2010 Conference June 17–20 Portland, Oregon
Theme: Many Shades of Green

A number of exciting local and regional field trips will be available on Thursday June 17, immediately before our opening plenary session on Thursday evening. Most are offered in the morning or afternoon so you can take two or participate in a workshop, and there are two all-day field trips as well.  Departure time for morning field trips is 8:30 AM, and for afternoon field trips is 1 PM; do include Thu lunch when you register if you plan to do both morning and afternoon field trips.  All field trips depart at the times noted below from Lewis & Clark campus; transportation will also stop by the official conference hotels for AM field trips.  

These field trips are optional and there is a cost for each as shown below; you will register for them as a part of the conference registration.  Note that there is a maximum number for each!  Make sure and register early to get the field trip(s) you want, and make sure there are no time conflicts with the field trips you reserve during registration.   If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jim Proctor, AESS local organizing committee chair. 

• Corridor of Change: The Columbia River Through the Gorge ($35 including box lunch; departs 8:30 AM [44 max]).  The Columbia River is a key actor in the geological and biological history of the Pacific Northwest, mediating longstanding, dynamic interactions between land, people, and fish.  We will explore the interplay between the region's unique geological, human, and biological histories, and ponder the forces that have shaped the landscape and the diverse purposes that the Columbia River serves, including the tensions and synergies among them.  Field trip stops will include the Bonneville Dam, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks Marine Park, and a salmon hatchery. 
• Fresh, Local, Sustainable…and More: Portland Food Crawl ($10 for transportation only; departs 10:00 AM [28 max]).  Portland is famous for its food, as featured in numerous New York Times articles and the upsurge in culinary tourism in the city. This leisurely tour of Portland's food scene runs from mid-morning through mid-afternoon, and is designed to give you a yummy firsthand experience while you ponder related questions such as: how local is local food?  What exactly is sustainable sushi?  Why have Portland's humble food carts attracted such wide attention?  Make sure to bring money to buy the food you want to sample, and note that there will be some walking during this tour to perk up your appetites.  

• Portland by Bike: Exploring the City the Way Portlanders Do ($45 includes bike/helmet/lock rental; departs 8:30 AM [28 max]).  Portland ranks as the number one city in the US in terms of bike commuting, and boasts a rich bicycling culture and numerous bike routes for commuting or leisure.  This roughly 20 mile tour, most of it on relatively level terrain, is designed for bike lovers and novices to learn a bit about Portland bike culture and why the city has been so successful at getting people to ride bikes.  We'll include stops to grab some water and meet bike organization representatives, but most of the time we'll just ride and experience this great city! Note that Portland is occasionally a bit drizzly even in June, but we should expect the weather to be agreeable.
• A Floodplain Regained? Kayaking the Columbia Slough ($50 includes kayak/flotation device rental and donation to Columbia Slough Watershed Council; departs 8:30 AM [20 max]).  The Columbia Slough, once a fertile floodplain of the Columbia River, has been subjected to considerable development and numerous ecological and social abuses over the last century, but in the last several decades has witnessed a huge cleanup and restoration effort thanks to environmental justice advocates and organizations such as the Columbia Slough Watershed Council.  Perhaps the best way to learn about the Slough is to experience it firsthand: the kayaks we rent are not difficult to manage, and the Slough current is slow so it's generally quite safe. We'll embark at the Watershed Council headquarters, then we'll paddle along the Slough to discover its riparian habitat and learn how the needs of business and wildlife are addressed in one of Portland's most important industrial zones.  

• An Urban Forest: Walking Tour of Tryon Creek Park ($10 includes donation to Friends of Tryon Creek; departs 1 PM [27 max]).  Tryon Creek State Natural Area is a 650-acre forest located near Lewis & Clark campus in suburban Portland.  The beautiful conifers found throughout the park were once used to (literally) fuel the late 19th century iron industry that dominated this area; the last half-century of settlement in the upper reaches of the watershed has created challenges of flashy hydrology for aquatic habitat in the park.  This "natural area," in other words, has long been influenced by a variety of biophysical and human forces.  Our walk through Tryon Creek Park will provide participants both a pleasant afternoon hike and an opportunity to learn more about the history and current management of the forest.
• Portland's Many Shades of Sustainability: A Downtown Walking Tour ($10; departs 1 PM [28 max]).  Yes, it's true: Portland is also reputed to be the number one sustainable city in the United States.  But what exactly does this mean?  This walking tour offers participants a chance to experience Portland's many shades of green, and consider their relative merits and challenges in the context of the thriving (and plural) sustainability movement.  In Portland, sustainability means everything from the planned $100 million, entirely self-sufficient, state-of-the-art Oregon Sustainability Center to simple cob (mud and straw) benches erected by participants in City Repair's "placemaking" activities throughout the city. You will meet city and organization officials as part of this tour, and we'll exchange thoughts on which of the options we encounter are truly sustainable.