Volunteer at Beth Ryan Nature Preserve – May 3rd, 2025

Join us for a morning of volunteer work at Beth Ryan Nature Preserve, a small but beloved trail in Lake Oswego that borders a seasonal wetland. We will be tending to this natural area by removing invasive species such as English ivy that displace native vegetation.  

This will also be a great chance to see how our brand-new pollinator garden is doing that we planted last fall! In November of 2024, Columbia Land Trust and Oswego Lake Watershed Council planted over 450 sun loving native plants along a slope where large trees had fallen during an ice storm. Now this slope features young native oaks, grasses, and wildflowers. Keep your eyes peeled during our event for early blooming flowers such as bleeding hearts, camas, and sea blush. 

Beth Ryan Nature Preserve was originally donated to the Three Rivers Land Conservancy (FKA Lake Oswego Land Trust) by Arthur Piculell and William Cox in December 1991. Mr. Piculell named the preserve in honor of Beth Ryan, whom he remembered as an early advocate of natural areas preservation in the area. Columbia Land Trust has owned and managed this property for open space and habitat since 2010, working with volunteers and partners to control invasive species and maintain the trail. 

Event Details: 

Register here to join our morning of volunteer work! All registered guests will receive a confirmation containing our Participant Release Form, which we ask you to review and sign before the event. 

Date: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 

Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm 

Location: Beth Ryan Nature Preserve ( Google Maps link )  

The trail entrance is on Summit Drive at the intersection with Village Drive. Street parking is available along Village Drive and the surrounding neighborhood. 

What to Expect: This day’s work primarily consists of heavier duty tasks, including shoveling gravel and moving it along the trail with wheelbarrows. Some lighter work will involve raking gravel as well as wood chips to create an even surface along the trail. Columbia Land Trust will provide tools needed for the work, so guests should only plan to bring some sturdy boots that can be worn in the mud, layers in case of rain, and a personal water bottle + snacks as needed. 

We will be working along a partially shaded trail, with some patches that are muddy and uneven. There is no seating area or restroom on site, so attendees are asked to plan accordingly. 

Please contact Peter Condra at events@columbialandtrust.org or at (503) 847 3342 with any questions regarding this event.