Activities & Education
Activities Committee
Beginning in 2025!
The committee will plan, organize, and facilitate educational and recreational activities at the park. Ideas being considered include a lecture series, yoga/qi gong, outdoor art, sing-a-longs, lawn games, ping-pong tournaments, hobby demonstrations…ideally, fun happenings for smaller groups.
Perhaps you enjoy working with a particular age group or promoting a specific activity. Or you are looking for a way to meet others and want to support the park.
Send us your application. The first meeting will be January 21, 2025, at 6 p.m., at the Sutherlin Community Center (Central Park).
Ford’s Pond is a Birding Hot-Spot!
Over 200 species have been recorded.
Join the Umpqua Valley Audubon Society for birding walks on the second Saturday of each month (except June, July, and December). Meet at Church Rd for walks beginning at 9 a.m. New birders and families are welcome. Loaner binoculars will be available. Approximately 2 hours on Pond Loop. No registration is needed. Visit the UVAS website for more information and any last-minute weather cancelations.
Visit eBird for the current species list.
Healthy Lifestyles
We co-host walking events with Thrive Umpqua – A Certified Blue Zones Community – to promote a healthier lifestyle by walking in nature with others, including the annual National Walking Day afternoon walk held since 2022.
The First Community 5K Walk/Run at Ford’s Pond (2024) saw over 400 participants cross the finish line!
Environmental Education
Ford’s Pond Community Park is an outdoor classroom. Schools and local clubs enjoy using the park to conduct nature studies, scavenger hunts, and geocaching events.
Self-Guided Education
The interpretive panels along the 2-mile Pond Loop Path are designed to inspire further exploration, enhance understanding of environmental processes and issues, and ultimately lead to more positive behaviors and protection of our natural resources.
THIS GUIDE has information for pre-trip planning. We suggest concentrating on one panel during each visit, choosing a specific topic or species for further examination, and then following your newfound interest/knowledge!
Huge thanks to the volunteer creative team and those who donated photos: Mary Brennan, Beth & Jim Houseman, Matt Hunter, Abraham Finlay, Tamara, Steve, Tatiana, & Ruby Marchi, Bonnie Dauterman, Kim Blossom, Vincent Strahan, Stef Neyhart, and Alan Bright.