Staffing update -
Unfortunately, we will no longer be offering Nature Birthday Parties or Ladybug Walk birthday parties. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Ages 3-6 | Ladybug Walk birthday party
Ladybug Nature Walks are great way to celebrate a birthday! Walks are 90 min long, geared for children ages 3-6, and can take place at most Portland parks or natural areas. We’ll work with you to choose one that makes sense!
Ladybug Nature Walks are a way for toddlers and preschoolers to explore a local Portland park. Nature educators guide children 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. A nature craft, activity, or game can also be added if the walk is shortened to 60-75 minutes.
Ladybug Walk birthday parties last 90 minutes.
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
Cost for the program depends on the number of children attending:
- up to 8 children: $150
- 9-14 children: $175
Ages 5-10 | Nature-themed birthday party
Nature birthday parties are a creative way to engage elementary-aged children outdoors while exploring a topic interesting to your child. Birthday parties are two hours long, and include games, activities, or crafts that focus on a nature theme. They are a fun way for children to connect, hike, play, and learn about nature.
Nature educators use hands-on activities to engage children and play in nature. Children learn through physical activity, exploration, crafts, and play. Help us cater the party to match your child's interests and personality by telling us what topic and types of activities to incorporate.
- Choose your child's birthday party theme
- Common Birds
- Fairies, Wizards, and Woodland Creatures
- Insects and Spiders
- Mammals
- Predators and prey
- Plants and trees
- Rocks and soil
- Choose your child's favorite style of activities
- Exploration
- Games
- Arts and crafts
- Science investigations
- Songs, stories, and skits
Cost for the program depends on the number of children attending:
- up to 10 children: $175
- 11-16 children: $200
Scheduling a birthday party for your child
Please allow at least 3-4 weeks to process your request.
We offer birthday parties when staff are available to lead them. Most party requests are on the weekend, and not all weekends are available. Please connect with staff before making any plans on your end. When filling out the application, please provide your top three options and so we can check with staff availability.
Contact Chrissy at 503-823-1149 to talk about available dates first. Find out if a nature educator is available to lead your nature birthday before submitting an application.
When you are ready to submit your application, click here: How to schedule a program
COVID-19: Requirements to participate
All children and adults will need to be able to follow these guidelines to participate in a program:
- Beginning Saturday, March 12, 2022, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will no longer require staff and visitors to use face coverings in all PP&R buildings and facilities.Staff and visitors who still wish to wear face coverings may do so at their own choosing.
- Please only attend if everyone attending is healthy!
- If anyone has a positive or presumptive case of COVID-19 or is awaiting results to a COVID test, they should not attend.
- If anyone is sick with COVID-like symptoms, including new or worsening cough, fever, shortness of breath, or recent loss of taste or smell, they should not attend.
- Beginning March 12, 2022, quarantine due to exposure is no longer required. A five-day quarantine is still required for a person that has COVID-like symptoms (or tests positive). They may participate once symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours.
- Follow general sanitation guidelines. All participants should wash or sanitize hands when they arrive, after using the bathroom, and after sneezing or coughing.