Columbia Slough Watershed Council

Mission

To protect and enhance the Columbia Slough and its watershed through free community engagement, education, and restoration. 

Bottom Line for Portland

Through strong community partnerships and engagement, CSWC provides FREE programming throughout the year, including 112 community events serving 2,478 people,  stewardship events installing 2,500 native plants. Slough School Environmental Education provided free environmental education to 5,244 student contacts at Title 1 schools, with 198 classroom lessons, 68 field trips and 32 paddle trips. This programming is unique and not offered elsewhere in the Portland Metro area. We intentionally partner with schools and organizations that reflect the watershed’s diverse community. Find out more in our annual report here.

Quote

“I donate to the CSWC because it’s a vibrant organization that’s building community one event at a time.”
— Ed Rosney, Paddle Team Leader

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our watershed is the most racially diverse watershed in Oregon. We prioritize partnerships with communities that have been marginalized from accessing natural areas in the past. We work with our partners to address and remove barriers so everyone can access and enjoy being outdoors. These partnerships include multilingual birding and canoeing events (Spanish, Ukrainian, and Russian), BIPOC-specific workforce development opportunities, LGBTQIA+ specific paddles and birding events, and educational opportunities for Title I schools throughout the watershed.

Incentives

INCENTIVES FOR EVERYONE

$10+ The first 200 donors who give $10+ or more will receive a sticker from Crafted from Scratch and all donors who give $10+ will be entered to win 1 of 10 Leatherman tools.*

$25+ Donors who give $25 or more will receive a coupon for a free pint from Level Beer.*

$50+ Any donors who give $50 or more will be entered to win 1lb of Pastor John's Blessed Beans Coffee and a CSWC mug.*

$75+ Any donors who give $75 or more will be entered to win a $75 Lionheart Kombucha Gift Certificate.* 

$100+ Donors who give $100+ will be entered to win 1 of 2 Canoe Packages with items donated from Paddle People, including a canoe, canoe paddles, PFDs, and a canoe trolley (value $750).*

$250+ Donors will be entered to win a Personal Stylist Appointment at Garnish (1 -2 hour personal stylist appointment including a $100 shopping credit - Garnish designs are offered in sizes 0-20).*
 

INCENTIVES FOR DONORS AGE 35 AND UNDER 

Donors between ages 21 and 35 who donate $25+ will be entered into a raffle to win a bag of Patagonia gear (worth $250) and a case of Portland Cider Company OR a case of Portland Cider Company and native plant seeds from SymbiOp Garden Shop.*

*Donation amount to the organization throughout the campaign is taken into consideration. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winners will be pulled at the end of the campaign and will be notified via email. 

BIG GIVE DAY INCENTIVES

Donors who give $10+ on BGDs to CSWC will be entered to win the following:

• Big Bird Day Nov. 20: Wingspan Board Game (value $59)*

Includes the option to learn how to play with CSWC's Executive Director, Heather King.

• Big Books Day Nov. 26: Coffee or Wine with Nancy & Bruce*

Win coffee or wine with Nancy Henry & Bruce Campbell, authors of This Rough Magic & High Noon on Come Along Slough.

• Big Portland Day Dec. 3: Dog Goodie Bag!*

Win a goodie bag with Oregon Human Society & Portland Gear collaboration dog leashes & dog collar, and dog treats!

• Big Music Day Dec. 27: Wonder Ballroom (value $200)*

Win 2 vouchers good for any show at the Wonder Ballroom through August 1, 2025.

• Big Garden Day Dec. 29: Native Plant Package (value $100)*

Win native seeds from SymbiOp Garden Shop, EMSWCD native plant coffee cup and bandana, native plants from Ash Creek Forest Management, and a Sparrowhawk Gift Card!

• Big Culture Day Dec. 30: Private Shopping Party at Garnish (value $350)*
Sip wine and enjoy appetizers as Garnish selects outfits for you and your friends at your own private gathering! (designs are offered in size 0-20). This includes a $100 store credit to use at your party. The ideal party size is between 6-8 attendees but larger or smaller parties are welcome.

Each BGD, we will raffle off a signed copy of This Rough Magic: At Home on the Columbia Slough, by Nancy Henry & Bruce Campbell and a signed copy of High Noon on Come Along Slough, by Bruce Campbell.*

*The sweepstakes begins at 12:00 am and ends at 11:59 pm on each BGD. Entries received outside this time frame will not be considered for BGD drawings. Winner will be notified via email. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Partner(s)

We are partnering with other organizations in Give!Guide, including Bark, Willamette Riverkeeper, Kickstand Comedy, and 1000 Friends of Oregon! 

The following businesses are proud to support the work and mission of CSWC: Level Brewing, Paddle People, Lionheart Kombucha, Portland Cider Company, Wonder Ballroom, EMSWCD, Ash Creek Forest Management, Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Leatherman, Garnish, Patagonia, Wyld CBD, SymbiOp Garden Shop, Crafted from Scratch, Pastor John's Blessed Beans, Oregon Humane Society, and Nancy Henry & Bruce Campbell (Authors of This Rough Magic).