Fall First Friday Art Walk in the Community Room
Nov
6
5:00 PM17:00

Fall First Friday Art Walk in the Community Room

Join us for Fall First Friday Art Walk in the Community Room! There will be work on display by local nature journalers from their visits to our preserves, alongside work created by students at Willow Wind Community Learning Center who participated in a Scientific Illustration Class led by our very own Tara Laidlaw and Myco Schroeder. Enjoy the art while snacking, sipping, and connecting with one another through a shared passion for conservation.

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 Birding Basics- For Bird-curious Beginners
Nov
7
11:00 AM11:00

Birding Basics- For Bird-curious Beginners

Discover the birds of the Klamath-Siskiyou with Myco, Education and Engagement Specialist at Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. This beginner-friendly course introduces the basics of bird identification through bird songs, mnemonics, and field observation. After a short indoor presentation, we’ll explore the SFI campus on a gentle 1–3 mile walk, practicing birding skills while contributing sightings to eBird, a global community science project. Whether you’re brand new to birding or looking to sharpen your skills, this course will help you grow your curiosity and connect with the avian world around you.

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History and Natural History of the Bluff
Oct
17
9:30 AM09:30

History and Natural History of the Bluff

Why is Pompadour Bluff such a prominent feature in our valley? We’ll learn why with Pat Acklin, retired geography professor, as we dive into the history, geography, and natural history of the bluff. Walk through the beautiful oaks and grasslands before reaching the top where the views are outtasight!

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Explore the Bluff!
Oct
7
3:00 PM15:00

Explore the Bluff!

Explore the rocks and cliffs of The Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff!

Tour the spectacular Pompadour Bluff just outside of Ashland on a guided hike by Kristi Mergenthaler, Botanist and Stewardship Director. Walk through the beautiful oaks and grasslands before reaching the top where the views are outtasight!

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Explore The Bluff
May
20
3:00 PM15:00

Explore The Bluff

xplore the rocks and cliffs of The Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff!

Tour the spectacular Pompadour Bluff just outside of Ashland on a guided hike by Kristi Mergenthaler, Botanist and Stewardship Director. Walk through the beautiful oaks and grasslands before reaching the top where the views are outtasight!

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Paint Out At Whetstone Savanna Preserve
May
13
12:00 PM12:00

Paint Out At Whetstone Savanna Preserve

eady to try plein air sketching or painting? Kaz Chandler will show you her favorite strategies for creating something creative outdoors at the beyond peaceful Whetstone Savanna Preserve, and guide you in understanding the basics of plein air to create your own unique expression. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a first-timer, you're invited to join in on the fun. Please bring your own painting or sketching supplies.

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Owls at the Rogue River Preserve
May
9
7:30 PM19:30

Owls at the Rogue River Preserve

Join Vince Zauskey, Local Bird Expert, for an evening walk at the Rogue River Preserve to learn about some of our regional owls. Vince will talk about what makes owls so special and ‘who’ you might see at the Rogue River Preserve. Seeing an owl is not guaranteed, but it will still be a hoot.

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Jacksonville Woodlands Bird Hike
Apr
29
8:30 AM08:30

Jacksonville Woodlands Bird Hike

Please, look up! There is so much to see in the trees, from the birds to the bees in the Jacksonville Woodlands. We will hike around to zoom in on all things with wings! Education and Engagement Specialist, Myco Schroeder, will guide the hike while offering fun facts along the way. Binoculars will be available for check out as well!

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Explore the Bluff!
Apr
22
3:00 PM15:00

Explore the Bluff!

Explore the rocks and cliffs of The Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff!

Tour the spectacular Pompadour Bluff just outside of Ashland on a guided hike by Steve Wise, Executive Director. Walk through the beautiful oaks and grasslands before reaching the top where the views are outtasight!

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Geology of Pompadour Bluff
Apr
11
9:00 AM09:00

Geology of Pompadour Bluff

Why is Pompadour Bluff such a prominent feature in our valley? We’ll learn why with Karen Grove, Geologist, as we examine the sedimentary rocks of the bluff and climb to the top to see how these rocks fit in with the rest of the valley. We’ll explore how, over time, our region transitioned from an ocean to a river plain, then a series of active volcanoes, to what we see today.

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Painting at Whetstone Savanna Preserve
Mar
13
12:00 PM12:00

Painting at Whetstone Savanna Preserve

Ready to try plein air sketching or painting? Kaz Chandler will show you her favorite strategies for creating something creative outdoors at the beyond peaceful Whetstone Savanna Preserve, and guide you in understanding the basics of plein air to create your own unique expression. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a first-timer, you're invited to join in on the fun. Please bring your own painting or sketching supplies.

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Lichen Hike at Pompadour Bluff
Feb
15
10:00 AM10:00

Lichen Hike at Pompadour Bluff

Join lichenologist and naturalist John Villella for an exploration of the lichens at the Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff near Ashland. We will identify lichens growing on trees, shrubs, soil, and rocks, and we may see some rare species. Free, but please register for more information and to reserve a space. We will meet in Ashland to carpool or caravan. Please bring a hand lens if you have one.

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Winter Bluff Hike
Jan
31
2:00 PM14:00

Winter Bluff Hike

Join us for a winter hike at the Harry & Marilyn Fisher Preserve at Pompadour Bluff just outside of Ashland on a hike guided by SOLC staff. Walk though beautiful oaks and grasslands to the top of the bluff for spectacular views of Bear Creek Valley, the Cascades and the Siskiyou Mountains. Free, but please register for more information and to reserve a spot. We will meet in Ashland to carpool or caravan.

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SCNPSO Program on Eight Dollar Mountain
Jan
15
7:00 PM19:00

SCNPSO Program on Eight Dollar Mountain

Eight Dollar Mountain is an iconic serpentine conical mountain in the Illinois Valley and one of the most significant botanical hotspots in Southwest Oregon. Its ultramafic soils, derived from mantle rocks, support an extraordinary concentration of rare, endemic, and state- and federally listed plant species—many of which occur nowhere else on Earth, and some known only from the Illinois Valley. This otherworldly landscape long served as a living laboratory for researchers studying endemism, adaptation, and ecological resilience.

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January Open Lands Day at the Rogue River Preserve
Jan
4
10:00 AM10:00

January Open Lands Day at the Rogue River Preserve

Kick off the new year with a blissful visit to the incredible Rogue River Preserve! The Rogue River Preserve includes two miles of riverfront along the Rogue River, a large floodplain forest, and oak woodlands with meadows. It is only open to the public during special events, work parties, and youth education programs. So, come and take advantage of this special opportunity and explore the trails at your own pace, attend a guided hike, bring a picnic lunch or thermos of tea to enjoy by the river, or all three.

To limit crowding on the trails, registration is free and required for hikes or self-guided exploration for the day. Guided hike participants are welcome to explore the property before or after their hike slot. Check out what we’ve got going on!

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