Read the winter 2017 issue of Our Big Backyard magazine

photo of Oxbow Regional Park visitors at Salmon Homecoming

Brothers Patrick Iyamuremye and Etienne Byiringiro walk to the Sandy River at Oxbow Regional Park. The brothers, the oldest and youngest of nine siblings, are on their way to look at spawning salmon during Salmon Homecoming in the fall.

Michael Barton visits Maricara Natural Area in Southwest Portland with his son, Patrick, 10, and daughter, Afton, 4.

Muwafaq Alkattan stands on a trail at Cooper Mountain Regional Park. A refugee from Iraq, Alkattan

Muwafaq Alkattan stands on a trail at Cooper Mountain Regional Park. Alkattan turned an internship with Metro into an opportunity to share the region's parks with fellow Iraqi refugees.

Muwafaq Alkattan stands on a trail at Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Alkattan turned an internship with Metro into an opportunity to share the region's parks with fellow Iraqi refugees.

photo of Mt. Hood Community College students

Mt. Hood Community College students celebrate a hard day of restoration work at South Beaver Creek Natural Area next to the college.

photo of great blue heron at Orenco Woods Nature Park

Spot great blue heron and other animals at Orenco Woods Nature Park, which will open Feb. 4 in Hillsboro.

photo of prescribed burn at Cooper Mountain

A prescribed burn at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in fall 2016 will help restore the prairie.

Jan. 6, 2017 3:44 p.m.

Many people start the new year with resolutions to improve their health, and nature can play a key role in achieving that goal.

Learn how two Portland-area residents experience nature and its health benefits, then find tips to get outside more -- all in the winter 2017 issue of Our Big Backyard, Metro's quarterly parks and nature magazine.

Find a copy of the magazine at a local public library branch, the Oregon Zoo, a Metro park, or at various community centers and senior centers. Or read individual stories online on Parks and Nature News or click the image on the right to see a PDF of the magazine.

Also in the winter magazine:

Learn more about the Metro parks and natural areas levy that voters renewed in November and what the money will go toward.
Get to know Muwafaq Alkattan, an Iraqi refugee who has introduced many fellow Iraqis to parks across the greater Portland area. In the process of discovering nature, he has also settled into his new home.
Find out how Mt. Hood Community College students inspired the restoration of a natural area.
Meet Carol Mayer-Reed, a landscape architect with local design powerhouse Mayer/Reed, who is working on the design of the Willamette Falls Riverwalk.
Learn why parts of Cooper Mountain Nature Park were intentionally set on fire in fall 2016 as part of a prescribed burn.
Get the details about the fun nature classes and events, such as Raptor Road Trip on Feb. 4 at Sauvie Island.
Mark you calendar for Metro Free Parks Days Jan. 14, 15 and 16.
And more!

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Read individual stories or view a PDF of the magazine on Parks and Nature News