Welcome! Think of this web-page as your guide to today's Virtual First Saturday experience.
Please note, this page is in progress. Additional content is being added up to 5PM on Friday, October 2nd.
We hope you will enjoy today's activities and virtual events and share your experience with us and the rest of your community by interacting on Facebook and posting your photos on social media with #VirtualFirstSaturday
Virtual Events & Activities
Learn About the Refuge with a full day of engaging videos covering What Makes the Refuge Home, Bird Language, Plankhouse Tours, Ethnobotany, Crane Tours, and more! Find it all on the Ridgefield BirdFest Facebook Page.
Engage the Kids with a fun Craft and Activity packet with materials and instructions to make a tambourine, Bird Binoculars, and a Bird Feeder! Color your own Bird Book and try out a new Scavenger Hunt. Packets will be available for no-contact pick-up while supplies last, beginning Friday, October 2nd at Ridgefield City Hall (230 Pioneer St).
Create and Improve Your Skills with bird painting tutorials.
Enjoy the Sounds of Bluegrass and Country music with performances from Corral Creek, Rose Gerber and Sweet Relief and the duo Phoenix.
Learn About the History of Bluegrass Music with our two 10 minute videos.
Support Local with our BirdFest Vendor Fair. Find photographers, wookworkers, jewelry makers, painters, farmers and more in our online marketplace.
Enjoy the Film Love Thy Nature by renting it for the evening. An award winning film narrated by Liam Neeson, Love Thy Nature shows how deeply we've lost touch with nature and takes viewers on a cinematic journey through the beauty and intimacy of our relationship with the natural world. Love Thy Nature shows that a renewed connection with nature is key not only to our well being, but also to solving our environmental and climate crises.
Next month we are extending First Saturday to a month-long activity with Make A Difference Month! Find new content all month long at bit.ly/RIDGEFIELDCARES
BirdFest Vendor Fair
It is important now, as is always, to support our local farmers, growers, artists, and more. The vendors gathered here have online or low contact ordering available so you can continue to support them while physically distancing.
Animals Are Wise Jewelry
Hand sculpted animal porcelain jewelry. No molds used.
Eric Berlin & Sidney Manzanita | peepdog@centurylink.net
Order Online: Facebook.
Beck's Original Woodworking
Satin Tile Coasters - Mouse Pads - Metal Light-Switch Plate Covers = Tempered Glass Cutting Boards - Satin Tiles - Special Orders Always Welcome.
Cathy & Clint Fischer | cat-fishphotography@live.com
View More Online and Contact to Order
Chris Bidleman Photography
Diane Hurst is a Vancouver artist who makes color pencil drawings, paintings, and mixed media artwork. Her greeting cards and art prints often feature nature as well as abstract designs. Order online, with delivery by first class mail.
Diane Hurst | Diane@dianehurstart.com
Diane Ventura Photography
Nature and Travel Photography - Prints and Canvases
Purchase online for local pick up or ship direct to customer.
Diane Ventura | dianeventura.photography@gmail.com
Order Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Full Circle
Homemade wired stone jewelry: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and pendants. Wine charmers of various themes. Multi purpose storage boxes. Most items can be customized or altered.
Online orders or delivery if local.
Samantha Wendorf | wendsam09@live.com
Half Moon Farm
Raw L0ocal Honey, Goat Milk Soaps, Beeswax Candles, Lotions, Herb Products, Garden Art, Fused Glass Art and More. Farm Store Pick Up.
Brenda Calvert | halfmoonfarms@yahoo.com
HeArt by Cody
Whimsical watercolors printed, at home, on a variety of products such as mugs, cards, buttons, stickers, limited edition prints of various sizes, drawstring backpacks and more! Taking online orders and offering local drop-offs/pick-ups.
Cody Hooper-Kaufmann | heartbycody@gmail.com
Knox Cellars
All things relative to the propagation of our native Orchard Mason Bees. Live Cocoons, Housing, Shelters and Accessories. We are also an approved supplier of Swarovski Optiks, Vortex and KOWA Binoculars, Scopes and Tripods. ONLINE Orders, shipping to Washington and Oregon.
James Ullrich | jimullrich@gmail.com
Knox Cellars | Swarovski Optik | Vortex | Kowa
When you find a Binocular or Scope on these sites, call us at: 360-908-0817 or email jimullrich@gmail.com
Likuha Design
Children's picture book, FALCONS IN THE CITY. It's the story of peregrine falcon recovery from near extinction in the USA, and their successful migration to urban habitats, specifically Portland, Oregon, in this telling. Great for elementary ages. Order Online.
Please visit my blog to see and read book description, find link to ordering books and to view my art! Updating site is in progress.
Lisa Manning | pokman3@earthlink.net
Orange Bead Art
Original charcoal drawings. Cards from the drawings.
Located at Booth 56, Urban Basics, 209 E Main Street, Battle Ground
Roberta Scott | highlandmarybouviers@msn.com
Tillie's Acres Farm Stand
Farm Stand selling pumpkins, veggies, fall plants, corn stalks, wreaths, barn wood frames, totes and more. Stop by the farm stand at NW 219th St, Ridgefield WA 98642. It is never busy and it is easy to social distance.
Ali Hutchison | tilliesacres@gmail.com
Ridgefield Farmers Market Vendors
- Grampa in the Dell - offering hand made items from repurposed wood by John Knoten; also original works from bonafide artist Ed Gedrose. Pick up and shipping available.
- Jacki's Heirloom Garden - Backyard garden in Ridgefield featuring garden starts, heirloom perennials, vines & bushes.
- McPhee Family Farms - Specializing in grass fed beef, lamb, pork and fresh produce.
- LulaRoe MollyMae - Lula Roe retailer.
- George Hoffman Farms - Local family owned farm where you can find an assortment of berries.
- Stoney Goat Ag. Collective - Five acre farm featuring seasonal local produce.
Bluegrass Performances & History
Phoenix
Corrall Creek Bluegrass
Rose Gerber and Sweet Relief
Bluegrass History
Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the United States Appalachian region. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Bluegrass has roots in traditional English, Scottish and Irish ballads and dance tunes, and in traditional African-American blues and jazz. Bluegrass was further developed by musicians who played with Monroe, including 5-string banjo player Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt.
Bluegrass features acoustic string instruments and emphasizes the off-beat. Notes are anticipated, in contrast to laid back blues where notes are behind the beat, which creates the higher energy characteristic of bluegrass. In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns. This is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument carries the lead throughout while the others provide accompaniment. Breakdowns are often characterized by rapid tempos and unusual instrumental dexterity and sometimes by complex chord changes
Get to Creating!
Painting Classes
We have gathered 3 videos of bird paintings for you to check out. Try 1, 2 or all of them for a fun and creative day! Supplies are listed below each video.
- Paper & tape
- Watercolor paints: Lemon Yellow, Orange, Cadmium Red, Opera Pink, Cerulean Blue, Black, White
- Brushes: Large round soft brush and detail brush
- Canvas
- Acrylic paints: specific colors not listed.
- Sharpie or other black marker
- Brushes: Large round soft brush, small round brush, and detail brush
- 11" x 14" Canvas
- Brushes: Wide flat, filbert, and liner
- Small piece of cotton
- Acrylic paints: white, veridian green, phthalo green, paynes grey, burnt sienna, deep yellow, green, magenta, and yellow ochre
BirdFest Crafts
Craft materials for the Bird Feeder and Tambourine are available in Activity Bags at Ridgefield City Hall. These bags will be put out in the afternoon on Friday, October 2nd and be available while supplies last for no-contact pick up. If you are unable to pick up an Activity bag, the supplies are listed for each craft.
BIRD FEEDER
Supplies
- Cardboard Tube
- Two plates
- 18" piece of string
- Glue/Adhesive
Optional
- Paint and brush
- Stickers, marker, etc for decorating
Instructions
- Glue the end of the tube with the slot cut in it to the center of your bottom plate (the one without the holes in it). Hot glue works well for this step because it hardens quickly (have an adult help). You can also use a craft glue. Be sure let it dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
- If desired paint the tube and top and bottom plate any color you would like and let it dry.
- To attach the top plate to the tube, take the string included in the kit and make a large knot on one end. From the inside of the top of the tube insert the other end of the string through one of the holes at the top of the tube. Now string it thru the top plate (curved side down) then again thru the other hole in the top plate and lastly thread it thru the other hole at the top of the tube from the outside. Now make another large knot on this end of the string. Both knots in the string will be on the inside of the top of the tube.
- If you would like, you can embellish the outside of the tube with stickers, markers, etc.
- To fill the bird feeder just pull up the top plate and let it dangle to the side and fill.
- Now you can hang it under a covered area (because it is not water proof) and wait for the birds to come enjoy it. Happy Birdwatching!
TAMBOURINE
Supplies
- 8" embroidery hoop
- 10" square of fabric
- 6 bells
- Glue/Adhesive
Optional
- Ribbon, yarn, rickrack
Instructions:
- Separate the hoops by unscrewing the outer hoop. Set it aside.
- Take your square of fabric and center it over the inner hoop.
- Now take the outer hoop and place over the fabric and inner hoop.
- Tighten the screw and pull the excess fabric around the back of the hoop to make the fabric tight in the hoop on the front.
- With scissors trim off the excess fabric at the back of the hoop.
- Turn the hoop top side up.
- Space the six bells evenly around the perimeter of the hoop. Make a small pencil mark on the outside hoop where each bell will go.
- You can use hot glue (have an adult help), E6000 or other adhesive to glue the bells to the hoop. Hot glue sets quickly, if you use E6000 or other adhesive you’ll need to wait till the glue is set before you play the tambourine.
- If you have some extra ribbon, yarn or string you can tie it to the screw to embellish your tambourine.
- Now put on your favorite music... and play away!
BINOCULARS
Supplies
- Two empty toilet paper tubes
- Yarn or ribbon
- Glue and scissors
- Optional: tape, stickers, paint, marker, etc.
Instructions
- Paint your empty toilet paper tubes or cover each end with duct tape.
- If you painted the tubes, glue together along the length, let dry.
- If you used duct tape to decorate you tube, tape the two tube together with a piece of tape around the center.
- Cut a piece of yarn or ribbon about 20 inches long to make a hanging strap for your binoculars.
- Glue each end inside the tubes on each side, let dry.
- Now you can add decorations to your binocular with stickers, markers, etc.
- Use your binoculars to watch birds that come to your bird feeder!
Thank you for joining us!
#VIRTUALFIRSTSATURDAY