The Second OACA Gardening Activity & Community BBQ Event
On the afternoon of Saturday, July 26, the Olympia Area Chinese Association (OACA) hosted its second gardening workshop and summer BBQ community gathering at the picturesque Deschutes River Ranch. As part of the “Healthy Environment for All (HEAL)” grant program, the event drew nearly 150 enthusiastic participants from the Chinese and surrounding communities, creating a vibrant and heartwarming atmosphere.
Starting at 3 PM, board members and volunteers arrived to set up the event space—arranging tables, chairs, and tents—transforming the riverside into a cheerful and well-organized gathering spot. Everyone worked in sync with clear roles and great teamwork, contributing quietly and diligently to ensure a successful event.
At 4 PM sharp, the gardening session kicked off. Mr. Michael Chen, a seasoned local gardening expert, gave an engaging and practical presentation. Using clear and relatable language, he shared useful tips and personal experiences on home gardening, offering insights into planting techniques, seasonal care, and common troubleshooting. The audience responded with frequent applause and laughter, clearly enjoying and learning from the session.
By 5:30 PM, the aroma of grilled food filled the air, adding extra excitement to the evening. Guests lined up in an orderly fashion for a delicious BBQ dinner featuring a variety of authentic and hearty dishes. After the meal, many families strolled along scenic trails, enjoying the summer breeze and connecting with friends and neighbors. Children continued their riverside adventures on the grass and along the shore, their laughter and joyful shouts becoming the most memorable music of the evening.
The shallow, crystal-clear river became a natural playground for the children—some skipping stones, others spotting small fish darting beneath the surface—bringing the river's vibrant ecosystem to life. It was both a playground and a classroom for nature exploration.
As nightfall approached and the event came to a close, volunteers once again demonstrated remarkable teamwork, quickly and efficiently cleaning up and restoring the site. Surplus food was thoughtfully distributed, extending the spirit of sharing beyond the gathering. Some children also received toys used during the event as parting gifts, adding a warm final touch to a joyful afternoon.
The success of this event was made possible by many hands and hearts. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Asia Pacific Cultural Center for its generous support, to the ranch owner Jon Pettit and Biying Chen for hosting the venue, to Mr. Chen for his expert presentation, to our board members and volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and to every community member who came out to participate. It is this collective enthusiasm and collaboration that made this summer gathering so meaningful and unforgettable.
夏日阳光下的相聚—— 第二次园艺活动暨社区BBQ聚会圆满落幕
7月26日（周六）下午，由奥林匹亚地区华人协会主办的第二次园艺体验活动及夏日BBQ社区大聚会，在风景如画的 Deschutes River Ranch成功举办。此次活动作为“全民享有健康环境（HEAL）”资助项目的一部分，吸引了来自华人及周边社区近 150位朋友 的热情参与，场面热闹而温馨。
下午3点，协会理事和志愿者们陆续到达现场，迅速展开布置工作——搭建桌椅与帐篷，为即将到来的聚会营造出一个热闹而有序的中心区域。大家分工明确、配合默契，每一位志愿者都为活动的成功默默奉献、尽职尽责。
4点整，园艺活动准时开始。本地资深园艺专家陈文光先生为大家带来了一场精彩、生动的园艺知识讲解。他用简明易懂的语言结合丰富的实践经验，向大家介绍了家庭种植的实用技巧，让在场的听众受益匪浅，不时传出阵阵掌声与笑声。
5点半，美食的香气弥漫开来，为傍晚的活动增添了另一份热情。排队领取晚餐的长队有序延伸，丰富而地道的菜品令人大快朵颐。晚餐之后，很多家庭选择沿着美丽的小径散步，在夏日晚风中与亲朋好友畅谈，享受片刻宁静与交流的喜悦。孩子们则在草地上、河岸边继续他们的“探险之旅”，欢笑声、呼喊声此起彼伏，构成了这个夏日傍晚最动人的音符。
河水清浅而清澈，吸引了许多孩子驻足玩耍。有人在水面打水漂，有人发现小鱼穿梭其中，展现出这条河流生机勃勃的生态魅力。河边成了孩子们的天然游乐场，也是他们与大自然亲密接触的课堂。
当夜色渐深，活动临近尾声，志愿者们再次展现了高效的协作精神，迅速而有序地完成清理工作，将场地恢复如初。多余的食物也被合理分发，让分享的精神延续到活动之外。活动中使用的部分儿童玩具也慷慨赠予了小朋友们，为这个愉快的下午画上了温暖的句点。
本次活动的圆满成功，离不开多方支持。我们特别感谢亚太文化中心对协会及社区的大力资助，感谢主办场地的主人JonPettit和陈碧莺夫妇，感谢陈文光先生的专业讲解，感谢协会理事和志愿者们的辛勤筹备与现场组织，更感谢每一位到场支持与参与的社区成员。正是大家的共同努力与热情，才让这个夏日的周末如此美好而难忘。
夏日陽光下的相聚—— 第二次園藝活動暨社區BBQ聚會圓滿落幕
7月26日（週六）下午，由奧林匹亞地區華人協會主辦的第二次園藝體驗活動暨夏日BBQ社區大聚會，在風景如畫的 Deschutes River Ranch成功舉行。此次活動作為「全民享有健康環境（HEAL）資助項目的一部分，吸引了來自華人及周邊社區近 150位朋友 熱情參與，現場氣氛熱烈而溫馨。
下午3點，協會理事和志工們陸續抵達現場，迅速展開場地布置——搭建桌椅與帳篷，將河畔營造出一個熱鬧有序的聚會中心。大家分工明確、配合無間，每位志工都為活動的順利進行默默奉獻、盡心盡力。
4點整，園藝活動準時展開。由本地資深園藝專家陳文光先生主講，他以簡明易懂的語言結合豐富實務經驗，為大家帶來一場生動實用的園藝講解，內容涵蓋家庭種植技巧、季節性管理及常見問題的應對方式，讓聽眾受益匪淺，講堂中不時傳出熱烈掌聲與笑聲。
5點半，現場被香氣所包圍，BBQ 晚餐正式登場。一道道豐盛又道地的美食吸引長長人龍，大家有序排隊、歡聲笑語不斷。晚餐過後，許多家庭沿著美麗的小徑散步，在夏日晚風中與親朋好友共享悠閒時光。孩子們則繼續他們的探險之旅，在草地與河岸邊奔跑嬉戲，笑聲與呼喊聲交織成這個傍晚最動人的旋律。
清澈淺緩的河水吸引了眾多孩子駐足，有人玩起打水漂，有人驚喜發現水中穿梭的小魚，展現出這條河流充滿生機的自然生態。河岸彷彿成了孩子們的天然樂園，也是一堂貼近自然的生態課。
隨著夜色降臨，活動進入尾聲。志工們再度展現高效率與協作精神，迅速有序地完成清理工作，使場地回復原貌。多餘的食物也被妥善分發，讓分享的精神延續至活動之外。活動中使用的部分兒童玩具亦慷慨贈與小朋友們，為這段充滿歡樂的午後畫下溫暖句點。
此次活動的圓滿成功，離不開多方支持與參與。我們特別感謝 亞太文化中心 對協會與社區的慷慨資助，感謝 Jon Pettit 先生與陳碧瑩女士提供場地支持，感謝陳文光先生的專業講解，感謝協會理事與志工們的辛勤籌劃與現場協助，更感謝每一位出席並參與其中的社區成員。正是大家的熱情投入與齊心協力，才讓這個夏日午後變得如此美好而難忘。