The Columbia Slough Watershed Council celebrates its fourteenth annual Explorando el Columbia Slough festival on Saturday, June 13th at Whitaker Ponds Nature Park from 1 to 5pm. “Explorando,” as it is known, is a free bilingual event for the Latino community with tons of activities for the entire family.
Live music, folkloric dances, guided canoe trips, hands-on environmental activities, a rock climbing wall, and live birds and insects will all be available for festival attendees. The 400+ people that gather each year for Explorando have the opportunity to connect with other members of the growing Latino community. Booths are set up with local resources in Spanish and English, to share other free recreation activities and tips for low-cost, sustainable lifestyles.
“Explorando gives people the opportunity to learn about the importance of preserving the nature of the Columbia Slough, of enjoying the plants, wildlife, and water that other areas lack,” said Fernando Vélez, who has collaborated and participated in Explorando since its inception. “Explorando is becoming more popular each year.” One participant commented, “I am from Colombia. We lived here for many years, but I did not know of such a beautiful place to relax. We are having a blast and I am glad we came. We definitely want to come back.”
Explorando is free to all attendees who come, and no registration is necessary. However, those who come early have better opportunities to enjoy the activities and to receive a free Explorando t-shirt. “Seeing the creatures that live in the pond through a magnifier is always more exciting than reading about it in books,” said a Latino family that attended Explorando. “Thank you, Explorando, for having this wonderful experience year after year for our family.”
Whitaker Ponds Nature Park is located in Northeast Portland on 47th Ave, 0.2 miles north of Columbia Blvd. Tri-met bus #75 takes you to the intersection of those two streets. For more information about the event or directions, contact events@columbiaslough.org or (503) 281 1132.
East Columbia Neighborhood Association 