Oregon Field Guide

Series / 35 Seasons

Oregon Field Guide is your destination for outdoor recreation, ecology, natural resource and travel stories from across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

29m 29s

Ancient Oregon Road Trip

10m 30s

Since the publication of her seminal “In Search of Ancient Oregon” in 2004, Ellen Morris Bishop has been a leading guide through Oregon’s geologic past. Ellen takes us on a road trip to find traces of the epic forces that shaped Oregon’s ancient beginnings hundreds of millions of years ago.

Coastal Foraging

8m 39s

The Pacific Northwest has one of the most abundant tidal ecosystems in the world. The ocean conditions are cold, murky and nutrient-dense, conditions that provide fuel for life on shore. Alanna Kieffer studied marine biology and eventually left a career in marine research to start her own business – Shifting Tides – where she teaches people how to forage for food in the coastal ecosystem.

Astrophotography

8m 13s

Oregon stargazers are proving you don't need dark skies or remote locations to capture stunning celestial images. Using everything from smartphone apps to sophisticated telescopes with narrow-band filters, they're photographing galaxies and nebulae without having to leave their street.

People of Color Outdoors (POCO)

7m

People of Color Outdoors Founder Pamela Slaughter highlights how her organization helps BIPOC communities build a deeper connection to nature. By leading outdoor excursions and offering educational opportunities, POCO empowers diverse groups to embrace the natural beauty of Oregon through fostering community and promoting exploration.

Science of Dust Devils

6m 40s

Physics Prof Brian Jackson and a team of planetary scientists are digging into the science of Martian dust devils, using Oregon's Alvord Desert as a stand-in. By studying how these wild whirlwinds form and behave on Earth, the researchers hope to unlock key insights about Mars' atmosphere. This knowledge could be a big help for planning future crewed and un-crewed missions to the Red Planet.

Judy Li and the Caddisfly

7m 58s

OSU professor emeritus Judy Li's lifelong love of all the critters that make their homes in our local creeks is contagious, and one of her favorites is the caddisfly. Not only are these stealthy invertebrates near-miraculous in their ability to transform from tiny, underwater insects into winged flyers, they also play an important role in keeping our watersheds clean and healthy.

Camping 101

9m 56s

Many people in Oregon grew up camping. But what if you didn’t? You are not alone! We're going back to basics to guide you through everything from selecting tents to starting a fire. Get comfortable around the campfire with our camping 101 field manual.

The Quietest Place in Oregon

11m 21s

Where is the quietest place in Oregon? A journey with natural sound recordist, Nick MaMahan, to extreme southeast Oregon becomes a quest to understand the sonic landscape of the natural world, and the need for quiet on an increasingly noisy planet.

Trail Magic

6m 59s

Every summer, the Leeson family from Eugene, OR becomes a lifeline for Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers. As dedicated Trail Angels, they set up a welcoming spot with hot dogs, drinks, and calorie-packed snacks, providing much-needed nourishment for those tackling the daunting 2,700-mile journey. Their acts of kindness are part of a larger community that enriches the PCT experience.

Garden Railroads

8m 54s

Each year, the Rose City Garden Railway Society hosts the annual Summer Tour across the greater Portland Metro area and beyond. They open their backyard railroads to share their passion for miniature backyard trains.

Garden Railroads

8m 54s

Each year, the Rose City Garden Railway Society hosts the annual Summer Tour across the greater Portland Metro area and beyond. They open their backyard railroads to share their passion for miniature backyard trains.

Gambler 500

9m 54s

The Gambler 500 is an off-road, rally-style event where drivers navigate through the countryside in cheap, custom cars, collecting large amounts of trash along the way, from discarded tires to abandoned boats. Since its humble beginnings in 2019, it's grown significantly and now brings in over 100 cars. The crappier the better!

Cave Robots

8m 13s

NASA scientists think any life on the red planet might be akin to rock-eating microbes living in deep, sub-surface caverns. To sniff out the mysterious life forms, the BRAILLE (Biologic and Resource Analog Investigations in Low Light Environments) team heads to Lava Beds National Monument in northern California to test autonomous robotic “dogs.”

Wocus Harvest

8m 31s

For thousands of years, the Klamath Tribes have harvested a vital first food from the wetlands of Southern Oregon’s Klamath River Basin. It’s a highly nutritious seed that comes from a wetland plant called wocus. As wetlands were drained for agriculture, the tribes lost a huge portion of the habitat supporting this plant. But there’s hope that farmers can help bring that habitat back.

Finding black holes

9m 30s

When two black holes collide in deep space, they momentarily release more power than all the stars in the universe combined. That energy warps space and time, traveling through the universe as a gravitational wave. By the time they reach Earth, the waves are impossibly faint. But scientists in eastern Washington have built a cutting edge instrument that is revealing the universe as never before.

Elwha River rebounds after dam removal

9m 58s

It’s been over a decade since two dams came out of the Elwha River on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Salmon are returning, cougars, elk, foxes and bears roam 800 acres of newly restored land, and the river runs wild, tearing up the road that ran along its banks. For the first time in over a hundred years, the Lower Elwha Klallam tribal members can catch salmon on a free-flowing Elwha.

Frog Taxi

8m 16s

The resident reg-legged frogs that live in Portland’s Forest Park have a dangerous migration route to and from their spawning grounds at Harborton Wetland. Twice a year, they must get across the high-speed road known as Highway 30. For many years, the frogs’ human neighbors have intervened on their behalf by providing a shuttle or "taxi" to the other side. But is there a better solution?

Oregon Sandcastle Competition

6m 39s

Every year in St. Helens, Oregon, 18 sculptors from across the country construct incredible works of art out of sand. From seasoned pros to total novices, these artists pour their hearts into creations that will ultimately wash away with the tide, showcasing true dedication to this impressive but ephemeral art form.

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