EVENTS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Every Tuesday, 9 am – 3 pm: South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party
Contact Audrey Lamb with the Center for Natural Lands Management—South Sound Program, at alamb@cnlm.org.
Every Wednesday, 8-11 am: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Bird Walk
Meet at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Overlook at 8 am, and join Phil Kelley from Black Hills Audubon Society for the entire walk or for as long as you wish.)
Center for Natural Lands Management Office Volunteer Needed
The Center for Natural Lands Management is looking for an office volunteer to work in the downtown office one day a week for approximately 3 months, and help us consolidate and organize past studies and projects. The position will involve a great deal of photocopying, hunting for files, as well as patience and excellent organizational skills. For more information, email ssvolunteers@cnlm.org.
Training for 2012 Beach Naturalists starts April 5th.
Sign-up for the South Sound Estuary Association’s Beach Naturalist Program, and help people learn about and enjoy local beaches this summer. You will learn about our beach habitat, help beach visitors really see what’s living at the beach, have an opportunity to get to know other Beach Naturalists (some of the nicest people around) and get all the great benefits of being outside and on the beach. If you are interested in knowing more about this exciting opportunity contact Leihla at 360 888-0565 or at leihla@sseacenter.org.
Join the East Bay Purple Martin monitoring team
Are you interested in monitoring these amazing aerial acrobats? Stream Team is looking for volunteers interested in monitoring the nest boxes at East Bay in downtown Olympia from April to September and inspecting and cleaning the houses after the birds leave in September. For more information, or to sign up, contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336.
Shellfish Volunteers needed at Steilacoom & South Whidbey Island
The Puget Sound Restoration Fund is looking for a “permanent” sampling volunteer(s) for their PSP toxic shellfish sampling program. This requires roughly a two-hour commitment on a weekday once every two weeks—all year round for our Steilacoom site, and from April to October for Scatchet Head on south Whidbey Island. If you are interested in volunteering for either of these sites, please email Josh Bouma, Project Manager, at josh@restorationfund.org.
Volunteer needed at Port Gamble Oyster/Abalone Hatchery
The Puget Sound Restoration Fund is seeking a volunteer to help out regularly at our Port Gamble oyster/abalone hatchery. We are looking for someone who is willing to come in once a week on Thursday or Friday. We need someone who is comfortable doing a wide range of tasks and willing to get a bit dirty and work in a wet environment, possibly outside or in the hatchery with very cold seawater. Some of the tasks may include using a drill, painting, cleaning tanks/filters, feeding animals, organizing equipment. This is very hands-on work doing different jobs as needed at the hatchery. If you are interested, email wendy@restorationfund.org and I will pass your name on to Ryan Crim, Hatchery Manager.
Tuesday, March 27
9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party
We will be meeting at Glacial Heritage. Mark Roth will be there with a woodchipper. The priority is stacking tree branches along the entrance road, and then chipping them. We will also chip some of the burn piles on the perimeter road. Then, we will spread the mulch around young Garry Oak trees. The mulch will shade the soil so that it will hold moisture better, reduce water needs, and reduce competition. As always, please make sure to bring gloves, lunch, rain gear, and a smile. For more information, contact Audrey Lamb with the Center for Natural Lands Management—South Sound Program, at alamb@cnlm.org. Directions to Glacial Heritage: take I-5 to exit 95 (the Littlerock exit), ~10 miles south of Olympia; go west through Littlerock to the T-intersection at Mima Road/Waddell Creek; turn south (left) on Mima Road and go 2.7 miles; take a left onto a gravel road with sign for Glacial Heritage—you will see a tractor sign and then the turn. Please obey the 15 mph speed limit, as there are often dogs and small children active nearby. Follow the road through the gate; take the first right, and then stay to the left to get to the house.
Wednesday, March 28
9 am – 1 pm – Cooper Point Restoration Work Party
(Cooper Point area, Olympia) Join volunteers with People For Puget Sound in removing invasive vegetation to protect native plantings. Dress for the weather (rain or shine) and wear sturdy, waterproof shoes or boots for all events. Minors who plan to attend without their legal guardians must contact the event coordinator prior to the event to receive a special release form that must be completed. Children ten and under must have adult supervision. For driving directions and other instructions, RSVP to Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org. For more information, contact Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org or at 360-754-9177 ext. 183.
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(Tumwater High School Library: 700 Israel Rd SW; Tumwater 98501) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
Thursday, March 29
6:00 – 8:00 pm – Cooking class: Exploring Edible Weeds
FULL: check www.olympiafood.coop/classes to see if space becomes available.
Friday, March 30
8:30 am – 12:00 pm – 2012 State Energy Strategy: Vision to Action
(Building 35 (Natural Sciences), South Puget Sound Community College: 2011 Mottman Road SW; Olympia) Join us for the first symposium in a new Sustainability Symposium series called Vision2Action—A Conversation on the Built Environment. For this symposium, the Washington State Department of Commerce will present the newly released 2012 Washington State Energy Strategy, with 3 goals: keep energy prices competitive, foster a clean energy economy and jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hear strategy comments from experts on energy and transportation policy, followed by a café-style discussion with local officials and leaders in business, economic and non-profit sectors. Program begins at 9 am. Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be served. Brought to you by Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, Thurston County Solid Waste, Thurston Climate Action Team, and the SPSCC Environmental Sustainability Committee. To register, go to www.ecobuilding.org/guild-chapters/olympia/vision2action-series/register-for-vision2action-series. For more about the series, go to www.Vision2Action.us.
6:30-9:00 pm – The Underwater World: Photography from a Master
(The Elks: 1818 4th Ave E. in Olympia—across the street from Ralph’s Thriftway) In the course of a long, illustrious and far-flung career, Ernie Brooks has used his photography to document changes in our environment, in the process becoming a tremendous advocate of our need to witness the effects of those changes. Join us for a night of listening to Ernie recall his career of adventure and exploration—including as a photographer for National Geographic—while he presents a slideshow of his acclaimed underwater images. These magnificent silver photographs embody Ernie’s lifetime pursuit of his art and the end purpose of his journey: to provide inspiration for the preservation of our marine environment. The evening with Ernie has two parts: the slideshow, followed by a smaller, more intimate session allowing for questions and personal exchanges with Ernie over coffee and snacks. Because this is a fundraising event for South Sound Estuary Association, there is a cost: $25 for the slideshow presentation—or $50 for the presentation plus the meet and greet with Ernie Brooks afterwards, and refreshments. To register, go to https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=xcpwlrdab&oeidk=a07e5jposbu2ee6b372.
Saturday, March 31
9 am – 1 pm – Woodland Trail Work Party
Help prepare a planting bed at the Eastside Street Trailhead. Bring glovesand dress for rain. Gloves and tools provided if you do not have them. Meet at Eastside Street Traihead on the Woodland Trail. By car: From I-5 take the Pacific Avenue exit in Olympia. Proceed West 0.8 miles on Pacific Avenue. Take Boulevard Rd South 0.6 miles. Turn Left (East) onto 15th st (Same as Dayton). Go around the bend to the end. The Doors Unlimited people have been nice enough to let us use their parking lot. Look for the white tent. By bicycle: From Pacific Avenue, take Boulevard Rd South appx 0.4 miles. Immediately after crossing I-5, turn Left (East) onto the I-5 bike path. Take an immediate right onto the short connector trail. Turn left (East) onto the Woodland Trail, and go ¼ mile West to Dayton Street. Look for the white tent.
9 am – noon –Powell Pasture NatureMapping Field Trip
(near Yelm) The Nisqually Land Trust is seeking baseline data on two properties on the Nisqually River. The Powell Pasture site is in the Yelm area and has been recently planted in efforts to restore the natural habitat for wildlife use along the River. This field trip is free for participants, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in grassy and woody environments and on uneven surfaces. The terrain ranges from level unpaved roads to uneven meadows and forests. Some areas require climbing and manuvering over debris. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up.
9:30 am – noon, 1 – 3:30 pm – Mushrooms and Composting
(Memorial Hall: 210 W Franklin Street, Shelton) 9:30 am – noon: Join WSU Extension Agent Jim Freed to learn about mushrooms and other specialty forest products. 1:00-3:30 pm: Join WSU Master Gardener Kimberly Wheeler to learn how to make and use compost at home. Cost: $25 per day or $30 per couple. Payment accepted at the door. Please call 360-427-9670 Ext. 680 to register in advance to ensure adequate supplies for the class.
10:00 am – noon – Woodland Creek Community Park Work Party
(6729 Pacific Ave SE; Lacey) Plant native trees and shrubs, care for existing plants, mulch recently planted plants, and contribute to building a stronger riparian buffer for Woodland Creek! This site has improved greatly over the last several years, but there is still work to be done. Dress for the weather and get ready to plant some trees. Tools and refreshments will be provided, just bring your boots and we will see you there…rain or shine! Directions: From I-5, take the Martin Way Exit 109, (From southbound I-5, turn Left onto Martin Way—From northbound I-5, turn Right onto Martin Way). Turn Right onto Carpenter Rd. Turn Left onto Pacific Avenue. After about ¼ mile, turn RIGHT into the park. Head all the way to the back of the park, near the big toys, look for the Stream Team sign and walk down the paved trail to sign in near the kiosk. For more info, contact Katie at 360-438-2672 or streamteam@ci.lacey.wa.us.
12 – 2 pm – Titlow Park Waterbird Survey
(Tacoma) Join volunteers with People For Puget Sound in identifying and counting waterbirds at Titlow Lagoon and beach. No experience necessary! Dress for the weather (rain or shine) and wear sturdy, waterproof shoes or boots for all events. Minors who plan to attend without their legal guardians must contact the event coordinator prior to the event to receive a special release form that must be completed. Children ten and under must have adult supervision. For driving directions and other instructions, RSVP to Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org. For more information, contact Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org or at 360-754-9177 ext. 183.
Tuesday, April 3
12 – 1:30 pm – Marcy Houle on the Zumwalt Prairie in Oregon
(Shotwell’s Landing Nursery: 14447 Little Rock Road SW; Rochester 98579) Marcy Houle, the author of The Prairie Keepers: Secrets of the Zumwalt, will be speaking about her experiences studying and living on the Zumwalt Prairie in Oregon. The event will take place during a volunteer work party at the Center for Natural Lands Management’s native plant nursery, Shotwell’s Landing. Snacks and tea will be provided. Everyone is welcome!
RSVP to ssvolunteers@cnlm.org so we have an approximate count of folks. Directions: take I-5 to exit 95 (Littlerock exit), ~10 miles south of Olympia; go west to the Stop sign in Littlerock by the elementary school (the only stop sign in Littlerock); continue straight for ~100 feet, and turn left onto Littlerock Road; go 1.7 miles south on Littlerock Road—Shotwell’s Nursery will be on your right.
Thursday, April 5
9 am – noon and 1-4 pm – Design, Wax, Paint: Create Batik Art with Stream Team
(Procession of the Species Art Studio: 311 Capitol Way; Olympia) Join Stream Team for a free workshop to learn the ancient technique of batik—wax painting on cloth—and paint your favorite Stream Team memory, place in nature or animal. All supplies and instruction included. This is a family-friendly event. Batiks created by participants 18 yrs. old and younger will have the opportunity to display their designs during Arts Walks, April 27 – 28. To register, contact Michelle at 360-753-8336 or mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us.
Saturday, April 7
8:00 – 10:00 am – Kennedy Creek Shorebird Field Trip
(Van leaves downtown Olympia at 7:30 am) Are you interested in learning about the shorebirds that rely on our local estuaries and mudflats to fuel their long migration flights? Would you like to learn how your observations can contribute to science? Join us for a field trip to Kennedy Creek estuary with special guest speaker Joe Buchanan to observe the shorebird migration. We hope to see several species of shorebirds including western sandpipers, dunlins and black-bellied plovers. Volunteers interested in citizen monitoring opportunities will learn how to record birding observations and how volunteer observations can help track bird populations in South Puget Sound. Space is limited. For more information or to sign up for this free field trip and reserve your space in the van, contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336.
9 am – 1 pm – Cooper Point Restoration Work Party
(Cooper Point area, Olympia) Join volunteers with People For Puget Sound in removing invasive vegetation to protect native plantings. Dress for the weather (rain or shine) and wear sturdy, waterproof shoes or boots for all events. Minors who plan to attend without their legal guardians must contact the event coordinator prior to the event to receive a special release form that must be completed. Children ten and under must have adult supervision. For driving directions and other instructions, RSVP to Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org. For more information, contact Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org or at 360-754-9177 ext. 183.
9 am – noon – Easter Broom Pull at Van Eaton Homestead
(Eatonville) Come join the Nisqually Land Trust on for an egg hunt of a different sort! We’ll be hunting invasive Scotch broom on our historic Van Eaton Homestead property in Eatonville. We’re clearing this exotic species so we can replant the area with native trees and shrubs. The property sits on the beautiful Mashel River, which is the largest tributary of the Nisqually and critical salmon habitat. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be provided. Please bring a water bottle and any other food you might need. Work parties are rain or shine. Bring layers, raingear, and closed toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. All minors MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To register and get directions, go to https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=jzh7gggab&oeidk=a07e5qivxp5b8fa63ab. For more information, contact Charly Kearns at
volunteer@nisquallylandtrust.org or at 360-489-3400.
Monday, April 9
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(Rainier High School Library: 202 2nd W; Rainier 98576) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
7 pm – Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Estuary Restoration:The Continuing Evolution of the Nisqually Estuary
(Washington State Capitol Museum Coach House: 211 21st Avenue SW; Olympia 98501) The Refuge, working with key partners, Ducks Unlimited and the Nisqually Indian Tribe, restored tidal waters and natural processes to 762 acres of the Nisqually Estuary in 2009 by completely removing 4.5 miles of the 100 year old Brown Farm Dike. Over the two-plus years since the restoration of the tides, the site has been in a state of transition. This talk will cover various aspects of restoration implementation; fish, wildlife, and ecosystem response; and highlight the tidally-influenced floodplain forest restoration, salt marsh vegetation response, and factors influencing vegetation community development in the restoration area. Jesse Barham has been a Restoration Biologist at Nisqually NWR since the spring of 2009; working on the estuary restoration project, boardwalk construction, and management of freshwater wetlands. Prior to coming to the Refuge he worked as a Restoration Biologist with the Nisqually Indian Tribe and has 10 years of experience working on wetland restoration projects. He is a graduate of The Evergreen State College.
Tuesday, April 10
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(Lacey Community Center: 6729 Pacific Ave SE; Lacey 98503) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
7:00 pm – Science Café of Olympia: Rebuilding People—Auto Parts to Autologous Tissues
(Room 100A, Harned Hall, Saint Martin’s University: 5300 Pacific Avenue SE; Lacey) Our speaker this month is Buddy D. Ratner, Ph.D. Dr. Ratner is a professor in the departments of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington, and Director of UW Engineered Biomaterials. Through most of human history, failing body parts have led to pain, limited mobility, loss of function or death. Replacement body parts emerged in the 1940s with early artificial joints, synthetic eye lenses and kidney dialysis. But synthetic materials are prone to the foreign-body response, in which the patient’s cells wall off the new entity to isolate it from the body. To combat this effect, Dr. Ratner’s lab developed a class of porous, synthetic scaffolds that minimize the foreign-body response and encourage the restoration of healthy, living tissue around the implant. There is a commonality in living organisms’ reactions to today’s implants: flattened white blood cells (macrophages) attempt to engulf the biomaterial starting at about 48 hours; we hypothesize that our new, porous materials mechanically drive these macrophage cells down a healing pathway, rather than an “attack” pathway. This opens up a new possibility: creating materials to help the body heal itself. These macrophages that surround the UW scaffold may transform into some or all of the new cells and tissues in the healed implant. Thus, we may be able to use engineered materials to guide the body’s own regenerative potential. A map and driving directions can be found at www.stmartin.edu/about/DrivingHere.aspx#Saint_Martins_Universitys_address. Parking is free after 5:00 pm, and Parking Lots M and N are closest to Harned Hall. Please note that a class is using Room 100A until 6:50 pm, so please remain in the lobby or in the sitting area at the Monks Bean coffee shop until the class is dismissed. (Monks Bean is on the right as you enter Harned Hall and adjacent to Room 100A.)
Wednesday, April 11
7 pm – Around the world with bluebells: Washington State and Beyond
(Tacoma Nature Center: 1919 South Tyler Street; Tacoma 98405) Classification of Campanulaceae (including the Bluebells) is in an uproar as modern molecular approaches raise more questions than provide answers in determining taxonomic relationships in this large l flowering plant family. The Bluebells include large genera (the northern hemisphere Campanula, and southern hemisphere Wahlenbergia, and the Lobelias) and many small genera and endemic species, with interesting biogeography and challenging taxonomic questions. New evidence of relationships allows for many opportunities to reconsider the geographic distribution and development of variation in this fascinating group. There are an estimated 84 genera and 2380 species, including 7 genera and 13 species native to Washington State. Dr. Romey Haberle will discuss variation and relationships of our natives and describe current research on the biogeography of North American bluebells. Dr. Haberle is an assistant professor of biology at Pacific Lutheran University where her areas of emphasis are plant systematics and evolution. She received her PH.D. in Botany at the University of Texas in 2006.
Thursday, April 12
noon-1:00 pm – Poverty Alleviation and Gender Equality through Fair Trade
(South Puget Sound Community College, Building 26, Room 101) Olowo-n’djo Thales will discuss the moral mobilization African indigenous resources, such as Shea butter based on traditional knowledge, in creating long term positive impact in his West African communities.. Olowo-n’djo Tchala is Founder and Director, Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care, Olympia, WA.
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(Tenino High School Commons: 500 W 2nd Ave; Tenino 98589) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
Saturday, April 14
9 am – 1 pm – Cooper Point Restoration Work Party
(Cooper Point area, Olympia) Join volunteers with People For Puget Sound in removing invasive vegetation to protect native plantings. Dress for the weather (rain or shine) and wear sturdy, waterproof shoes or boots for all events. Minors who plan to attend without their legal guardians must contact the event coordinator prior to the event to receive a special release form that must be completed. Children ten and under must have adult supervision. For driving directions and other instructions, RSVP to Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org. For more information, contact Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org or at 360-754-9177 ext. 183.
9 am – noon – Ohop Creek Restoration NatureMapping Field Trip
(near Eatonville) The South Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nisqually Land Trust and its partners have joined together to restore the creek through the Ohop Valley to its original meandering pathway. Northwest Trek is helping by providing data collection and monitoring of the wildlife in the project area, using citizen-scientists in the data collection efforts—which is what this event will involve. This field trip is free, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in a wet environment on uneven surfaces. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up for a field trip.
9 am – 4 pm – Sustainability Summit: Unleashing our Creative Genius
(South Puget Sound Community College, Minnaert Center) Do you have a positive and hopeful vision for a sustainable and resilient future? Do you want to make our community stronger and more united? Do you want to join a group of people whose answers to both of these questions is an ecstatic, “Yes!”? Then the Alliance for Community Transition welcomes you! Join us at the kickoff of our transition to a resilient, sustainable and more hopeful future. Our response to climate change, peak oil, and economic instability is going to look more like a party than a protest march! We envision a future with less oil that is preferable to our present oil-powered world. We choose local resilience over oil dependency. A growing number of individuals, organizations, and community leaders think that it is not only possible, but essential, that we realize this vision.
At the Summit we will: connect with our community; learn from community experts; envision a better future; unleash our creative genius; and celebrate positive action. Keynote speaker David Korten will provide a framework for creating connected, resilient, Main Street communities in response to climate change, peak oil, and global economic disruption. (David Korten is the author of Lessons from the Biosphere: Creating Connected, Resilient Communities, The Great Turning, Agenda for a New Economy, The Post-Corporate World, and When Corporations Rule the World, and co-founder of YES! Magazine.) A panel of local experts will share their perspectives on our local economy, food security, water and energy use, transportation and land use. Exhibits will showcase a variety of local sustainable solutions. Attendees will discuss the issues in small workgroups and begin developing creative solutions and action plans for transitioning to a resilient community. Space is limited, and registration is required. Early bird prices (before April 4): $25, lunch included, or $12 without lunch. Register now at: www.TransitionOlympia.org. Sponsored by Alliance for Community Transition and BRICK. For more information, Contact Barb at 878-9901 or barb@scavezze.com. Alliance for Community Transition, www.TransitionOlympia.org.
10 am – noon – McLane Creek Nature Trail Maintenance Work Party
(Olympia, west side) Join the Native Plant Salvage Project and Thurston County Stream Team to help maintain trails. We prune encroaching vegetation, clear and brush the trails so that visitors can more easily enjoy this unique setting. All volunteers will earn hours towards award of a free Discover Pass! Please let us know you are coming by contacting Ann Marie at 360-754-3355 ext. 6857 or at finanam@co.thurston.wa.us, so we can bring enough tools and pizza.
10 am – 2 pm – Monarch Sculpture Park Work Party
(8431 Waldrick Rd; Tenino 98589) We need to keep the park operational until permanent stewardship can be established. Come help with landscape maintenance on these dates. Bring a weed whacker if you have one, and other landscaping tools. RSVP to tbp112000@msn.com or the Monarch event page on facebook. To volunteer at the Park during times other than organized work parties, contact the owner, Myrna Orsini at 360 264 2408.
10 am – 2 pm – Design, Wax, Paint: Create Batik Art with Stream Team
(Procession of the Species Art Studio: 311 Capitol Way; Olympia) Join Stream Team for a free workshop to learn the ancient technique of batik—wax painting on cloth—and paint your favorite Stream Team memory, place in nature or animal. All supplies and instruction included. This is a family-friendly event. Batiks created by participants 18 yrs. old and younger will have the opportunity to display their designs during Arts Walks, April 27 – 28. To register, contact Michelle at 360-753-8336 or mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us.
April 17
5:30 – 7:30 pm – Free Septic Workshop
(Pioneer Intermediate School, Agate Road) Class will help homeowners avoid flushing money down the drain. Experts will explain what can be flushed safely, how septic systems work and what to do to protect this valuable feature of every rural home. We will provide participants the opportunity to ask questions specific to their own needs. Learn what you can do on your own, or when it is time to call a professional. Septic maintenance discount coupon and manual included. Call to register: 360-427-9670 Ext.680.
7 – 8 pm – Schneider Creek Presentation
(Traditions Café: 300 5th Ave. SW; Olympia) Presenter Deborah Ross, local historian and author of the Schneider family novel called Konrad and Albertina, will use the Schneider family as a model for how pioneer families found and used natural resources in Olympia and the surrounding area. Deborah will focus on farming, lumbering, quarrying, shellfish harvesting, land development and the critical need for access to water for all of these activities. Free.
7:00 – 8:15 pm – Life in the Slow Lane: Slugs & Snails in the Wild and in our Gardens
(REI Olympia: 625 Black Lake Blvd. #410; Olympia 98502) Seattle-based naturalist David George Gordon has appeared on Conan O’Brien and been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. In his most recent book, The Secret World of Slugs and Snails: Life in the Very Slow Lane, Gordon invites us to “step into a world that, until now, you’ve only stepped on.” During his one-hour presentation, he’ll share his insights about our local slugs and snails, their curious behaviors and the niches they fill in the natural world. He’ll also explain how to forge a meaningful and lasting peace with these slimesters in our gardens and offer tips for watching them in the wild. A book-signing will follow his talk. Register online at http://www.rei.com/event/36033/session/45428 or by sending an email to Kathleen Ackley or calling (360) 943-3012.
Wednesday, April 18
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(Yelm Public Safety Building: 206 McKenzie Ave SE; Yelm 98597) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
Thursday, April 19
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(The Olympia Center: 222 Columbia St NW; Olympia 98501) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
6:30 – 8:00 pm – Let it Soak In: Rain Gardens Workshop
(LOTT’s WET Science Center, Board Room: 500 Adams; Olympia 98501) Adding a rain garden to your property is a great way to make a difference in protecting your local waterways and Puget Sound, while also beautifying your yard. Join us for a free, hands-on workshop to see firsthand how to add one of these lovely stormwater features to your yard. You’ll get all the details you need to design and install a beautiful rain garden that will manage your home’s drainage while also protecting our local waterways. Participants will receive a free full-color rain garden poster and a free copy of WSU’s Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners. Presentation is from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, followed by an optional hands-on workshop from 8:15 to 9 pm. Registration is required. For information or to register, contact WSU Native Plant Salvage project at nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com or 360-867-2166. EXTRA CREDIT
Saturday, April 21
10:00 am – noon – Black Lake Ditch Tree Planting
(Olympia) Tools and refreshments will be provided, just bring your boots and we will see you there…rain or shine! Directions: From Hwy 101 get off at Black Lake Blvd SW exit and turn south towards Black Lake. After the second traffic light (Lakemoor/Ken Lake neighborhood), turn left onto 21st Avenue. 21st curves to the right and turns into RW Johnson Rd. Just before the railroad tracks is a driveway and small gravel parking area on the right side of the road (the entrance to Black Lake Meadows—look for signs to the designated parking areas. For more info., contact Patricia Pyle at 360-570-5841 or ppyle@ci.olympia.wa.us.
Sunday, April 22
9 am – 1 pm – Earth Day Woodland Trail Work Party
Connect with the Earth and spread 60 yards of wood chips onto our trails. We need all the help we can get on this one! Bring a wheel barrow and a friend! Bring gloves, wheel barrows, and DRESS FOR RAIN. Gloves and tools provided if you do not have them. By car: From I-5 take the Pacific Avenue exit in Olympia. Proceed West 0.8 miles on Pacific Avenue. Take Boulevard Rd South 0.6 miles. Turn Left (East) onto 15th st (Same as Dayton). Go around the bend to the end. The Doors Unlimited people have been nice enough to let us use their parking lot. Look for the white tent. By bicycle: From Pacific Avenue, take Boulevard Rd South appx 0.4 miles. Immediately after crossing I-5, turn Left (East) onto the I-5 bike path. Take an immediate right onto the short connector trail. Turn left (East) onto the Woodland Trail, and go ¼ mile West to Dayton Street. Look for the white tent.
Monday, April 23
6 – 8 pm – Sustainable Thurston Public Workshop
(Rochester Middle School Commons: 9937 Hwy 12 SW; Rochester 98579) Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of your community. We need your help to create a vision for how the Thurston County region will look, function and feel over the next 20 – 30 years. Come and share your thoughts with your neighbors. Join a hands-on “Building Our Future” exercise, working with your neighbors to lay out your vision on a map. The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will use your ideas to develop a regional vision and goals. Sustainable Thurston is a community-wide conversation—with a goal to develop a vision for a vibrant, healthy and resilient future for the Thurston region, as well as the actions and responsibilities necessary to achieve it. How we grow matters. Our region is expected to grow by 67% in the next 30 years. Where and how that growth happens will make a difference in the choices we’ll enjoy as a community. This is a rare opportunity for community members and policy makers alike to have a voice in how we want our community to look, function and feel, as we add about 80,000 housing units and 84,000 jobs in our region over the next 30 years. You’re invited to join your neighbors at a hands-on workshop to take part in developing an initial vision. All community members will have an opportunity to share ideas about: challenges and opportunities growth will bring; possible future scenarios based on the best information available; how to best leverage growth to get the future we want to see; what needs to happen to achieve the future we envision; who will be responsible, and how to measure progress over time. For more information, go to http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx.
Thursday, April 26
noon – 1:00 pm – The Northwest Bio-carbon Initiative: Mobilizing the Power of Nature to Help Solve Global Warming
(South Puget Sound Community College, Building 26, Room 101) The Northwest Bio-carbon Initiative, a partnership of leading conservation groups in the region that aims to establish the Northwest as a global leader advancing cutting-edge model policies and practices to store carbon in our forests, farms and urbanized landscapes. Rhys Roth is Director of Strategic Innovation, Climate Solutions, Olympia, WA.
6-8 pm – League of Women Voters: Capitol Lake
(River’s Edge Restaurant: 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr. SE; Tumwater) Join the League of Women Voters, Thurston County to hear a variety of issues and perspectives on the future of Capital Lake will be discussed. Speakers to be announced. Social period at 6:00 followed by presentation and discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information, check the LWVTC calendar at www.lwvthurston.org/calendar.html or contact Allyson Brooks, 866-8375.
Saturday, April 28
9:00 am – 3:00 pm – WA Native Plant Society South Sound Chapter Spring Native Plant Sale
(Capital Museum Coach House: 211 21st Avenue SW; Olympia) Stay tuned for details.
9:30 – noon, 1 – 3:30 pm – More Vegetable Gardening and Native Plants for Health
(Memorial Hall: 210 W Franklin Street, Shelton) 9:30 am – noon: Join WSU Master Gardener Lou Schmidt to learn about summer varieties that require lots of heat such as squash, tomatoes, and beans. How to deal with summer drought and feeding your garden. 1:00-3:30 pm: Elizabeth Campbell, Northwest Indian College Educator, will share how to use native plants for health benefits. Participants will make rose hip jam. Cost: $25 per day or $30 per couple. Payment accepted at the door. Please call 360-427-9670 Ext. 680 to register in advance to ensure adequate supplies for the class.
10:00 am – noon – Woodland Creek Community Park Mulching Party
(6729 Pacific Ave SE; Lacey) Tools and refreshments will be provided, just bring your boots and we will see you there…rain or shine! Directions: From I-5, take the Martin Way Exit 109, (From southbound I-5, turn Left onto Martin Way—From northbound I-5, turn Right onto Martin Way). Turn Right onto Carpenter Rd. Turn Left onto Pacific Avenue. After about ¼ mile, turn RIGHT into the park. Head all the way to the back of the park, near the big toys, look for the Stream Team sign and walk down the paved trail to sign in near the kiosk. For more info, contact Katie at 360-438-2672 or streamteam@ci.lacey.wa.us.
Monday, April 30
7-8:30 pm – Free Lawn Care Workshop with Marianne Binetti
(The Olympia Center: 222 Columbia St. NW; Olympia) Marianne Binetti, garden columnist for The Olympian and the Tacoma News Tribune, will discuss natural ways to control lawn weeds; “dirt” cheap ways to add more nitrogen to your soil; how to mow like a pro; and the secret ingredient that every lawn in western Washington craves. She’ll also explain to have a healthy lawn that demands less water, fertilizing and mowing. Free! For more info., contact Patricia Pyle at 360-570-5841 or ppyle@ci.olympia.wa.us.
Saturday May 5
10 am – 5 pm – Naturescaping for Water and Wildlife Field Class
(Olympia) Join the Native Plant Salvage Project’s Erica Guttman and landscape designer Linda Andrews for a full day of learning about sustainable landscape design and creation, then travel by bus to local private water-wise landscapes! To register, go to www.eventbrite.com/event/2671974949?ref=ebtn. For more information, contact the Native Plant Salvage Project at 360-867-2166 or nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 6
10 am – 2 pm – Monarch Sculpture Park Work Party
(8431 Waldrick Rd; Tenino 98589) We need to keep the park operational until permanent stewardship can be established. Come help with landscape maintenance on these dates. Bring a weed whacker if you have one, and other landscaping tools. RSVP to tbp112000@msn.com or the Monarch event page on facebook. To volunteer at the Park during times other than organized work parties, contact the owner, Myrna Orsini at 360 264 2408.
Wednesday, May 9
7 pm – Fore! Native and Non-native on the Golf Course
(Tacoma Nature Center: 1919 South Tyler Street; Tacoma 98405) Carol R.C. White has 8 years experience in various fields of the horticulture industry, and is the current horticulturalist for The Golf Club at Newcastle, WA. The reach of her responsibilities on the property varies from houseplants to annuals, to a native plant garden. She will share with us the successes (and sometimes failures) of landscape projects for the club, and learning to balance “aesthetics with conscience.” Also, to be discussed is the accomplishment of the golf club becoming a certified bird sanctuary through Audubon International, and Carol’s role in the process. To round-out the evening, she will touch on steps the club is taking to lessen its impact on the local environment.
Thursday, May 10
noon-1:00 pm – How We Build Global Community through Environmental Service
(South Puget Sound Community College, Building 26, Room 101) Since 1993 Earth Corps has brought young people from across the United States and around the world to restore habitat and lead environmental service volunteers. LaPoint will highlight the career of an Earth Corps alumnus and show how young adults can become involved in positive environmental change in their own communities. Chris LaPoint is Volunteer Program Manager, Earth Corps, Seattle, WA.
Saturday, May 12
7 am – 4 pm – Black Hills Audubon Society Field Trip: Thurston County and Eastern Grays Harbor County
We plan to touch on several habitats during the day; possibly some salt water shoreline, fresh water areas, Capitol Forest, Mima Prairie, farm fields, and Elma hills areas hoping for a great spring day of birding in our own backyard. Birds should be singing, flowers blooming, and trees mostly leafed out. Most of the birds should be resident birds or migrants recently returned for the breeding season. Leaders: Sue Danver and Kristin Stewart. This trip is appropriate for fledgling birders, but open to all. Pre-registration is required by calling Kristin at 360-456-5098 or 360-402-1526. For more information, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm.
10 am – noon – McLane Creek Nature Trail Maintenance Work Party
(Olympia, west side) Join the Native Plant Salvage Project and Thurston County Stream Team to help maintain trails. We prune encroaching vegetation, clear and brush the trails so that visitors can more easily enjoy this unique setting. All volunteers will earn hours towards award of a free Discover Pass! Please let us know you are coming by e-mailing us at nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com, so we can bring enough tools and pizza.
Monday, May 14
7 pm – Wild Flowers of the Italian Alps
(Washington State Capitol Museum Coach House: 211 21st Avenue SW; Olympia 98501) In summer months the northern Italian Alps are filled with wildflowers. Italy has preserved its high meadows and craggy peaks in national parks and nature preserves. Come see photographs and learn about the unique ecology of this area. Kevin Head will present slides from his 2011 walking tour of the Dolomites, the Rhaetian Alps, and the Graian Alps. Kevin is a South Sound Native Plant enthusiast having led trips for the chapter for nine years. He has hiked extensively through the mountain west and desert southwest and has explored wildflower meadows in Norway, the UK and Greece. He is a teacher for the North Thurston Public Schools working in his 24rd year at the District’s Alternative High School.
Thursday, May 24
noon – 1:00 pm – Endangered Sea Turtles!
(South Puget Sound Community College, Building 26, Room 101) Lynn Corliss will describe her research with endangered sea turtles in Mexico and the Caribbean. Her work, intertwined with building strong communities in developing countries, has earned her an international award from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Lynn Corliss is Professor of Marine Biology and Oceanography, South Puget Sound Community College and Centralia College.
May 26
9 am – noon – Railway Road NatureMapping Field Trip
(near Yelm) The Nisqually Land Trust is seeking baseline data at a new site along the Nisqually river. Northwest Trek is helping out with this event, using citizen-scientists in the data collection efforts. The Land trust protects over 190 acres along the whitewater reach of the Nisqually River. This 10+ acre wetland is a part of the 150 contiguous acres of riparian forest mosaic that is perched between the Centralia power canal and the Nisqually. The wetland is viewed from a private road that leads to unmaintained trails through the riparian forest. This field trip is free, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in grassy and woody environments and on uneven surfaces. The terrain ranges from level unpaved roads to uneven meadows and forests. Some areas require climbing and manuvering over debris. Rubber boots and walking sticks are advised. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up.
Bee Keeping & Pollinators and Orcharding West of the Cascades
(Memorial Hall: 210 W Franklin Street, Shelton) 9:30 am – noon: Join WSU AmeriCorps Member Anna Mangan and other local experts to learn about bees, beekeeping, and pollinators in the garden. 1:00-3:30 pm: Join WSU Extension Educator Mary DiMatteo for insights into keeping and maintaining a home orchard. Cost: $25 per day or $30 per couple. Payment accepted at the door. Please call 360-427-9670 Ext. 680 to register in advance to ensure adequate supplies for the class.
Wednesday, June 6
4 – 7 pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail Maintenance Work Party
(Olympia, west side) Join the Native Plant Salvage Project and Thurston County Stream Team to help maintain trails. We prune encroaching vegetation, clear and brush the trails so that visitors can more easily enjoy this unique setting. We will provide pizza, and all volunteers will earn hours towards award of a free Discover Pass! Please let us know you are coming by e-mailing us at nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com, so we can bring enough tools and pizza.
Saturday June 9
10 am – 4 pm – Meet the Trees of Washington Field Class
(Olympia) In this fun field class, participants will be introduced to the magnificence of our native trees as well as four South Sound ecosystems: marine shorelines, prairies, freshwater riparian areas, and they will learn some basic keying skills. Following a morning in the classroom, we’ll travel by bus (provided) for a field trip to a local nature trail to learn to identify native trees, shrubs, ferns and perennials. The class is especially beneficial for newcomers to our area or anyone else who has ever wondered about the benefits and horticultural uses of native trees and other plants. Participants will learn about several different natural areas to visit in South Sound to experience different ecosystems and the plants and animals that inhabit them. To register, go to www.eventbrite.com/event/2672011057?ref=ebtn. For more information, contact the Native Plant Salvage Project at 360-867-2166 or nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com.
June 16
10 am – noon – Enhancing Wetlands Through Habitat Creation Workshop
(Eatonville) Join Northwest Trek staff for this two-hour workshop to learn how to enhance your backyard and woodlot habitats through simple habitat building methods. This workshop will begin with a 30-minute indoor lecture and finish with 1-1/2 hours of habitat building on Trek property. Outdoor work will include creating brush piles and habitat boxes for native wildlife. Workshop materials, gloves, and tools will be provided. Please bring water and snacks as needed. This workshop is free, however, class size is limited to 15 participants. Contact Jessica Moore at 360-832-7160 or Jessica.moore@nwtrek.org to reserve your spot today!
Wednesday, June 27
4 – 7 pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail Maintenance Work Party
(Olympia, west side) Join the Native Plant Salvage Project and Thurston County Stream Team to help maintain trails. We prune encroaching vegetation, clear and brush the trails so that visitors can more easily enjoy this unique setting. We will provide pizza, and all volunteers will earn hours towards award of a free Discover Pass! Please let us know you are coming by e-mailing us at nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com, so we can bring enough tools and pizza.
June 30
Rain Gardens and Raising Chickens
(Memorial Hall: 210 W Franklin Street, Shelton) 9:30 am – noon (FREE): Join WSU Rain Garden Experts to learn about the benefits of Rain Gardens and how to install one on your property. 1:00-3:30 pm: Sharon Conboy will discuss chickens and how to raise them in suburban and small farm environments. Get all your chicken-raising questions answered! Cost: morning session is free; afternoon session is $25 per person, $30 per couple. Payment accepted at the door. Please call 360-427-9670 Ext. 680 to register in advance to ensure adequate supplies for the class.
July 7
9 am – noon – Wilcox Flats NatureMapping and Habitat Restoration Field Trip
(Roy) The Nisqually Land Trust is looking to gather NatureMapping data at Wilcox Flats along the Nisqually River. The Wilcox Flats site is located near Wilcox Farms, and is vital to salmon recovery efforts along the Nisqually River. The purpose of the trip will be to collect baseline data about plants and wildlife in the surrounding habitat and to continue restoration efforts in the meadows and forests along the NIsqually River and side channels. This field trip will consist of data collection, invasive species removal, and weeding and care of new plantings. This trip is free, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in grassy and woody environments and on uneven surfaces. The terrain ranges from level unpaved roads to uneven meadows and forests. Some areas require climbing and manuvering over debris. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up for a field trip.
Wednesday, July 18
4 – 7 pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail Maintenance Work Party
(Olympia, west side) Join the Native Plant Salvage Project and Thurston County Stream Team to help maintain trails. We prune encroaching vegetation, clear and brush the trails so that visitors can more easily enjoy this unique setting. We will provide pizza, and all volunteers will earn hours towards award of a free Discover Pass! Please let us know you are coming by e-mailing us at nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com, so we can bring enough tools and pizza.
July 21
9 am – noon – Ohop Creek Restoration NatureMapping Field Trip
(near Eatonville) The South Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nisqually Land Trust and its partners have joined together to restore the creek through the Ohop Valley to its original meandering pathway. Northwest Trek is helping by providing data collection and monitoring of the wildlife in the project area, using citizen-scientists in the data collection efforts—which is what this event will involve. The field trip is free, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in a wet environment on uneven surfaces. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up for a field trip.
July 28
10 am – noon – Enhancing Wetlands Through Habitat Creation Workshop
(Eatonville) Join Northwest Trek staff for this two-hour workshop to learn how to enhance your backyard and woodlot habitats through simple habitat building methods. This workshop will begin with a 30-minute indoor lecture and finish with 1-1/2 hours of habitat building on Trek property. Outdoor work will include creating brush piles and habitat boxes for native wildlife. Workshop materials, gloves, and tools will be provided. Please bring water and snacks as needed. This workshop is free, however, class size is limited to 15 participants. Contact Jessica Moore at 360-832-7160 or Jessica.moore@nwtrek.org to reserve your spot today!
August 4
Tansey Pull at NWTrek
August 18
10 am – noon – Enhancing Wetlands Through Habitat Creation Workshop
(Eatonville) Join Northwest Trek staff for this two-hour workshop to learn how to enhance your backyard and woodlot habitats through simple habitat building methods. This workshop will begin with a 30-minute indoor lecture and finish with 1-1/2 hours of habitat building on Trek property. Outdoor work will include creating brush piles and habitat boxes for native wildlife. Workshop materials, gloves, and tools will be provided. Please bring water and snacks as needed. This workshop is free, however, class size is limited to 15 participants. Contact Jessica Moore at 360-832-7160 or Jessica.moore@nwtrek.org to reserve your spot today!
September 22
9 am – noon – Powell Creek NatureMapping Field Trip
(near Yelm) The Powell Creek site is on the Nisqually River. It wasrecently planted to restore the natural habitat for wildlife use along the River, and the Nisqually Land Trust is seeking baseline data on the property. Northwest Trek is helping out with this event, using citizen-scientists in the data collection efforts. This field trip is free, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in grassy and woody environments and on uneven surfaces. The terrain ranges from level unpaved roads to uneven meadows and forests. Some areas require climbing and manuvering over debris. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up.
October 20
9 am – noon – Ohop Creek Restoration NatureMapping Field Trip
(near Eatonville) The South Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nisqually Land Trust and its partners have joined together to restore the creek through the Ohop Valley to its original meandering pathway. Northwest Trek is helping by providing data collection and monitoring of the wildlife in the project area, using citizen-scientists in the data collection efforts—which is what this event will involve. This field trip is free, and you do not have to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in a wet environment on uneven surfaces. Please contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org for more information or to sign up for a field trip.
November 10
10 am – noon – Enhancing Wetlands Through Native Plantings Workshop
(Northwest Trek: 11610 Trek Drive East; Eatonville 98328-9502) Join Northwest Trek staff for this two-hour workshop to learn how to enhance your wetlands through native planting and natural landscaping methods. This workshop will begin with a 30-minute indoor lecture and finish with 1-1/2 hours of planting outdoors on Trek property. Workshop materials, gloves, tools and plants will be provided. Please bring water and snacks. This workshop is free—however, class size is limited to 15 participants. Contact Jessica Moore at 360-832-7160 or Jessica.moore@nwtrek.org to reserve your spot today!
December 8
10 am – noon – Enhancing Wetlands Through Native Plantings Workshop
(Northwest Trek: 11610 Trek Drive East; Eatonville 98328-9502) Join Northwest Trek staff for this two-hour workshop to learn how to enhance your wetlands through native planting and natural landscaping methods. This workshop will begin with a 30-minute indoor lecture and finish with 1-1/2 hours of planting outdoors on Trek property. Workshop materials, gloves, tools and plants will be provided. Please bring water and snacks. This workshop is free—however, class size is limited to 15 participants. Contact Jessica Moore at 360-832-7160 or Jessica.moore@nwtrek.org to reserve your spot today!