Tree People: Featured Exhibit
2024-06-01 - 2024-09-29 | Discovery Museum Gallery, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
World Forestry Center presents Tree People, an exhibition by Finnish photographers Ritva Kovalainen and Sanni Seppo. This exhibition braids forest mythology with an almost forgotten treasure trove of customs and beliefs, portraying the sacred connection between people and trees in Finnish folk culture.
On display, June 1-September 29.
Learn more at worldforestry.org/treepeople

CANOPY: Forests + Markets + Society
2024-09-24 08:00 - 2024-09-26 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | World Forestry Center
For 22 years, World Forestry Center has convened investors, land managers, advisors, carbon project developers, and others in the forestland investment space for a 2.5 day conference in Portland, Oregon. CANOPY: Forests + Markets + Society, is the premier annual event on institutional forestland investing.
Learn more at worldforestry.org/canopy

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.

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.

Halloween at the Discovery Museum - Kids free w/ costume!
2024-10-31 08:00 - 17:00, 2024-10-31 11:00 - 16:00 | 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).

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/

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: Opening Reception
2024-11-08 17:30 - 20:00 | OR
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.

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.

Magness Memorial Tree Farm Open Today
2024-11-18 08:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-16 08:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-06 08:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-20 08:00 - 15:00 | Magness Memorial Tree Farm, 31195 SW Ladd Hill Rd , Sherwood, OR, 97140, United States
Magness Memorial Tree Farm is open today.
During the winter, Magness Memorial Tree Farm is open on the first and third Mondays of each month.

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.

History Pub: The Past, Present and Future of Indigenous Fire Knowledge
2024-11-24 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins’ Kennedy School Theater, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR, 97211, United States
Since time immemorial, Indigenous people in the Pacific Northwest have been tending to the land with fire. Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding a place come from generations of careful exploration, experimentation, and observation. In recent centuries, non-Native ideas about fire and its relationships to land and people have dominated management policies and practices. As the reality of climate change becomes more evident, including through devastating fires that catalyze global warming, centering Indigenous approaches to land management is increasingly important.
Presenters Joe Scott, Siletz Tribal Member and Director of the Traditional Ecological Inquiry Program, and Elizabeth Azzuz, from the Yurok Tribe and Cultural Fire Management Council, will share stories of Indigenous histories and approaches to fire management, knowledge production, and ecological stewardship.
"All living things are fire dependent, and that is the beginning of any tending process: the reintroduction of healthy fire." Joe Scott.
Presented by Oregon Historical Society and World Forestry Center, this program is the second in a two-part series about forests, climate, and history. It is hosted at McMenamin’s Kennedy School.

$5 Tickets available here
About the Speakers
Joe Scott is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, a descendent of the Rogue River Tribes of what is now Southwestern Oregon. He currently lives and works on Kalapuya Illahee as Director of the Traditional Ecological Inquiry Program, collaborating with regional land stewards to support Tribal environmental engagement, promote food sovereignty, and explore traditional ways of knowing, focused on Indigenous ecological science and traditional fire. He is a fire practitioner, cultural ecologist, traditional artist, and a lifelong Tribal teacher and learner.
Learn more at www.longtom.org/community/teip/
Elizabeth Azzuz is a member of the Yurok tribe in Northern California, Director of Traditional Burning and Treasurer for the Cultural Fire Management Council (CFMC) Board of Directors. The mission of CFMC is to facilitate the practice of cultural burning on the Yurok Reservation and Ancestral lands, which will lead to a healthier ecosystem for all plants and animals, long term fire protection for residents, and provide a platform that will in turn support the traditional hunting and gathering activities of Yurok.
Learn more at www.culturalfire.org/

History Pub: Indigenous knowledge and cultural burning
2024-11-25 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins’ Kennedy School Theater, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR, 97211, United States
Presented by Oregon Historical Society and World Forestry Center, this program is hosted at McMenamin’s Kennedy School. It is the second in a two-part series about forests, climate, and history; the first program on August 26 features a discussion about historic and contemporary relationships among Oregon’s trees, rural and urban forests, and climate change. Learn more about the first program in this series here.
Tickets and more information about this program is coming soon.

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: 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 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.

Artist Talk: Following Fire and Fire Maps
2025-01-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Discovery Museum Gallery, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Please RSVP for Free Ticket
Doors and Gallery Tour: 6:00PM
Artist Talk: 6:30PM
Cost: Free, RSVP required
Join us in the Discovery Museum’s art gallery for a behind the scenes conversation with the creators of World Forestry Center’s featured temporary exhibitions.
Following Fire, A Resilient Forest / An Uncertain Future by photographer David Paul Bayles and disturbance ecologist Frederick Swanson, studies 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.
Fire Maps is an installation created by artist Kate Simmons and is inspired by her personal experience with wildfire evacuation during the Riverside Fire of Oregon that affected 138,054 acres of land along the Clackamas River and Mt. Hood National Forest in 2020. The forms are molded from clay with immediacy to reflect the sudden and abrupt demand for people to evacuate their homes in response to the wildfire threat. The surface decoration of the figures is informed by satellite maps that tracked the progression of the fire and roadside evacuation markings left by authorities.
Learn more about these exhibitions on our website.
Fire Maps, by Kate Simmons

Forest Storytime
2025-02-01 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-03-01 11:30 - 12:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
On the first Saturday of the month, join us in the Discovery Museum’s reading nook for Forest Storytime. A storytime dedicated to forests and forest-themed books that connect adults and children and engage the imagination. Coloring pages are also available.
This offering is included with museum admission.

Forest Storytime
2025-02-01 11:30 - 12:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
On the first Saturday of the month, join us in the Discovery Museum's reading nook for Forest Storytime. A storytime dedicated to forests and forest-themed books that connect adults and children and engage the imagination. Coloring pages are also available.
This offering is included with museum admission.

Venue Open House
2025-02-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Miller and Cheatham Halls at the World Forestry Center
Interested in hosting an event at World Forestry Center?
Tour our venue, meet local caterers, and learn how you can turn your next event into one people remember. Whether you are planning a wedding, Bar/Bat mitzvah, corporate retreat, or an organization fundraiser -- we have the space for you!
Come see why our venue is known as the hidden gem in Portland's Washington Park.
RSVP here for your free admission.

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 Pub: Indigenous Land Management in the Willamette Valley
2025-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Purchase tickets here.
Join us on February 10 at 7 pm (doors at 6 pm) for our upcoming Forest Pub: Indigenous Land Management in the Willamette Valley with speaker David Lewis.
Reconstructing traditional environments and lifeways in the Pacific Northwest, David G. Lewis, PhD, will share his research about tribal ways of knowing and managing the valleys and forests of the Willamette. His newest book will be available to purchase, Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.
David is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, a descendant of the Takelma, Chinook, Molalla, and Santiam Kalapuya peoples of western Oregon. Dr. Lewis is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Studies at OSU and has written over 500 research essays about the histories of the Western Oregon tribes and Northwest Coastal peoples. Read about this work on his blog, the Quartux Journal.
Forest Pubs are presented by World Forestry Center and McMenamins.

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.

Forest Crafts
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.

Forest Pub: Building the New PDX Airport with Local Mass Timber
2025-03-10 19:00 - 20:00 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE
Join our friends from the Port of Portland and project partners to hear stories behind the design, construction, and sourcing of the new main terminal at Portland International Airport. Utilizing Mass Timber and locally sourced timber, PDX has gained international recognition for its innovation and first-of-its-kind approach to a large-scale civic project. Through their community-centered approach to the $2B project, the Port of Portland has redefined how the public experiences airports...and their connection to the wood that built it
Spend an evening learning about how combining innovative Mass Timber and a commitment to locally sourced lumber can create something that has soared to new heights. Grab a drink, sit back, relax, and enjoy the program. 🌲✈️
Forest Pubs are presented by World Forestry Center and McMenamins.
