The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
41°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Outdoor Learning Center hosts monthly open house

Hanovi, a great horned owl from the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center visits the Argonne Library in Millwood, July 16, 2015, for a summer learning program. The bird of prey has a damaged wing and has limited flying ability. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Hanovi, a great horned owl from the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center visits the Argonne Library in Millwood, July 16, 2015, for a summer learning program. The bird of prey has a damaged wing and has limited flying ability. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo

The West Valley Outdoor Learning Center is celebrating spring at its March open house, with the theme Get Green and Get Outside.

Education director Jami Ostby Marsh said there will be a variety of activities, from planting seeds to orienteering.

“We’ll be talking to kids and families about ways they can be more environmentally aware,” Ostby Marsh said.

Visitors will learn about trees: how to tell how old they are and what stories their rings tell. They will also be able to look at animal pelts.

The center’s animals will be out, too, including owls, hawks, turtles, tortoises and snakes. The birds that live at the center all have injuries that prevent them from being returned to the wild.

The center is part of the West Valley School District. Open houses, which happen about once a month, are a way of letting the public come visit, Ostby Marsh said. Otherwise, most of the staff’s time is devoted to having school groups come visit, or bringing birds and other programs out to schools and libraries.

“I love to see kids’ excitement” about the animals, she said.

And she hopes the Outdoor Learning Center helps get families “outside and exploring things together and being curious about nature.”

Kimberly Lusk

What: Get Green and Get Outside open house

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Outdoor Learning Center, 8706 E. Upriver Drive, Spokane Valley

Cost: $5 suggested donation per person

Info: (509) 340-1028 or OLCinfo@wvsd.org