Celebrating Earth Day

Local residents will spend the weekend learning, planting, weeding, hauling and sprucing up during Earth Day focused activities and cleanup events.

The Downtown Camas Association will hold its inaugural Clean-Up and Planting Day on Sunday. The event will begin at 1 p.m., when those who would like to volunteer to help out should meet at the corner of Northeast Fourth Avenue and Cedar Street.

The day’s work will include sidewalk and landscape bed clean-up, weeding, planting and spreading bark dust. Volunteers are asked to bring shovels, spades, buckets and garden gloves. Activities will wrap up around 4 p.m.

“Having our downtown well cared for and maintained as an enjoyable, charming area helps bring people to town again and again, and also increases community pride,” said DCA Vice President Carrie Schulstad.

The event started as a small affair with the downtown organization and local schools, but has grown to include participation from a variety of local groups and organizations.

“Downtown is going to be gorgeous,” Schulstad said.

LJC Feed in Camas donated bark dust and soil, and Hidden Gardens Nursery in Camas provided flowers and plants at a deep discount. Journey Community Church will be serving hot dogs, chips and soda.

Schulstad added that those who park their cars in downtown Camas should be aware that pressure washing of the downtown sidewalks will begin at 9 a.m.

For more information, call Greg Goforth at (503) 936-4358.

Capt. Clark Park Cleanup

Area residents are also invited to participate in the Earth Day cleanup Friday at Capt. William Clark Park.

The cleanup of litter on the levee and the beach is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Volunteers and port staff will meet at the main park entrance at 3400 S. Index St., Washougal. Water, garbage bags and supplies will be provided.

Participants in the cleanup should wear closed-toe shoes appropriate for walking.

For more information, call the port office at 835-2196 or visit www.portcw.com.

Clark County DIY Fair

The fair will be held Sunday, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Clark College’s Gaiser Hall, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way.

Attendees can learn how to save money and help the environment at the free fair.

During a series of 45-minute workshops, presenters will touch on a variety of topics including lawn mower maintenance, basic wiring, bicycle maintenance, weatherization, rain barrels and rain gardens, basic plumbing, computer maintenance, tree planting and care, and plastics recycling.

Fair attendees can receive a new compact fluorescent light blub for every old one brought in (limit 6), and bring in up to two boxes of documents for free shredding.

For more information, visit www.clark.wa.gov/environment/DIY.html.

Free tire, appliance recycling in Skamania County

Also in recognition of Earth Day, Skamania County citizens can dispose of tires and appliances free of charge on Saturday at any one of the three County Transfer facilities at 1111 Mt. Pleasant Road, 1332 Ryan-Allen Road, and 1402 Little Buck Creek Road. All three facilities are open from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Items accepted at no cost will include all appliances, and passenger vehicle and pickup truck tires. No commercial disposals will be accepted during the event, and bagged refuse will be accepted at the normal rate.

Proof of residency will be required.

For more information, visit www.skamainacounty.org/public-works.