Tualatin Riverkeepers to offer lessons, guided tours and popular 'Paddle Under the Stars'

Tualatin Riverkeepers is keeping up with offerings of summer fun that include learning the basics of canoeing and kayak in flat waters such as the Tualatin River as well as taking trips down the river.

For those just starting out, canoeing and kayaking lessons for beginners are set for Friday, July 5, and Friday, July 12, respectively at the Cook Family Park boat ramp.

The 9 a.m. to noon events will teach basic canoeing (July 5) and kayaking (July 12) safety skills. They will include lessons on paddling straight down the river, along with how to turn, back up and more.

Those participating can come as individuals or as partners. Individuals can be paired up with other registrants or the instructor, allowing each canoe to be paddled by two people.

Cost is $35 for the canoe class and $55 for the kayaking class. It includes canoes/kayaks, a paddle and life jacket.

Also on Friday, July 12, Tualatin Riverkeepers will host a guided Tualatin River paddle tour from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Cook Family Park boat ramp. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/mt7be6dk .

For a $55 fee, participants can rent a canoe or kayak to learn about plants, birds and wildlife along the Tualatin River as well as learning the history of the ferries and sternwheelers that once navigated the waterway, all from experienced volunteers.

While rain won’t be enough to call off the paddle, lightning or flooding are reasons the event could be postponed. Don’t forget to dress accordingly.

Finally, get ready for the ever-popular “Paddle Under the Stars” event planned for Friday, July 19, beginning at 7:45 p.m. Also planned from Cook Family Park boat ramp, the event is geared to those who want to explore the Tualatin River at night.

“Once our eyes adjust to the dark, we’ll keep them open for signs of the nocturnal and crepuscular wildlife that lives along the river, and talk about what many other nighttime creatures get up to in our watershed. And if we’re lucky, we might get a good chance to see the stars too,” said a Tualatin Riverkeepers online post.

The event fills up fast and only a few spots are open for solo kayakers and paddleboarders.

Tualatin Riverkeepers community-based organization that protects and restores the Tualatin River watershed.