CHILD FRIENDLY RESOURCES

Battle Rock Wayfinding Point and Battle Rock Park are located at the south end of Port Orford on the ocean side of Highway 101. The park has an ice cream shoppe, a restaurant, a gift shop, and visitors’ information center with handicapped accessible restrooms next door. There is RV, tourist bus, and auto parking. Near the visitors’ information center is an area with interpretive signs describing some of the local history and general information about the area. The propeller from the S.S.Cottoneva is displayed. The docked ship was caught in a storm, beached, and torn apart by the fierce waves. The S. S. Cottoneva’s crew was rescued by the men from the Coast Guard Lifeboat Station
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There are benches and a stone wall to sit on that provide views of the beach and coastline with Humbug Mountain to the south. Trails lead down to the beach (CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT AS SNEAKER WAVES ARE VERY DANGEROUS), where there is shallow water for wading near Battle Rock. There are tidepools to explore, and mussels and clams can be gathered in season (months with an “R”). There are various birds (see page “BIRDS” that identifies some of the local birds) and lots of sea creatures (starfish, limpets, hermit crabs, dogwinkles, red turbins, Oregon tritons, mussels, etc.). Wind, surfboard, and body surfing are popular here and the ocean is safe for kayaks and canoes in calm weather. The 4th of July fireworks are launched from Battle Rock and provide quite a spectacular sight from the hills and the beach where people can picnic and build bon fires.

TIPS FOR OCEAN SAFETY:
Very few people visit Port Orford without taking a walk on one of our beautiful beaches. But the ocean is strong and often unpredictable, so a few safety rules are in order. Don’t climb on logs in the water or on the wet sand. If you see a log in the surf, don’t be tempted to get anywhere near it. Don’t turn your back on the ocean unless you are above the high water mark. Sneaker waves may appear suddenly…coming high up on shore. A sneaker wave can knock you down and drag you out to sea. Rocks and cliffs can be slippery and wet. Be careful not to fall. An adult should accompany all children at the beach.

Buffington Park, turn on west on 14th Street – the park begins on the corner of Arizona and 14th Street and has many picnic spots. It also has a playground with swings and slides, a butterfly/hummingbird garden, a world-class skateboard park, a basketball court, a nature trail, a horse arena, a horse shoe area, a miniature golf course, benches, picnic tables at the gazebo, a baseball field with adjacent handicapped accessible restrooms, and a tennis court. It’s the perfect place for a family to spend some time.

CAMPGROUNDS:
Humbug Mountain Campground and Cape Blanco Campground both have Junior Ranger Programs. The Junior Rangers Program is for children 6 to 12 and includes plants, animals, and park protection activities…including recycling. More information about these campgrounds can be found on the webpage “STATE PARKS CAMPING ” and for information about Junior Ranger programs follows this section. Information about summer activities at Humbug Mountain Campground, phone 332-6774 or visit website: www.oregonstateparks.org Other child-friendly campsites are listed in the “CAMPING GUIDE” webpage of this website.

THE JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM*
The Junior Ranger program gives kids a chance to explore a state park. By becoming a Junior Ranger, 6-12 year old visitors will get involved with plants, animals and park protection. The Junior Ranger program is run at most state park campgrounds by park staff and hosts. Be careful, though ... rumor has it being Junior Ranger is so much fun, grown men and women have been masquerading as kids to get in. We may have to start asking for ID.

After young visitors enroll in the program, they receive a Junior Ranger Passport. By completing activities, they receive passport stamps. When they fill their passport with stamps, the Junior Rangers receives awards. Activities include:

• Discover a park "secret"
  
• Recycle garbage
  
• Attend a park program and learn about the environment
  
• Find and identify three special plants or animals
  
• Keep your part of the park clean
  
• A passport is available at selected state parks from the Park Host or Park staff.

Aside from the deep, personal satisfaction every Junior Ranger feels after filling a passport page with stamps, there's the cool stuff that goes with it.

Each time Junior Rangers complete an activity, their passports will be stamped by a Park Host or other staff. When the first page has four stamps, the young visitor shows the passport to park staff person and receives:

• The Junior Ranger badge
  
• The secret Junior Ranger greeting

On the next camping trip, the Junior Ranger can complete another activity page. On the third trip, the youth can finish the last activity page and show the finished passport to park staff to get:

• The Junior Ranger patch
  
• A special certificate signed by J.R. Beaver

Who's J.R. Beaver? We were hoping you'd ask ...
This is the mascot of the Junior Ranger Program. J.R. helps the children through their duties and delivers information about natural resources to them. J.R. has been pretty busy in other ways, too. The Beaver has been sighted in the last year at county fairs and expos, local schools and parades. Call your local park office about the possibility of a J.R. appearance in your neck of the woods.*Information provided by the Oregon State Parks website.

Cape Blanco Lighthouse is located north of Port Orford. Drive four miles north on Highway 101, turn west on to Cape Blanco Road for five more miles. Cape Blanco Lighthouse holds title to four Oregon records. It is the most westerly lighthouse; it was built in 1870, making it the oldest continuously operating lighthouse; and it extends 245 feet above the ocean, making it the highest lighthouse above the sea. To distinguish it further, in 1903 Oregon’s first woman keeper, Mabel Bretherton, signed on. The lighthouse is open to the public for inspection. Historic information and photographs are displayed. 64-steps lead to the lantern room, where the Fresnel lens, with antique prisms made in France, reflects flashes of light far out to sea. Open April through October, Thursday through Monday 10:a.m. to 3:30p.m. The main gate is closed and locked at 3:30p.m. For more information visit their excellent website: www.portorfordoregon.com/blanco.html

Elk River Fish Hatchery:
In early June, the Elk River Fish Hatchery sponsors a free fishing weekend for children 10 years old and younger. The size of fish caught can be 10 inches to 9 pounds and include chinook salmon, winter steelhead, and rainbow trout. Rods, reels, bait, and tackle are provided. Phone 541-332-7025 for exact date and times.

FISH! and CRABS! and CLAM and MUSSELS!
There are a number of places to fish in and around Port Orford. With adult supervision, fishing off the jetty at the Port Orford Dock is usually a sure thing when it comes to catching fish. Garrison Lake, in the middle of town, has public docks and a bridge on Arizona Street that almost guarantees a catch. The Sixes and the Elk, are two of the best rivers for fishing in the Pacific Northwest. See webpage “FISHING” for more specific information. Fishing licenses, for children 14 years and older, can be purchased, along with bait and tackle at McNair’s True Value Hardware at 1935 Oregon Street (Highway 101). A 1-day license, bait and tackle can be purchased at The Dock Tackle Shop.
Dungeness crabs are plentiful in this area. The Port Orford Dock has locations where crab nets can be tossed out into the ocean. Crab nets can be rented and bait purchased at the Dock Tackle Shop and crab nets can be purchased at McNair’s True Value Hardware Store. Check the Oregon Sport fishing Regulations for size and season or visit the Oregon Fish and Wildlife (OFW) website at www.dfw.state.or.us

Digging for clams is popular in the months with “R.” Butter clams are the most plentiful south of Hubbard Creek and on Rocky Beach, just off Highway 101, south of Port Orford. Razor clams are making a comeback after disappearing for years. Mussels can be pried off the rocks at Battle Rock Beach. Again months with “R.” For limits and seasons, check the OFW website.

Garrison Lake:
This coastal dune lake covers 130 acres (!) with an average depth of eleven feet. The maximum depth is twenty-eight feet. Sand dunes run along 4.4 miles of Garrison Lake. Lots of birds, so be sure to check out the “BIRDS” page of this website. There are aquatic animals too: beaver, mink, muskrat and otter. On shore opossum, raccoon, weasel, deer, and squirrel might be drinking from the lake. Fishing is good because the lake is stocked with cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. There is beach access at the west end of the lake, where the dunes separate the lake from the ocean. Easy access to the lake from 18th Street to Pinehurst Drive that goes right to a public fishing dock, where canoes can be launched. Boats can be launched from 12th Street. At the public boat launching facility there are handicapped accessible picnic tables, rest rooms, water, and a barbecue pit.Hughes House – Built in 1898 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (#80003310) on November 28, 1980. This historic furnished house is a walk back in time. It has a gift shop with many old-fashioned toys and books. See their website for photos and a more detailed a description of this local treasure: www.hugheshouse.org/ shows room-by-room photos and highlights. Or for a different point of view: www.portorfordoregon.com/hughes.html

Langlois Public Library – 48234 Highway 101
A brand new library, dedicated in 2002, that has three Internet accessible computers for public use. Word processors, fax and copy machine available. A unique feature is the young adult room. Rotating art displays and a summer reading program. Videos and audio books on tape can be check out. Handicapped accessible. Open Monday through Saturday…phone 348-2066 for exact hours.
Port Orford Public Library – 555 W. 20th Street - 332-5622
Hours: Monday through Friday 10:a.m. to 5:p.m.
Thursday 10:a.m. to 8:p.m.
Saturday 1:p.m. to 5:p.m.
Four computers available to the public – Internet access.
One word processor for public use. Fax and copies available.
Large selection of children’s books and videos plus books on tape for all ages. Read-aloud story time once a month (call for date and time).
Website: portorfordlibrary.org Email: pol@harborside.com

Port Orford Lifeboat Station and Coast Guard Museum – located in the Port Orford Heads State Park – phone 332-0521 for information.
The Port Orford Lifeboat Station and Coast Guard Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open Thursday through Monday from 10:a.m. to 3:30p.m. April through October. From Highway 101, turn west on 9th Street and follow the signs to the state park. The unsinkable 36-foot lifeboat and the Lyle gun are among the many highlights, along with an exception display of miniature ships and Coast Guard memorabilia. The Headlands State Park has three trails through flora and fauna, leading to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Visit their website: portorfordlifeboatstation.org.

The Little Jail** is located on Jefferson Street, just off Highway 101, and is a popular landmark that was built in 1936. It even has a history of jailbreaks, but without an ordinance forbidding jailbreaks, not guilty verdicts were common. The jail was condemned in 1965, but a seedy looking inmate is still there. **Information provided by Becky Flake’s Footnotes and Footprints calendar…332-5585.

Port Orford Summer Arts Program runs approximately two weeks, this summer from July 14 to August 2, 2003. Any and all children are invited to attend the free workshops. There are even some workshops for adults. A sampling of what is offered this summer: weaving, community campfire and singing, clowning, bronze casting, nature walks, drawing, building birdhouses, kite flying, and many, many more. For information, phone 332-1040. If your child is interested in art, visit the “Art Galleries” web page of this website and take a tour of the galleries to meet the artists.

Port Orford Wetland Interpretive Walkway is located between Ray’s Place Market and Kar Kare Auto Parts just off Highway 101. Turn west on 18th Street and then turn south on Idaho. Follow the sign on Idaho east into a road that leads to the entrance to the wetland boardwalk.

The wetland walkway trail is a 160-foot long wooden structure that allows the walker to get within the boundaries of one of Port Orford’s significant “scrub-shrub wetlands. There are three interpretive signs along the walkway that explain some of the life in this fresh water wetland.

Some of the animals living in this wetland area are dragonflies, western pond turtles, raccoons, beaver, river otter, frogs, and lots and lots of different birds. Some of the birds common to this wetland are: pileated woodpecker, belted kingfisher, tree and violet-green swallows, marsh wrens, dark-eyed junco, red-breasted nuthatch, winter wren, sharp-shinned hawk, owls, Virginia rail, sora, common snipe, American bittern (a type of heron), green heron, chestnut-backed chickadee, and American goldfinch.

West Coast Game Park Safari: Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my! Oh yes! And snow leopards, elk, deer, chimps, llamas, bison, camels, goats, cougars, peacocks (even white ones!), lynx, black panthers, miniature horses, zebras, and lots and lots of folks petting, gawking, filming, feeding, and enjoying each other’s company. Only 20-miles north of Port Orford on Highway 101, the game park is fun for all ages. Visit their excellent website for more information: www.gameparksafari.com.

THESE ARE CHILD-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES

• Downtown Fun Zone - 832 Oregon Street (Highway 101) rents DVD and VHS videos. Phone and fax 332-6565.
  
• Ray’s Foods (1555 Oregon – Highway 101) Is a supermarket, with a full-service deli, that has lots of snacks, takeout, and treats for children of all ages. (332-1185)
  
• The Wooden Nickel – 1205 Oregon Street (Highway 101) Hand crafted myrtlewood items…see them made. Call for times: 332-5201
  Gifts and toys in their large shop...something for everyone.