The main campground opens Friday, April 26, at Howard Prairie Reservoir, where new docks are in, the boat ramp is ready for use, and the water level in the reservoir is rising, according to Jackson County Parks.

After years of drought, the lake again isn’t expected to fill, but should be higher than last year, according to a department announcement.

The lake’s main campground, also known as the Howard Prairie Resort, has more than 200 sites. The resort has a store and cafe, but it isn’t open yet. Moorage slips are expected to be available for rent in mid-May.

Also at the lake, camping is scheduled to be available as of May 3 at 41-site Willow Point Park, 21-site Grizzly Park, 31-site Klum Landing and 11-site Lily Glen Equestrian Park.

At other county parks, camping is available year-round at Joseph Stewart County Park and at the 32-site RV park at Emigrant Lake, where 40 seasonal camping sites opened last week. Camping at 40-site Rogue Elk is scheduled to open today, although there’s no water hookups and no showers available. Camping at 68-site Willow Lake is open.

Cantrall Buckley County Park, with 30 sites, is expected to open in mid-May, after hazard trees are removed and cleaned up.

To reserve a camp spot, go to jacksoncountyor.gov and navigate to the parks page. For more information, contact the parks department at 541-774-8183.

Get your Medford, Ashland summer rec guides

Summer program guides are available from the cities of Medford and Ashland. They include information on senior, adult and youth programs, including day camps, swim lessons, events and concerts.

View the Medford guide at medford.com. View the Ashland guide at bit.ly/3UkC1gm.

Bike swap set for Saturday in Ashland

Ride on over to the Rogue Valley Bike Swap from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ashland Parks and Recreation Grove, 1195 E. Main St. in Ashland. Buy, sell or donate a bike, parts or accessories.

Participants may test ride an e-bike, register their bike with the Ashland Police Department and learn about bike events and advocacy efforts.

People may drop off their bike for sale or donation 4-6 p.m. Friday at Rogue Valley Transit District offices, 229 S. Front St., Medford; at the Grove 5-7 p.m. Friday or at the Grove 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday.

For more information, contact Sulaiman Shelton at 541-552-2264 or Sulaiman.shelton@ashland.or.us.

Learn about history of water development

Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is holding a Hike and Learn event about water Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28.

A lecture about the history of Western water development is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in the Science Building at Southern Oregon University. And a hike is set for 9 a.m. Sunday, April 28, to visit water development structures in the monument. To register, visit cascadesiskiyou.org.

Plant a tree at Arbor Day event

In honor of Arbor Day, a tree-planting work party is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Friday, April 26, at North Mountain Park, 620 N. Mountain Ave. in Ashland. All ages are welcome. Equipment, instructions and snacks are provided.

Meet at the park’s nature play area. For more information, call 541-488-6606 or visit ashland.or.us/register.

Stroll along Limpy botanical trail

Enjoy spring flowers, meadows and a waterfall during an easy 1-mile walk through the forest and nearby areas at the Limpy Botanical Loop Trail in Josephine County, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 29. Cost is $15 or less using a sliding scale.

The outing is led by botanist Rachel Werling with the Oregon State Extension Service. She is president of the Siskiyou Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon.

Register at beav.es/UcY or call the OSU Extension office at 541-776-7371. After registering, you’ll receive directions to the meeting location.

Seniors can take Fido on a 5-mile hike

The Medford Parks and Recreation Department is offering a challenging 5-mile, dog-friendly hike for people 55 and older to Bear Gulch Loop at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 29. The hike leader will provide directions. Dogs must be well-mannered and on a leash.

Cost is $9 for residents and $15 for non-residents. Register at playmedford.com or 541-774-2400.

Learn about coping with climate change

Learn about how climate change is affecting mental health when Southern Oregon Climate Action Now gathers for its monthly meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at the Medford library, 205 S. Central Ave.

The featured presenter is scheduled to be Liz Olson, who serves as a specialty chaplain at Providence Medford Medical Center. For several years, she had led a SOCAN support group, Sustaining Climate Activists.

During her presentation, Olson will discuss why people should be concerned about mental health as it pertains to climate change and will discuss effects and differences among populations, particularly people of color, Indigenous communities and youths. During the second half of the program, she will lead participants through some interactive exercises.

For more information, contact Alan Journet at 541-301-4107.

Enjoy Children’s Day at Japanese Garden

Celebrate Children’s Day at the Ashland Japanese Garden from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5.

This free event honors “Kodomo no Hi,” a Japanese holiday celebrating children’s happiness and individuality. Discover the traditions of this holiday, including the raising of “koinobori” windsocks symbolizing strength and growth.

There will be interactive stations with traditional Japanese toys, cultural activities and koi feeding. The garden is in Lithia Park, near Granite Street and Strawberry Lane.

For more information, visit AshlandJapaneseGarden.org or contact the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department, at 541.488.5340.

Hike the Table Rocks

The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Bureau of Land Management are offering free educational hikes at Upper and Lower Table Rocks during April, May and June. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Hikes are scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, April 27, at Lower Table Rock; a Spanish-English hike at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at Upper Table Rock; a hike that includes a tour of bee habitat at 10 a.m. May 4 at Upper Table Rock; and a hike that will feature discussion about history and Takelma Indian culture at 9:30 a.m. May 5 at Lower Table Rock. Other hikes are scheduled later in May and into June.

To register, visit tinyurl.com/TableRocksHikes2024. For more information, call the BLM at 541-618-2200 or The Nature Conservancy at 541-708-4990.

In a related matter, the BLM is scheduled to close the Upper Table Rock trailhead and trail Monday, April 29, through May 2 to continue re-routing sections of the trail near the summit and completing some drainage work.