World Forestry Center Discovery Museum

See Portland, Oregon family vacation

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum

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4033 SW Canyon Rd.
Portland, OR 97221
503-228-1367

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History Museum
Science & Nature Museum

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum Description

Part of six kid-friendly museums in Washington Park, the World Forestry Center not only backs up to the real forest of the park but has a simulated forest environment inside to teach visitors about forest (and logging) ecology. It's a little kitschy for grown-ups, but kids are sold on it — they can be forest animals in pretend burrows, manipulate the logging machine simulator, crawl through a nurse log, "ride" the rapids (in a raft while looking at a screen), parachute like a smokejumper, or go up into the high canopy simulation.

Kid Tips

Toddlers & Pre-K: The crawl-around exhibits are perfect for these little ones. The indoor trees will impress, and several gentle rides (the movement is simulated) may be enjoyable even if they don't learn much about forest-ecology issues.

School-Age Kids: Simulated rides on trains, boats, and safari jeeps will appeal to many kids while teaching them a bit along the way, and the canopy ride is a must for those over 3 feet, 6 inches (and without acrophobia).

Pre-Teens & Teens: This age group can engage in the ecological, cultural, and artistic features, including woodcarving art, sustainable forestry explanations, and perspectives on how native cultures utilized forest resources.

Planning Notes

Spend a day not an hour. Located in Washington Park with the Oregon Zoo, Children's Museum, Arboretum, Rose Garden, and Japanese Garden, the World Forestry Center is an hour-or-two activity for most kids rather than a whole day, so combine it with a visit to another venue in the park.
Bring snacks and water. There is no eatery in the World Forestry Center, so tote along some food and H20.
Don't leave stuff in the car. Washington Park is a popular spot, Portland is notorious for petty theft, and you'll be leaving your car in the parking lot for an extended time. Make sure to take what you need for the day with you.