper snails, seed shares, and fairy houses - tap into your creative side and make something memorable.
This event is family-friendly, and crafts are geared toward kids who can independently use scissors, glue sticks, and basic school supplies or with parental assistance. All crafts vary in presentation. Adult supervision at all times is required. Craft supplies, tools, and guidance are included with museum admission and do not require pre-registration.

Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum
2025-03-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join us as we kick off our Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum, proudly sponsored by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation. It’s not just the start of a new series—we’re also celebrating the 120th birthday of Ben B. Cheney! Come for the cake, stay for the forest! Explore the wonders of World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum at no cost today, from 10 am – 4 pm.
Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum is brought to you by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation, in celebration of the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary and its enduring commitment to community.
Join us for the full series: March 24, April 27, August 24, October 26, and November 30.
About the Ben B. Cheney Foundation: Businessman, entrepreneur, and sports enthusiast Ben B. Cheney lived life fully and richly, devoting himself to his work, his family and his community. The Ben B. Cheney Foundation strives to carry on his hopes and dreams by making grants and helping to improve the quality of life in the communities where the Cheney Lumber Company operated.
About the Discovery Museum: Located in Portland’s forested Washington Park, World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum invites visitors to examine forests and consider all the ways they impact our lives. Visitors get a bird’s-eye view of a northwest forest, explore society’s connection to the woods, and learn about the challenges and opportunities facing this critical natural resource. Through interactive and featured art exhibits, visitors can learn how the way forests are managed affects everyday lives and how they are crucial to the forestry conversation.

FREE DAY at the Discovery Musuem
2025-03-16 10:00 - 16:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join us at the World Forestry Center for a special FREE Admission Day to our Discovery Museum on Sunday, March 16, 2025! From interactive exhibits to cool forestry facts, there's something for every curious mind. Whether you're visiting solo, with friends, or bringing the whole family, it's a day you won’t want to miss. See you there! 🌳🌟
The Discovery Museum is open from 10 am - 4 pm.
Learn more about the Discovery Museum here.

Portland Timbers Victory Log Blessing
2025-02-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Kick off the 15th MLS season and 50th club anniversary of the Portland Timbers with the annual Victory Log blessing ceremony taking place at the World Forestry Center on Sunday, February 16, at 12:00 PM. Join Timber Jim, Timber Joey, and members of the Timbers Army as they bless this season’s Victory Log, generously provided by Hampton Lumber. The Timbers Street Team will be on hand with giveaways and prizes. Plus, rumor has it that Timbers Head Coach Phil Neville will be there, too!
Make it a full day of fun with free admission to the Discovery Museum, courtesy of Hampton Lumber.

Talk About Trees
2025-02-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join our friend Liz from Talk About Trees to learn about the fascinating world of trees and our forests through interactive learning for the whole family. Each month, Liz will dive into a new topic and share her knowledge in an approachable way.

Forest Crafts: Paper Snails
2025-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
This January, come make paper snails with us! These curious, compact, and clever crafts are sure to keep you and your houseplants company on these dreary winter days!
Join us once a month and explore your creative nature here at World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum with our friend at RAD Creative. From Forests in a Bottle to paper snails, seed shares, and fairy houses – tap into your creative side and make something memorable.
This event is family-friendly and geared toward children aged 2 & up (though younger are allowed). Adult supervision at all times is required. Craft supplies, tools, and guidance are included with museum admission and do not require pre-registration.

Walk & Talk About Trees: Douglas Firs...fir sure
2024-12-14 11:00 - 12:30 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Are you curious to know more about our state's tree? Do you have an odd fascination with this towering powerhouse of the Pacific Northwest? What is with the story of the mouse and the Douglas Fir?
Join us for a 90-minute Walk & Talk all about what makes the Douglas fir tree so special. Why do we have so many? What do we make from parts of this tree? Our session will end with a papermaking project and a seasonal ornament you can take home.
Oh, and why not make this day a Douglas Fir Appreciation Day? Anyone named Douglas, Doug, or some variation of it will get in for $1!
We will meet indoors at 11 a.m. and head out by 11:15 a.m. for a walk on nearby trails.
We are excited to work with Talk About Trees to offer this monthly Walk & Talk led by full-time volunteer Liz Smyth. This event is included with museum admission or membership.

Forest Festive: Free Admission & Holiday Cheer
2024-12-07 11:00 - 16:00 | World Forestry Center
Come join us for a fun-filled day of holiday wreath-making, tree shopping, and forestry education! Get into the festive spirit by creating your very own unique wreath using materials sourced from Oregon's beautiful forests. Don't miss out on this family-friendly, hands-on experience that will bring local forests straight to your doorstep this holiday season.
ADMISSION TO THE DISCOVERY MUSEUM IS FREE!
Warm up with hot cocoa while browsing our selection of fresh-cut Christmas trees! Every tree purchase benefits Oregon's Talk about Trees forestry education program and comes with complimentary admission to the World Forestry Center. Guests can also explore a free virtual reality experience that transports you through working forests, sawmills, and wildfire response activities, providing an up-close look at sustainable forestry practices across the state.
Grab a friend or family member and let's get crafty together! Wreath-making and other activities are outside, so please dress warmly! Registration for this FREE event is appreciated, but not required!

Walk & Talk About Trees: Let's Talk Conifers!
2024-11-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
So what makes conifers or evergreen trees so unique? We will examine what their cones look like depending on the variety and where they store their seeds. What do they need to grow, and who relies on them to survive?
We will meet indoors at 11 a.m. and head out by 11:15 a.m. to walk for a walk on nearby trails. Bring your rain boots and raincoat.
We are excited to work with Talk About Trees to offer this monthly Walk & Talk led by full-time volunteer Liz Smyth. This event is included with museum admission or membership.

Pop-Up Forest Crafts
2024-11-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join us for a special pop-up Forest Craft at the Discovery Museum with RAD Creative! We will be making forest bracelets and Forest in a Bottle!
This activity is included with museum admission.

Opening Reception: Following Fire Exhibition
2024-11-08 17:30 - 20:00 | Discovery Museum Gallery, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
RSVP for your free ticket.
Our next featured exhibition will be on view November 1, 2024 – March 30, 2025.
Join World Forestry Center for the opening reception of Following Fire: A Resilient Forest / An Uncertain Future. This exhibition by photographer David Paul Bayles and disturbance ecologist Frederick J. Swanson follows the recovery of 173,000 acres of forests and towns that burned along the McKenzie River during the Holiday Farm Fire in Oregon in 2020. Photographs weave a complex story of forest and community resilience in the face of growing challenges and uncertainties.
Lite refreshments will be provided.
Read more about the exhibition and artists here.

Following Fire: Featured Exhibit
2024-11-01 - 2025-04-27 | Discovery Museum Gallery, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
On display November 1, 2024 - April 27, 2025, extended date.
World Forestry Center presents Following Fire: A Resilient Forest / An Uncertain Future. This exhibition by photographer David Paul Bayles and disturbance ecologist Frederick J. Swanson follows the recovery of 173,000 acres of forests and towns that burned along the McKenzie River during the Holiday Farm Fire in Oregon in 2020. Photographs weave a complex story of forest and community resilience in the face of growing challenges and uncertainties.
Learn more at https://worldforestry.org/followingfire/

Halloween at the Discovery Museum - Kids free w/ costume!
2024-10-31 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-31 08:00 - 17:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
It is getting a little spooky around the Discovery Museum, so it is time for a little treat. Kids in Halloween costumes get in free with an accompanying paid adult ($8).

Land of The Lichen: Presented by Science Friday and World Forestry Center
2024-10-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center
Portland, Science Friday has really taken a lichen to you. That’s why Ira Flatow is coming to the World Forestry Center for a day full of the fuzzy growths on trees, roofs and gravestones. Join Science Friday and the World Forestry Center as we highlight these special symbiotic organisms! Meet experts in the forests, hear about their role in a warming world, and maybe even discover your favorite lichen that you didn’t know existed.
Meet The Experts

Hannah Prather is an NSF postdoctoral researcher and visiting assistant professor of biology at Reed College, where she teaches about the intricate relationship among lichens, bryophytes, host trees, and the surrounding ecosystem, particularly in urban and polar environments. She loves to share her diverse field-based experiences with her students, and hopes to foster a sense of excitement and awe for the often overlooked, yet fascinating world of lichens and bryophytes.
Jesse Miller is the lead botanist for the Washington Natural Heritage Program, where he provides scientific guidance for rare plant conservation efforts statewide. Since his time as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California-Davis, he has studied effects of fire severity and altered fire regimes on plant and lichen communities.
Jes Burns is a science reporter in OPB's Science & Environment unit. She is the lead brain behind the show “All Science, No Fiction”, which uses whimsy, curiosity and fun to place a spotlight on scientists in the Pacific Northwest.

Arrive before the event and show your ticket to get free access to World Forestry Center's Discovery Museum (5:00PM-7:00PM).
This event is presented by Science Friday and World Forestry Center, in partnership with OPB and Hoyt Arboretum.

Walk & Talk About Trees: Deciduous Divas
2024-10-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
What makes deciduous trees unique? What happens to trees this time of year? Join us for a family-friendly walk and talk to explore the world of deciduous trees, why they turn colors, and how to recognize them.
We will meet indoors at 11 a.m. and head out by 11:15 a.m. for a walk on nearby trails. Bring your rain boots and raincoat.
We are excited to work with Talk About Trees to offer this monthly Walk & Talk led by full-time volunteer Liz Smyth. This event is included with museum admission or membership.

Forest Storytime, Oregon Science Festival
2024-09-11 11:30 - 13:00 | OR
Join us in the Discovery Museum’s reading nook for a special Forest Storytime during Oregon Science Festival’s Science Week.
This is a storytime dedicated to forests and forest-themed books that connect adults and children and engage the imagination. There will also be a forest crafting session after the reading.
This offering is included with museum admission.
About Oregon Science Festival
The Oregon Science Festival, presented by OMSI, begins with Science Week, five days of events in the Portland Metro Area and beyond from September 9-13, 2024. Enjoy workshops, tours, lectures, and events—all celebrating STEAM education. Learn more about the vast array of scientists, engineers, and innovators who are inspiring future generations around Portland. Science Week will end with a two-day Science Festival hosted at OMSI on September 14 and 15, 2024, 9:30am-5:30pm.

Artist Talk: Tree People
2024-09-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Mt. Hood Room, Discovery Museum at the World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Tree People: Artist Talk with Finnish Photographers Ritva Kovalainen and Sanni Seppo.
Cost: Free, in support of First Friday!
Seating is limited, RSVP for a free ticket here.
Doors: 6:00PM
Optional Gallery Tour: 6:30PM
Artist talk: 7:00PM
Calling in from Finland, Ritva Kovalainen and Sanni Seppo, the artists behind World Forestry Center’s featured art exhibition Tree People, will share about the ten years of research that lead up to the creation of their book and exhibition.
The Finnish photographers will speak about how their work braids Nordic forest mythology with an almost forgotten treasure trove of customs and beliefs, portraying the sacred connection between people and trees in Finnish folk culture. There will be an optional gallery tour with World Forestry Center’s Experience Developer prior to the artist’s talk.
Tree People will be on view through September 29, 2024. Learn more about the exhibition here.
