General Information - Ladybug Nature Walks
Ladybug Nature Walks are a way for children ages 0-6 (and an adult) to explore a local Portland park. Nature educators guide families to notice plants and animals. Walks are child-directed and open-ended. Nature educators walk with the children in small groups. Children learn through questions, observation, and play. Groups move slowly through the park, stopping often. In this way, children have time to notice the plants and animals around them. If we have extra time we might also read a story, sing a song, or use puppets for imaginative play.
Walks last one hour. Content is geared for children ages 15 months-6 years. (Younger siblings under 15 months are welcome. Please give us their names and ages when prompted during registration.)
While exploring with a nature educator, children borrow a small Ladybug backpack containing a few tools that are easy to clean:
- Magnifying lens
- Small plastic tub with a lid
- Metal Spoon
- Laminated color wheel for matching
- Plastic Bug box
- Plastic paintbrush
- Small toy insect for imaginative play
For more information, email enviroed@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-1149.
We offer weekly walks for the general public, but we ask that preschool groups, classrooms, and organizations with more than five children schedule a customized group Ladybug Walk. Find information about customized group Ladybug Walks here.
Upcoming Walks: Times, dates, and locations
Walks take place rain or shine. We are outside 100% of the time. Please dress both children and adults in warm layers and rain coats and rain boots during the cold and wet months. We suggest hats and mittens and a full change of clothes just in case your little one is a puddle stomper.
Please arrive five minutes early to get screened, checked in, and connected to your nature educator. Locations vary each week. We try to schedule walks in Northwest, Southwest, North, Northeast, and Southeast Portland each month. Do you have a suggestion for a Portland park that would be a good location for your family? Let us know!
Register for a walk by clicking on the links below!
2023 Spring and Summer Walks through July
Thursday (due to federal holiday on 5/29) | June 1st | 10:00-11:00am | Whitaker Ponds Natural Area | Meet near the gazebo at Whitaker Ponds. Address is 7040 NE 47th Avenue, one block north of Columbia Boulevard. | 1152181 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | June 5th | 10:00-11:00am | Cathedral Park | Park in the small parking lot near N Bradford Street and Baltimore Avenue. Meet under the trees adjacent to the parking lot. | 1152183 |
| Monday | June 12th | 10:00-11:00am | Sellwood Riverfront Park | Meet near the bathrooms adjacent to the parking log on SE Oaks Park Way just north of SE Spokane Street. | 1152184 |
| Thursday | June 22nd | 10:00-11:00am | A Park | Meet at the park entrance and blacktop path along SW Capitol Hill Road between SW 21st Avenue and Miles Street. | 1154548 |
| Monday | June 26th | 10:00-11:00am | Argay Park | Meet near the tennis courts at NE 141st Avenue and NE Failing Street. | 1152707 |
| Thursday | June 29th | 10:00-11:00am | Brentwood Park | Meet at the intersection of SE 62nd and Cooper St. | 1154549 |
| Thursday | July 6th | 10:00-11:00am | Peninsula Park | Meet near the covered gazebo near the intersection of N Albina Avenue and Holman Street. | 1154550 |
| Monday | July 10th | 10:00-11:00am | Ventura Park | Meet near the parking lot at SE 113th Ave, just north of SE Stark Street. | 1154551 |
| Thursday | July 13th | 10:00-11:00am | Spring Garden Park | Meet at the entrance to the park along SW Dolph Court (between SW 30th and 35th Avenues) | 1154552 |
| Monday | July 17th | 10:00-11:00am | Lents Park | Meet near the community garden at SE Steele St and 89th Ave. | 1154553 |
| Thursday | July 20th | 10:00-11:00am | Arbor Lodge Park | Meet at the intersection of N Burrage and N Dekum St. | 1154554 |
| Monday | July 24th | 10:00-11:00am | Lincoln City Park | Meet at the path at the NW corner of the park, just a block east of SE 131st Avenue and Mill Street (across from the track). | 1154555 |
| Thursday | July 27th | 10:00-11:00am | Woodlawn Park | Meet near the splash pad just north of NE Claremont and NE Winona St. | 1154556 |
| Monday | July 31st | 10:00-11:00am | Woodstock Park | Meet near the splash pad just north of NE Claremont and NE Winona St. | 1154557 |
"Access Pass" pricing
Ladybug Walk fees are charged using an "Access Pass" pricing model. Walks are listed as $5 per child. Children 15-24 months need to register but attend for free. With resources from the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy), we can offer new payment options for City of Portland residents that allow you to choose payment levels based on your needs. Register for a free Access Pass to receive an ongoing discount of 25, 50, 75, or 90%. No proof of income is required.
When prompted during registration, please list the following information:
- First and last name and phone number of the adult attending with the child(ren)
- First and last name and phone number of any additional adults attending
- First name of any siblings joining the walk who are younger than 15 months old
Adults coming on the walk - we need your help!
When families arrive on site they will be assigned to walk in a group of 5-10 children (and the adults attending with those children). Each group is led by one of our preschool nature educators. This will be your traveling group for the entire program.
As educators, we are good at what we do, but we are used to doing it right alongside the children. If you are registering your child for an upcoming walk, we plan to use you to help us bridge that six foot gap:
- Plan to be engaged the whole time. (Put aside your phone and mental to-do list. Explore along with your child.)
- Dress for the weather! Plan for rain. Add a layer. Arrive with footwear that can walk through wet grass or along a muddy trail.
- Get curious along with your child. Slow down, get down on the ground, and look around.
- Slow your pace. What a gift to have this time to explore together. Take advantage of it.
- Let go of having answers. Instead of trying to fill your child's head with facts or things that you think are interesting, follow their lead. Young children are more interested in the process of exploring than caring about names and nature facts.
We will be there alongside to guide, encourage, and get excited, but you will need to be our extended hands.
Meet the Educators
Pictures from previous walks
