📰 What's Making News

Camas Goldfish Masters Earn Team Spirit Award at Oregon Meet

If you think competitive swimming is just for the young, the Camas Goldfish Masters team would like a word. The local squad — guided by high school swim coaches Kelly Dean and Sarah Dunn — took home the Team Spirit Award at the recent Oregon Masters meet, proving that the sport truly is a lifetime pursuit. Dean and Dunn have long championed swimming beyond the high school years, and this recognition is a testament to the energy and camaraderie their adult swimmers bring to every event. Read more from The Columbian.

Who's Up for Athlete of the Week? Vote Now

The Columbian has dropped its Week 24 nominees for high school athlete of the week, sponsored by Killer Burger, and the voting is open. Each week spotlights standout student-athletes from across Clark County, and it's always fun to see which sports and schools show up. If you've got a kid, neighbor, or teammate on the list, now's your chance to rally some votes. Head over and check out who made the cut — and maybe grab a burger while you're feeling inspired. See the nominees at The Columbian.

Western States Deploy AI Cameras to Catch Wildfires Early

States across the wildfire-prone West are turning to artificial intelligence to spot fires before they spread, and the technology is already proving its worth. In one recent case, an AI system flagged what looked like smoke on a camera feed from Arizona's Coconino National Forest — human analysts confirmed it wasn't a cloud or dust and quickly alerted responders. The approach pairs automated detection with trained eyes, cutting precious minutes from response times during fire season. For those of us in the Pacific Northwest who know wildfire smoke all too well, it's a promising development worth watching. Full story at The Columbian.

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⚡ Quick Bites

The Sedgwick Closes Friday After Five Downtown Years

Chef Tim McCusker's downtown Vancouver restaurant, The Sedgwick, will serve its final dinner this Friday, May 8, wrapping up nearly five years of globally inspired plates on Main Street. If you've been meaning to go, this is your last call. Full story from The Columbian

Evergreen Outpost Brings 9 Food Carts, Tap House to East Vancouver

Construction is underway near 138th Avenue by McKenzie Stadium on Evergreen Outpost, a new food cart pod with a 3,200-square-foot tap house, 20-plus craft beers on tap, outdoor fire pits, and room for nine food vendors. Opening is targeted for fall 2026. Read more at The PNW Report

Compass Coffee Plants Fourth Location at 192nd and Mill Plain

Compass Coffee Roasting has officially opened in the former Baron Patisserie space at 192nd and Mill Plain, giving East Vancouver its own outpost of the local roaster. The overhead signage still reads Baron, but the coffee is all Compass. Details from The PNW Report

Battle Ground Offers $10K Grants for Old Town Storefronts

Battle Ground just launched its Facade Improvement Grant Program, offering matching grants of up to $10,000 per business for exterior upgrades — think new signage, awnings, murals, and lighting — along E. Main Street and surrounding blocks in the Old Town district. More from Clark County Today

Clark College's 40-Year-Old Sundial Still Keeps Time

More than four decades after it was installed, the sundial on Clark College's campus remains a quiet symbol of the institution's history and community roots. The Columbian takes a closer look at how — and why — it endures. Read the feature

Lil Pig Lil Pig Heads to Uptown Village

A new smoked pork and chicken spot called Lil Pig Lil Pig is setting up shop in Vancouver's Uptown Village neighborhood. Details are still emerging, but the r/VancouverWA crowd is already buzzing. See the Reddit thread

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Monday, May 4

• Dinner with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – Musicians perform classical music in the dining room at The Grant House. Dinner reservations start at 4:30 p.m., music from 6–7:30 p.m. $20 cover. 1101 Officers Row, Vancouver.
• Restorative Yoga at Dovetail Cellars – Ascendance Enclave hosts a beginner-friendly session from 6–7 p.m., followed by wine at happy hour prices. $10–$20. 404 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver.
• Grand Opening of the Ridgefield NWR Community Nature Center – Ribbon cutting for the new Community Nature Center at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. 28908 NW Main St., Ridgefield.
• Lilac Days – Stroll the famous Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, tour the farmhouse, and shop the gift shop. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday is Senior Citizen Day ($5 for 62+). 115 S. Pekin Road, Woodland.
• Lilac Days at Hulda Klager Gardens (50th Anniversary) – Celebrating 50 years of the Hulda Klager Lilac Society. Open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $10 adults, kids 12 and under free. Senior discount Mondays. 115 S. Pekin Road, Woodland.
• Prairie High School Spring Plant Sale – Pick up gorgeous plants grown by students. 3–6 p.m. at Prairie High School greenhouses, 11311 NE 119th St., Vancouver.
• 2026 SW WA Youth Photo Contest with Vancouver Audubon – Youth nature photography contest sponsored by Vancouver Audubon Society, HD Aluminum Prints, and Columbia Credit Union. Details and entry info here.
• White Salmon Wildflower Festival – A month-long celebration of nature, art, and community in the Columbia River Gorge featuring guided hikes, art shows, wine walks, and live music. White Salmon, WA.
• KEEP IT WILD Collaborative Art Show – Creativity and conservation art exhibit at Arrowleaf Workshop during the White Salmon Wildflower Festival. Exhibit runs May 1–30. White Salmon, WA.
• Vancouver's Neighborhood Tree Stewards Workshops – Learn to care for your urban canopy and make your neighborhood greener. Apply through the City of Vancouver. Vancouver, WA.
• Watershed Stewardship Program with Clark Conservation District – A six-week course covering Clark County watersheds, water resources, wildlife, and conservation. Led by local experts.

Family & Kids

• Early Learners Play to Learn – Fun early literacy activities for ages 0–5. 10–11 a.m. Battle Ground Community Library, Meyer Memorial Trust Community Room. Free.

Tuesday, May 5

• The Resilient Yard: Change at Home – Learn actions you can take in your own yard to reduce your carbon footprint. Free library presentation. Check link for time and location.

Wednesday, May 7

• Fort Vancouver High School Plant Sale – Vibrant flowers and fresh veggies grown by VPS horticulture and FFA students. May 7–8, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and May 9, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Fort Vancouver High School.

Thursday, May 7

• The Evolution of Birds with Vancouver Audubon Society – Professor Emeritus Steven Clark of Clark College speaks about the evolutionary processes that led to the birds we love. In-person program and meeting.

Friday, May 8

• Campus Community Garden Flora & Fauna Friday – Mid-day volunteer event with the City of Vancouver's Volunteer Programs and Naturespaces. Hands-on service, snacks, and learning about the local ecosystem. Vancouver, WA.

Saturday, May 9

• Plant & Seed Swap – Bring your extra plant starts, seeds, or plants and swap with fellow gardeners. Everyone welcome, even if you come empty-handed. Hosted by Kindred Vancouver. 2213 Main St., Vancouver.
• WSU Extension Master Gardener Mother's Day Plant Sale – Shopping appointments available (sign-up link on event page). Clark County Master Gardener Foundation. Vancouver, WA.
• Adopt-A-Park Event at St. Helens Park – Help beautify the park by removing ivy and spreading mulch. Tools, gloves, water, and snacks provided. Family-friendly; great for teens. Vancouver, WA.
• Bloom Where You Are Planted – Multicultural Festival – A vibrant celebration hosted by the Fourth Plain Five neighborhoods along the Fourth Plain Corridor in central Vancouver.
• Clark College Spring Native Plant Center Plant Sale – Stock up on pollinator-friendly plants and get expert ideas for your habitat garden. Reserve St., Vancouver.
• Beacon Rock Trail Day Work Party – Volunteer with the Washington Trails Association to maintain trails at Beacon Rock State Park. Camping available Saturday evening. Columbia River Gorge.
• Thrillium Mt. Bike Trail Maintenance Work Party – Join the Southwest Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance for trail maintenance in Yacolt Burn State Forest. Bring water and lunch.
• Ridgefield Learn to Kayak Tour – Paddle the Columbia River Water Trail near the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge with Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe. Ridgefield Waterfront Park.
• Plant Sale at Northlake ES – Lower Columbia School Gardens – Support school gardens across Longview and Kelso school districts. Longview, WA.
• Conboy Lake NWR Hike with WA Native Plant Society – A 3.8-mile loop along open marsh and into the pines with views of Mount Adams. Possible sandhill crane sightings. North of White Salmon.
• Cape Horn Trail Hike – Hike with the Washington Native Plant Society from Salmon Falls Rd to Nancy Russell Overlook. 5 miles round trip, lush woods and spring wildflowers. Email Ron Klump to register.
• Wildcrafting as Stewardship: Harvesting Edible & Medicinal Invasive Plants – Morning plant walk at Sam's Walker Day Use Area near Skamania with Kristin Currin and Missy Rohs.
• Gardening with Compost Workshop – Learn how to amend your soil with compost from Waste Connections of WA. 9411 NE 94th Ave., Vancouver.
• Cannon Beach Fat Bike Festival – Pedal-powered adventure on the sand — fat bikes, trikes, e-bikes and more. Scenic beach cruises and activities for every skill level. Cannon Beach, OR.
• Volunteer Stewardship at Raistakka Preserve – Join Columbia Land Trust for a morning of litter pickup and manual weed removal along the Grays River in Wahkiakum County.

Family & Kids

• Kids Fishing Festival with Columbia Springs – Fishing for ages 5–14 with expert mentors, hands-on science activities, and BBQ lunch. $8/person. Advance registration required. 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver.
• Nature Walk: Wildflowers of Jewett Creek – Local author Ashley Erdely leads a family-friendly wildflower walk. Meet at White Salmon Valley Community Library. Free.

Sunday, May 10

• Ridgefield Dragon Boat Paddles – Try dragon boat paddling at no cost. Ages 14+, no experience needed. Community paddling runs through October. Ridgefield, WA.
• Volunteer Land Stewardship at Baker Bay – Two days of volunteer land tending with Columbia Land Trust at conserved forested wetlands near Chinook, WA.
• Forest Canopy Walk at Plas Newydd – A monthly walk/roll/ride exploring the farm's canopy with hosts Abby Braithwaite and David Morgan. Plas Newydd Farm.
• Ridgefield Bachelor Island Circumnavigation Kayak Tour – A 10-mile full-day paddle around Bachelor Island with Alder Creek Ridgefield. Birds, wildlife, and beautiful waterways. Ridgefield, WA.
• Cape Disappointment Volunteer Vacation with WTA – Spend a week doing beachside trailwork in Cape Disappointment State Park with the Washington Trails Association. Historic lodging at Fort Columbia.

Monday, May 11

• Bird Walk with Vancouver Audubon Society – Spring migration birding at Captain William Clark Park in Washougal. Watch for Bullock's Orioles, Western Wood-Pewees, and Caspian Terns. Washougal, WA.

Family & Kids

• Early Learners Play to Learn – Early literacy fun for ages 0–5. 10–11 a.m. Battle Ground Community Library. Free.

Tuesday, May 12

• Spice of Life: Growing Herbs – WSU Master Gardener Terrie Phillips shows you how to plant, grow, harvest, and preserve popular herbs. Free library program.

Wednesday, May 13

• Online Watercolor Painting with Ronna: The Burrowing Owl – A fun online art workshop with Bird Alliance of Oregon. Paint a Burrowing Owl in watercolor with expert guidance.

Thursday, May 14

• Dog Mountain Hike with Mazamas – Famous wildflowers, stunning views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. 6.9 miles with 2,750 ft. elevation gain. Gorge, WA.
• Life After the Great Eruption: Mt. St. Helens – Fort Vancouver volunteer Alex Lennox presents on what happened after the 1980 eruption. Fort Vancouver Visitor Center Theater.

Saturday, May 16

• Clark County Parks & Nature Fee Free Day – International Migratory Bird Day – Free access to Clark County regional parks to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day.
• Clark County Parks & Nature Fee Free Day – "Kids to Parks" Day – Free access to regional parks celebrating Kids to Parks Day, a national day of outdoor play.
• Mt. St. Helens, Swift Creek Worm Flows Climb with Mazamas – A strenuous early-season climb via the Marble Mountain Snow Park route. Permit included in registration fee.
• Cascades Pika Watch Training Workshop – Learn to locate and map pikas in the Columbia River Gorge. Volunteer surveys 1–2 times monthly.
• Tandem Bike Clinic – NW Association of Blind Athletes – Open to athletes of all ages and ability levels who are blind or visually impaired. Registration details on event page.

Monday, May 18

Family & Kids

• Early Learners Play to Learn – Early literacy fun for ages 0–5. 10–11 a.m. Battle Ground Community Library. Free.

Ongoing through May

• Cascadia Wild Naturalist Training Program – An 8-class series running spring through fall covering wildlife tracking, botany, ecology, navigation, and wilderness survival. Cascadia Wild.

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