📰 What's Making News

April Snowstorm Gives Cascades Skiers One More Run

If you thought ski season was over, think again. A spring snowstorm dumped up to a foot of fresh snow across parts of the Cascades last week, bringing unseasonably cold temperatures and breathing new life into what had been a lackluster season. Crystal Mountain Resort and other Washington ski areas are extending operations, so dust off those boards and make the drive — this kind of April gift doesn't come around every year. Read more from The Columbian.

Artemis II Crew Nears Moon — With a Finicky Toilet

The Artemis II astronauts are now more than halfway to the moon, preparing for a historic lunar fly-around that will push humans deeper into space than even the Apollo missions managed. The less glamorous headline? Their toilet is acting up again. It's a reminder that even the most extraordinary human achievements come with very ordinary inconveniences. Follow along as the crew closes in on their rendezvous with the moon. Read more from The Columbian.

Pope Leo XIV Marks First Easter With Call for Dialogue

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff on Sunday, using the occasion to call for peace and dialogue across the globe. In a notable departure from tradition, he chose not to list specific conflicts by name during the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. The shift in approach drew attention from observers worldwide who saw it as a signal of the new pope's pastoral style. Read more from The Columbian.

Mariners Fall to Angels in 11-Inning Heartbreaker

It was a tough Sunday for Mariners fans. Nolan Schanuel drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, giving the Los Angeles Angels an 8-7 walk-off victory over Seattle. The back-and-forth affair had plenty of drama, but the M's couldn't close it out. Early-season baseball is a marathon, not a sprint — but that one stings a little. Read more from The Columbian.

5,000 Acres Near Leavenworth Eyed for Prescribed Burns, Logging

The U.S. Forest Service is planning prescribed burns and commercial logging this summer across more than 5,000 acres of the Eagle Creek area northeast of Leavenworth. The work is part of ongoing forest health management in the region, aimed at reducing wildfire risk and promoting long-term ecosystem resilience. If you're planning summer trips to that stretch of the Cascades, it's worth keeping an eye on the timeline. Read more from The Columbian.

⚡ Quick Bites

Jo Adell Robs Mariners of Three Home Runs in Angels' 1-0 Win

Angels outfielder Jo Adell made three home run-robbing catches Saturday night — including a leaping grab into the seats in the ninth inning — to hand the Seattle Mariners a heartbreaker, 1-0. Zach Neto's solo homer was the game's only run. Full recap here.

Michigan Crushes Arizona 91-73, Advances to Title Game

The Wolverines turned Saturday's Final Four matchup into a dunkfest, overpowering Arizona by 18 points to punch their ticket to the national championship game. Read more.

UConn Reaches Third Title Game in Four Years After Beating Illinois 71-62

Freshman Braylon Mullins hit a clutch late 3-pointer — his only basket of the second half — as Dan Hurley's Huskies muscled past Illinois to set up a Monday night showdown with Michigan. Full story.

Clark County Families Gather for Easter Celebrations

Congregations and families across Clark County marked Easter Sunday with services, egg hunts, and moments of togetherness — a welcome sign of spring and community renewal. Read the Easter message from Clark County Today.

📅 Mark Your Calendar

Monday, April 6

• Youth Uptown Poetry at Metallion Cafe — Open mic for ages 18 and under, 5–6:15 p.m. at Metallion Cafe, 1906 Main St., Vancouver. Free.
• Columbia River Spring Chinook Season — The main-stem Columbia River spring Chinook season is open now through April 8 (section-dependent). Check current regulations before you head out.
• 2026 SW WA Youth Photo Contest with Vancouver Audubon — Vancouver Audubon Society, HD Aluminum Prints, and Columbia Credit Union invite young photographers to submit nature photos. Details and entry info online.
• 2026 Students for Clean Water Video Contest — Middle and high school students can win $500 for a video about protecting water. Submissions accepted now.
• Nominate a Heritage Tree in Clark County — Know a spectacular tree? WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners are accepting Heritage Tree nominations through April 30.

Family & Kids

• Spring Beak Nature Walk — Families with kids ages 6+ can search for spring "beaks" at the Water Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver. Binoculars available to borrow. Advanced registration required.
• Klineline Kids Fishing Derby — 45-minute time slots for young anglers at Salmon Creek Regional Greenway. Check the website for session times and sign-up.

Seniors

• Forever Young Hikers: Lake to Lake Loop via Lacamas Creek — Moderate 4.8-mile hike with 500 ft. elevation gain in Camas. Registration required through City of Vancouver Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services.

Tuesday, April 7

• Vancouver Audubon Guest Speaker: Katherine Luscher on Tufted Puffins — Monthly meeting at 13413 NE LeRoy Haagen Memorial Dr., Vancouver. Learn what's new with Tufted Puffins in the PNW.

Wednesday, April 8

• Forest Canopy Walk at Plas Newydd — Guided walk (or roll or ride) through Plas Newydd Farm with hosts Abby Braithwaite and David Morgan. Registration required.

Thursday, April 9

• Author Talk: Aaron Jones on The Great Task of Oliver Otis Howard — Friends of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site host a one-hour presentation at the Visitor Center exploring the life and legacy of Major General Oliver Otis Howard.
• Wild About Nature — White Salmon Valley Community Library hosts Tessa Ott (WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) on wildlife-monitoring tech and Michael Tehan (retired NOAA) on Rattlesnake Creek. Free, 1085 North Main Ave., White Salmon.

Saturday, April 11

• Renaissance Pointe Park Ribbon Cutting — Parks Foundation of Clark County celebrates the unveiling of Renaissance Pointe at 2111 SE Columbia River Dr., Vancouver.
• Sakura Festival at Clark College — Ceremony begins at 1 p.m. in the Royce Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden with festivities continuing at 2 p.m. in Gaiser Student Center. Performances, tea, cookies, and more on the downtown Vancouver campus.
• Clark College Sakura Festival — Butterfly Release — At 2 p.m. Student Life hosts a butterfly release at the Andersen Fountain, plus koto and flute performances and more. Clark College main campus.
• Potting Parties with Clark Conservation District — 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Help pot up bare-root native plants destined for streamside restoration projects.
• Weeding Volunteer Event at Grandmother Camus — Vancouver Bee Project hosts a morning of weeding, mulching, and cleanup. Park along Q Street. Bring gloves; refreshments provided. No registration needed.
• Kane Off-Leash Dog Park Volunteer Work Day — DOGPAW's work day at Kane Off-Leash Dog Park at Hockinson Community Park.
• Mountain Bike Trail Work Party — Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance SW Chapter heads to the Yacolt Burn to repair Thrillium trails. Meet at Upper Thrillium parking. Tools and food provided.
• Ivy Pull at Abrams Park — City of Ridgefield and Ridgefield Garden Club team up to remove invasive English ivy. Demo at 9 a.m., then pull. Ridgefield, WA.
• Grow Your Own Strawberries Workshop — WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners cover strawberry types, planting, care, pests, and diseases. Free.
• Listening to the Landscape: Bird Language Basics — Field class at 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver. Learn to interpret songbird calls, postures, and behaviors this spring.
• Pollinator Efficiency in Action: The Mason Bee Model — Anne Bulger (WSU Master Gardener & OSU Master Melittologist) at NatureScaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens. Mason bee cocoons for sale (cash/checks). Free for members, $25 for non-members.
• Forest Walk at Columbia Springs — Guided walk through trails at 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver. All ages welcome (trails not stroller-friendly).
• Camp Hope Spring Clean Up Day — Volunteer to help spruce up Camp Hope for the season. Fun for the whole community.
• WA Native Plant Society Hike at Lacamas Park — Moderate 4-mile loop along the lakefront through flowering meadows. Look for camas and fawn lilies in bloom. Camas, WA; contact for sign-up details.
• Lacamas Park Spring Hike with WNPS & NPSO — Joint hike with Suksdorf Chapter WNPS and Portland Chapter NPSO. Moderate 4-mile loop. Email Ron Klump at klumpron@gmail.com to sign up.

Teens

• Spring Break Day Camp: Living Traditions of the Yakama Nation — Confluence hosts a one-day cultural camp for Native youth ages 13–17 at the Center for Native Arts and Cultures, 800 SE 10th Ave., Portland. Limited to 25 participants.

Adults

• Adventures in Art: Nature Journaling at FVRL — Drop in anytime during the session at 901 C St., Vancouver. All materials provided; no experience needed. Free.
• Science on Tap: Boosting Biodiversity with Insect-Friendly Gardens — Amy Campion shares five years of lessons turning a Portland garden into an insect haven. Vancouver, WA.

Tuesday, April 14

• Volcano Outdoor School Virtual Info Session — Mt. St. Helens Institute hosts a free one-hour online workshop at 4 p.m. for educators interested in bringing students to Mount St. Helens.
• Worm Bin Composting Workshop — Learn to turn food scraps into garden gold using red worms. In-person at Cascade Park Community Library. Free; register online.

Wednesday, April 15

• Heritage Farm Walk / Camina — Latinos Unidos Y Floreciendo leads a guided walking tour sharing plans for the growing season. Bilingual event; all welcome.

Thursday, April 16

• Digging the Dirt: Making Great Soil — WSU Master Gardener Gary Fredricks covers soil pH, nutrients, and how it all works together. Free at the Community Room.

Friday, April 17

• Ridgefield Dragon Boat Community Paddles Begin — Free Dragon Boat paddling starts April 17 and runs through October 3. Ages 14+, no experience needed. Ridgefield, WA.
• Road Trip: Outdoor Cooking with Dutch Ovens — Learn hearty camp cooking with cast-iron Dutch ovens, fresh ingredients, and simple techniques.

Saturday, April 18

• Washougal Beaver Bash 2026 — Community festival celebrating International Beaver Day, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Reflection Plaza, Washougal. All ages. Beaver Trivia at Kascadia Public House, 3–5 p.m.
• Lilac Days at Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens — Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hulda Klager Lilac Society! Gardens open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. through May 10. $10 adults, kids 12 and under free.
• Potting Parties with Clark Conservation District — 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Another chance to pot bare-root native plants for streamside restoration.
• Klineline Pond Cleanup at Salmon Creek Regional Park — Litter pickup along accessible paved trails, 1112 NE 117th St., Vancouver. All tools provided by Clark County Public Works.
• Spring Plant Container Workshop at Dennis 7 Dees — Get hands-on guidance to create a professionally styled spring container garden. Pottery, plants, soil, and fertilizer included. Register online.
• Naturalist Training Program: Reading the Landscape with Cascadia Wild — Learn wildlife tracking, botany, ecology, navigation, and more in this multi-session program kicking off this spring.
• Bird Walk along Washougal River Greenway — Vancouver Audubon Society leads an early morning birding walk at the corner of Yale St. and NE 2nd Ave., Washougal.

Seniors

• Forever Young Hikers: Weldon Wagon Road — Moderate 5-mile hike with 1,200 ft. elevation gain in White Salmon. Registration required through City of Vancouver.

Sunday, April 19

• Nature Resin Jewelry Studio Workshop — 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Columbia Springs with artist Bri Graw. Create pendants, earrings, or keychains using UV resin and natural elements. Leave with three finished pieces.
• Meet the Wildflowers of the Gorge — Author Ashley Erdely leads a workshop on early, mid, and late season wildflower hikes. Free at the Sprint/Baker Gallery Room.
• Hydrangeas: Variety and Beauty in Your PNW Garden — Master Gardener Carley Wecks shares pruning tips, variety picks, and color-changing secrets at the Meyer Memorial Trust Community Room. Free.

Seniors

• Forever Young Hikers: Dallas Mountain Loop — Moderate 6.9-mile hike with 1,060 ft. elevation gain at Crawford Ranch. Registration required through City of Vancouver.

Wednesday, April 22

• Washington State Parks Fee-Free Day — Earth Day — No Discover Pass needed! Explore any Washington state park at no cost in celebration of Earth Day.
• Clean & Green: Waterfront Park Cleanup — Join SOLVE at the Waterfront Park parking lot in Vancouver for check-in, then fan out along downtown and the Renaissance Trail to collect litter. Advanced registration suggested.
• Blurock Landing Beach Cleanup — Earth Day litter pickup at 8000 NW Lower River Rd., Vancouver. Adults 18+ only. Registration required; all tools supplied by Clark County Public Works.