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Explore & Discover!
At Wallowology, we encourage all of our guests to explore, play and create with a child-like energy and curiosity. Our C.O.D.E. Green program (Children Outdoors Discovering & Exploring) supports interactive exhibits and play areas in the center when open, hosts family-focused learning events, and provides teachers and families with natural science resources, providing opportunities for children and their families to discover and explore all that nature has to offer!
Adult supervision is required in the center.
Like many interactive learning centers, our programming has had to adapt this year due to safety measures in place for COVID-19. We hope to open for special events in the future, and we will continue to post family-oriented activities on this page for you to do at home!
Much Ado About Mammoths
Marching across the front and the interior of Wallowology! are representations of large, ancient creatures that once roamed over Oregon. The Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus colombi) were 14-foot giants that lived in North America during the Pleistocene period (1.8 million to 10,000 years ago) and ranged as far north as southern Canada and as far south as Costa Rica. Fossil evidence of these ancient inhabitants has been found all over Oregon and help scientists to understand how they were the same or different from their distant cousins- the African elephant and the Asian elephants still roaming on earth today.
Print out the sheets below to learn more about these mammoth mammals!
So Many Rocks, So Much Time
The creation of the Wallowa Mountains is a 100-400 million year old story of ancient volcanic islands colliding with a growing continent, massive volcanic eruptions and a final polishing by large Ice Age glaciers. All of this has left us with a wild and beautiful landscape full of unique rocks, minerals and fossils.
Print out the sheets below to learn more about what you might find while exploring the Wallowas.
Hoo Wants to Know About Owls?
Wallowa County is lucky to be home to many different Birds of Prey. Many of them can be spotted as you ride or drive through the county, hike local trails or swim at the lake during the day.
To get a peek at most of our local owl species, though, you'll need to become a night owl yourself. Some species of owl hunt prey at dusk or dawn, but many of them use their incredibly sensitive senses to hunt in the dark of night. Look for nests or perches by searching for owl pellets at the base of trees or posts.
And if you find yourself up late at night, enjoying a campfire or our incredible Wallowa County starry skies, take a quiet moment to listen for the hoot or screech from one of our flying nocturnal hunters.
Click the documents below to open the 2-page PDFs!
Owls for Grown-ups
Watch a YouTube presentation on Owls and Old Growth by Oregon Wild. Presenters include David Mildrexler of Wallowology, who talks about the ancient forests of Eastern Oregon, and wildlife photographer Rhett Wilkins, who discusses his experiences photographing owls.
Iwetemlaykin is the Nez Perce name for this area of the Wallowa Lake basin near Joseph. Pronounced ee-weh-TEMM-lye-kinn, the property is next to the site of Old Chief Joseph Gravesite and Cemetery, a part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park.
Wallowology has created this two-page map that you can pick up at our Discovery Center, or download it here and print it yourself. It will help you enjoy this special park.
Discover Iwetemlaykin Park!
Celebrate
POLLINATORS!
Spring brings the promise of growth.
Swollen rivers, blooming flowers, growing food and expanding gardens- all things that mark this time of year.
While we continue to acknowledge the greatness of nature apart from each other, Wallowology would like to invite you to celebrate spring by learning more about pollinators.
These pollinators are waking up and working hard, contributing to spring growth alongside the rest of us.
Wallowology and Wallowa Resources are both posting printable activities on our websites so you can have fun and learn about pollinators online!
US Forest Service
Click images below to view some printable activities by Wallowology!
Wallowa Resources has more on their web site here.
Click on Images Below to Open Them as a Printable PDF!
Wasps and their nests
