What the Log Saw: Honoring the legacy of Catherine “The Log Lady” Coulson: Pop-Up Exhibit
2025-05-01 - 2025-06-08 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
ON DISPLAY: May 1 - June 8, 2025 Learn more here.
This pop-up exhibit honors the legacy of Catherine Coulson, who brought the iconic character of Margaret “The Log Lady” Lanterman to life, and explores how she took that role beyond the screen to make a real-world impact in her communities. Step into the world of Twin Peaks and discover the profound story behind one of the series’ most memorable characters.
Through this unique exhibit, you’ll delve into the character and backstory of Margaret, “The Log Lady,” and learn how Catherine Coulson, deeply moved by her character’s trauma, used it as a platform to advocate for wildfire prevention and educate her community about the importance of protecting the forests she loved.
In this exhibit, you’ll explore artifacts that made “The Log Lady” unforgettable: the iconic log, photos of Catherine Coulson from her time on the show, her signature glasses, and other personal memorabilia. Through her advocacy and commitment, Coulson’s impact extends beyond the Twin Peaks fandom, influencing real-world efforts to protect the natural world.
© 2025 Twin Peaks Productions, Inc. TWIN PEAKS, related marks and logos are trademarks of Twin Peaks Productions, Inc. Used with permission. TWIN PEAKS: FROM A TO Z AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY. INCLUDES ALL 3 SEASONS, FIRE WALK WITH ME AND OVER 20 HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES! http://cbshe.com/TPZtoA

Forest Crafts
2025-05-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-22 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-23 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.

Science for All Showcase
2025-05-29 18:00 - 21:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
We are excited to partner with the Citizen Science Association for their upcoming Science for All Showcase: Explore, Educate, Inspire.
Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the World Forestry Center, for an interactive evening of workshops, resource tables, and lightning talks. Designed for community connectors including educators, librarians, museum professionals, and others with networking opportunities for evaluators, researchers and project scientists, this event will provide strategies, resources, and connections to bring participatory science to more people. This event is made possible by SciStarter.
What to Expect as a Facilitator/Educator:

Learn the Basics: Guided by SciStarter, an online citizen science hub, discover turnkey and customizable resources to help you introduce and integrate participatory science in your classroom, organization or community.
Gain Expert Insights: Hear from project scientists, facilitators, and educators through dynamic lightning talks that spark curiosity and critical thinking.
Connect Locally: Network with fellow educators and participatory science project leaders to strengthen community ties and collaboration in Oregon.
Access Free Resources: Explore free, customizable trainings with supplemental resources, lesson plans, activity guides, and digital tools designed to make science engaging and accessible for all.

This showcase is part of the larger Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences, the annual gathering of scholars, practitioners, and facilitators in the field of participatory sciences hosted by the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences* (AAPS).
Event Details:

Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221
Suggested ticket price: $10

Once registered, you’ll receive a ticket confirmation, and follow-up details via email.
Questions? For more information, please contact us at events@citizenscience.org.
Let’s learn from, and inspire, each other at the Science for All Showcase!

Sasquatch: Ancestral Guardians
2025-05-30 - 2026-01-31 | Discovery Museum Gallery, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
“We must walk lightly when we are between worlds with this sacred being.” – Phillip Cash Cash
Indigenous peoples have long been in relationship with and shared stories about sacred forest protectors, often called Sasquatch and Bigfoot. The works in this exhibition are made by Indigenous artists and honor generations of spiritual practices, storytelling, and tradition. Leave your preconceived notions behind and immerse yourself, not in the question of if Sasquatch exists, but rather, how are we existing with and honoring this non-human other.
This exhibition has been extended to January 31, 2026, at the Discovery Museum.
Curated to align with the mission of World Forestry Center, this exhibition was created in collaboration with these Indigenous artists and the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, which featured the exhibition Sensing Sasquatch in 2024.

The exhibition is advised by and consists of original artwork by: Phillip Cash Cash, Ph.D. (Nez Perce, Cayuse), HollyAnna CougarTracks DeCoteau Littlebull (Yakama, Nez Perce, Cayuse, Cree), Charlene “Tillie” Dimmick (Warm Springs), Frank Buffalo Hyde (Nez Perce, Onondaga) and Rocky LaRock (Salish), Greg Archuleta (Grand Ronde).
Learn more about the exhibit here.

Forest Storytime
2025-06-04 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-07-02 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-06 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-10-01 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-11-05 11:30 - 12:00, 2025-12-03 11:30 - 12:00 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
On the first Wednesday 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.

Be Wildfire Aware! Community Preparedness Event
2025-06-07 - 2025-06-08 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Become fire-adapted and keep you and your community safe from wildfire.
Dates: June 7 & 8, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (both days)
Admission: Free
Co-hosted by:

World Forestry Center
Oregon State Fire Marshal
Portland Fire & Rescue

Generously Sponsored by:

PGE
OPB

In light of increasing wildfire risks, it's more important than ever to understand how we can prepare and protect our communities, homes, and loved ones. Be Wildfire Aware is a free, two-day event designed to help families and individuals of all backgrounds learn practical strategies for wildfire preparedness. Whether you live in an urban, suburban, or rural area, this event is for YOU!
What to Expect:

Vendors from the Community: Connect with local organizations offering products and services related to wildfire prevention and safety.
Interactive Workshops: Participate in hands-on sessions covering topics like home fireproofing, personal safety measures, and how to create a family emergency plan.
Wildfire Discussions: Join expert-led discussions about wildfire trends, climate impacts, and what steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Burn-Table: Experience a live burn-table demonstration to better understand how wildfires spread and how to manage risk effectively.
Resources & Expert Advice: Access various educational materials and expert advice on staying safe before, during, and after a wildfire.

This event is an essential resource for anyone seeking to gain the knowledge and tools to face wildfire season confidently. Whether you're a homeowner, renter, or community leader, Be Wildfire Aware will leave you better equipped to safeguard your property and your family.
Join us in making our community safer—together!

Forest Pub: Stewarding Forest Park
2025-06-09 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Stewarding Forest Park: How the Largest Urban Park Came to Be
Purchase Tickets Here
Forest Park is more than just trees and trails—it’s a living, breathing biodiversity sanctuary that has relied on community care for generations to come. Join the Forest Park Conservancy and local experts for a conversation about the park’s origins, the efforts to preserve public access, and how that legacy continues to shape stewardship today.
From its early history to today’s efforts, this event highlights the community’s essential role in shaping and sustaining one of the nation’s largest urban forests. Through stories of resilience, advocacy, and community involvement, we’ll explore how Forest Park came to be—and what it takes to keep it thriving.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or just beginning to explore the park, this is a chance to learn, connect, and be inspired to help steward its future.
Meet the speakers:

Marcy Cottrell Houle, MS, is a professional wildlife biologist and the author of seven award-winning books. Two of her books – Wings for My Flight, and The Gift of Caring -- received the national Christopher Award “For books that affirm the highest values of the human spirit.” Her book The Prairie Keepers: Secrets of the Zumwalt was selected by the New York Times as a Notable Book and Best Book for Earth Day. She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and LA Times and written for the Nature Conservancy Magazine, Cricket Magazine for Children, Readers Digest, the New York Times, and Smithsonian Magazine. Marcy lives with her family on a small farm on Sauvies Island, Oregon.
David Barrios is a Park Ranger for Forest Park. He is also an Indigenous elder in the urban Native community of Portland, Oregon. He is featured in Marcy Houle’s book, “The Gift of Aging: Growing Older with Purpose, Planning, and Positivity.”
Chris Prescott is a watershed ecologist with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Regulatory Division. He is involved in study design, data collection, data management, data analysis and reporting for Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and watershed restoration efforts, as well as providing technical support for policy development. Prior to working for the City of Portland, Chris was the Chief Scientist for the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program. He received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Biology from New College in Sarasota, Florida, and his master’s degree in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hannah Prather is an NSF postdoctoral research fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Her PhD and teaching career has focused on the intricate relationship among lichens, bryophytes, host trees, and the surrounding ecosystem, all set against the dynamic backdrop of climate change and urbanization. Her work has taken place around the globe, most notably in tall trees species, urban environments, and polar ecosystems. At Reed, she teaches courses on the Lichens of the Pacific Northwest and Forest Canopy Ecophysiology. She regularly leads local lichen hikes and classes and in her spare time enjoys trail running, mountain biking, skiing, and climbing trees

Forest Pub: How Lumberjacks Shaped the Identity of Portland Soccer
2025-07-14 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Tickets available here
Join Timber Jim and Timber Joey, the two legendary figures of the Portland Timbers Football Club, for a heartfelt conversation about how they helped shape the identity and spirit of soccer in Portland. From chainsaw stunts to the birth of the Victory Log tradition, Timber Jim and Timber Joey have used their role to spread a message of community, love, and connection. Featuring personal stories and historic photos, this fireside chat is a celebration of our forests, the legacy of love, and the rooted spirit that unites the Timbers.
Timber Jim (Jim Serrill) was the Portland Timbers' mascot beginning in the 1970s. He thrillingly entertained fans with his chainsaw stunts and daring performances. A beloved symbol of Timbers tradition, he retired in 2008 after decades of spirited support.
Timber Joey (Joey Webber) carried on the legacy as the Portland Timbers' mascot in 2008, carrying on the iconic log-sawing tradition after every goal. A real-life lumberjack, he represents the grit and passion of Portland’s soccer culture to this day.
Forest Pubs are presented by World Forestry Center and McMenamins.

ForestFest 2025
2025-07-19 10:00 - 14:00 | World Forestry Center
Celebrate the wonders of forests with a fun-filled, family-friendly day at ForestFest! Enjoy hands-on activities, wood-themed crafts, kid zones, and live demonstrations from forestry professionals and community partners.
Enjoy wood-themed crafts, hands-on activities, interactive kid zones, games, and a working traveling mill. Learn about forest stewardship, explore the role of trees in our daily lives, and experience forest-inspired art and storytelling from local makers.
🎟 Make it a full day! Step inside our Discovery Museum to see Sasquatch: Ancestral Guardians, our newest exhibition featuring Indigenous artists and cultural perspectives on the legendary being. Museum admission is just $8 for adults, $5 for kids, and free for children under 3. On July 19 only, museum visitors will receive a free limited-edition ForestFest poster with their admission!
ForestFest is free and open to all—right in the heart of Washington Park!

Forest Pub: Wildfire & Wine - From Vineyard to Palate
2025-08-11 19:15 - 20:30 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Purchase Tickets Here!
Join us for an evening of insight and conversation as we dive into the complex and sensitive relationship between wildfire and wine. From drifting smoke across vineyard hillsides to the delicate nuances it can leave behind, we’ll explore how Oregon’s wine industry is responding to the growing impact of wildfires on grapes, vineyards, and vintages. Learn about the science behind smoke impacts, what it means for winemakers and consumers, and how the industry is adapting through research, innovation, and resilience.
Pre-Event Wine Tasting:
Kick off the evening with a curated wine tasting that celebrates Oregon winemaking and sets the stage for a deeper understanding of wildfire’s impact on the region. This pre-program experience includes three 2-oz pours of select wines by Willamette Valley Vineyards, Abacela Winery, and McMenamins Edgefield Winery. Light refreshments will be provided. Tasting tickets are limited and available as a $19.25 add-on during checkout.
Program Schedule:

5:30 pm Pre-Event Tasting, additional fee
6:30 pm Doors Open to the Public
7:15 pm Forest Pub Program Begins

Featured speakers:

Greg Jones is a world-renowned atmospheric scientist and wine climatologist who currently serves as Chair of the Oregon Wine Board and CEO of Abacela Winery in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley.
Cole Cerrato is an Assistant Professor with a senior research role at Oregon State University, where he leads the Smoke, Wine, and Grapes Analytical Chemistry Lab (The SWAG Lab), analyzing the impact of smoke events on Oregon wines.

Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum
2025-08-24 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-26 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.

Author Storytime: When a Tree Falls w/ Kristen Pendreigh
2025-10-12 11:00 - 11:30 | Discovery Museum, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join us on Saturday, October 12 for a special storytime with author Kristen Pendreigh, who will share her picture book When a Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power.
This beautifully illustrated story introduces children to the wonder of nurse logs—fallen trees that nurture new seedlings, shelter animals, and help forests thrive.
After the reading, Kristen will lead a fun hands-on craft activity inspired by the forest, perfect for kids to explore their creativity and curiosity about nature.

Forest Pub: Spooky Forest Tree Lore
2025-10-13 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Tickets are SOLD OUT!
👻 Join us this October for a hauntingly fun edition of Forest Pub! Cozy up with a drink and dive into the eerie side of forest folk stories. This special night blends seasonal vibes with woodland wonder—perfect for autumn.
Local folklore educator and author Corinne Boyer will share the darker side of European tree lore. People of the past held a healthy fear of the forest landscape, in part because of the presence of tree spirits. Corinne will examine human interactions with these spirits, focusing on three main categories believed to inhabit ancient trees and forests: Demons, Witches, and Spirits of the Dead. She will distinguish between these categories and share specific examples of trees with ill-omened reputations. In a journey through ancient woods, Corinne will also illuminate how folklore wisdom continues to be relevant today.
Join us as we explore this dark, strange, and evocative lore, where the enchanted and inspirited forest world was part of daily life.
Speaker:
Corinne Boyer is a folk herbalist, teacher, and author with a passion for traditions surrounding plants and folk magic. She has been teaching and writing full-time about the history and folklore of plants, folk medicine, and the plant traditions of northern and western Europe and North America since 2010. She has written over ten books and has published articles in multiple occult journals since 2015. www.maplemistwood.com

Evergreen
2025-10-22 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-23 19:30 - 21:30 | Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
World Forestry Center is proud to partner with Third Angle New Music to celebrate the place 3A has called home for 40 years. This special performance features a string quartet and clarinet playing 3A-commissioned works inspired by the Pacific Northwest, paired with poetry recited by former Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford.
The program includes The Evergreen by Caroline Shaw—a tribute to an elder tree on Swiikw (Galiano Island), British Columbia; Perpetual Spring by Dai Fujikura, capturing nature’s quiet, resilient force; Evening Prayer by Quinn Mason, a tranquil wish for better times; and a world première composition by 3A violist Wendy Richman.
Purchase your ticket here!
PROGRAM

Caroline Shaw / The Evergreen
Dai Fujikura / Perpetual Spring
Wendy Richman / New Work (Title TBD)
Quinn Mason / Evening Prayer
Poetry by Kim Stafford

ROSTER

Ling-Ling Huang, violin
Greg Ewer, violin
Wendy Richman, viola
Valdine Ritchie Mishkin, cello
James Shields, clarinet
Kim Stafford, poet

Say Hey! With Partners in Diversity
2025-11-05 17:30 - 21:00 | OR
We are collaborating with Partners in Diversity for their next Say Hey! event.
Say Hey! is the largest multi-cultural networking event in Oregon and southwest Washington. Each quarter, Partners in Diversity connects local businesses and community members with professionals of color who recently relocated to Oregon or southwest Washington. Recently relocated professionals of color (aka Honorees) are introduced during a special portion of the program. We help build community, deepen connections and create an environment where everyone is welcomed. Employers can leverage this program as an extension to your onboarding experiences for new staff of color. A study on workforce retention commissioned by Partners in Diversity and released in 2020 showed that having a strong, supportive community is an important element in retaining professionals of color in Oregon and southwest Washington. Say Hey! is free and open to professionals of color and allies.
Please note this is a 21+ event.

Forest Pub - Sasquatch: Indigenous Perspectives
2025-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Tickets available here!
Join World Forestry Center and OPB for a special film screening and conversation exploring Indigenous perspectives on Sasquatch.
In “Guardian of the Land,” a new film for OPB’s documentary series “Oregon Experience,” director LaRonn Katchia and community voices from the Nch'i-Wána (Columbia River) region share how Pacific Northwest tribes know Sasquatch not as a monster, but as a protector, a spiritual being that walks between the seen and unseen. The film challenges mainstream portrayals and uplifts a deeper Indigenous understanding of the world’s most famous cryptid.
While OPB's film was being created, a simultaneous Indigenous-led Sasquatch art exhibition was curated first at the High Desert Museum (Sensing Sasquatch, 2024) and then reimagined for World Forestry Center (Sasquatch: Ancestral Guardians, 2025-26).
After the 30-minute film screening, stay for a rich conversation with film producer LaRonn Katchia (Warm Springs/Wasco/Paiute) and Phillip Cash Cash (Nez Perce/Cayuse), lead advisor to both art exhibitions and featured voice in the film. Moderated by Stephanie Stewart Bailey, exhibition curator for Sasquatch: Ancestral Guardians, the discussion will connect themes from the film with World Forestry Center's current exhibition, offering audiences a chance to explore how cultural stories shape our relationships with the land and its guardians.

Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum
2025-11-30 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.
We’re expanding our upcoming Free Day to celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month with a special lineup on November 30!
Featuring:

Several "Sasquatch: Ancestral Guardians" artists
Live mural painting
Holiday craft vendors featuring Sasquatch-themed items
Story Circles in the gallery exploring Sasquatch traditions

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.
