Local Environmental Events!! |

See Below

RECURRING EVENTS

Tuesdays:

9 am – 3 pm: South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party.

(See specific dates below for details.)

4 – 7 pm: West Olympia Farmers’ Market

(Parking lot of Gloria Dei Church: 1515 Harrison Ave NW—at Harrison & Thomas) Produce, baked goods, eggs, flowers, veggie starts, crafts, tool sharpening and more! Farmers, artisans and producers are from Thurston County, and most work and live on the west side of Olympia. Most produce small-scale, and many only sell to the public through the West Olympia Farmers’ Market.

7 pm: Olympia City Council (Olympia City Council Chambers: 601 4^th Ave E)

Go to http://olympia.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx for more information.

7 pm (1^st & 3^rd Tuesday of the month): Tumwater City Council (Tumwater City Hall: 555 Israel Rd. SW) Go to www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/ccagendasTOC.htm for more information.

Wednesdays:

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 as long as you wish.)

Thursdays:

10 am – 3 pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market

(700 N Capitol Way; Olympia 98501) Fresh organic produce; Washington-grown fruits & meats; fresh fish, clams & oysters; dried herbs; fresh-cut flowers; breads; desserts; eggs; cheeses; jams & jellies; great food; quality locally grown plants & flowers; lots of fun; art and crafts from local artisans; live entertainment! For more information, go to http://olympiafarmersmarket.com.

7 pm (2^nd & 4^th Thursday of the month): Lacey City Council (Lacey City Hall: 420 College Street) Go to www.ci.lacey.wa.us/city-government/city-council/city-council-2/city-council-meetings/council-meetings for more information.

Fridays

10 am – 3 pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market

Saturdays

10 am – 3 pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market

Sundays

10 am – 3 pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market

Position Announcement: Events Coordinator for Capitol Land Trust

Capitol Land Trust is seeking a part-time Events Coordinator to organize fundraising and outreach events, ranging from 20 to 500 people, under the direction of the Trust’s Associate Director. More information is available on the CLT website at www.capitollandtrust.org.

South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA) Needs Volunteers

1. For the new South Sound Estuarium: This is an exciting opportunity for us to us to show off Puget Sound and what lives there. We will need volunteers to staff the center, get it ready to open (painting, decorating, exhibit preparation). To volunteer, contact ken@sseacenter.org

2. For the new Hands-On Children’s Museum: SSEA is seeking volunteers to train as South Sound Naturalists to be part of an exciting new partnership with the new Hands-On Children’s Museum. Training is on-going. To volunteer of for more information, contact Sara at 630 777-5457 or at sara@sseacenter.org.

3. To assist with event planning: SSEA is planning several FUNdraising events for this summer, and are seeking volunteers who like planning events and enjoy being part of social activities. If interested, call Diana at 360 754-7371 or email her at diana@sseacenter.org.

4. For Connecting Youth to Nature: SSEA has expanded its educational focus to include working with grades 4-12 in classroom and on the beach settings, working in partnership with South Sound Green and Taylor Shellfish Farms. Volunteers are needed who like to work with this age group and are available during the work week in the daytime. We need more adults to participate in this important work. One fun activity is intertidal beach identification. Training will be provided; no prior experience is necessary. If interested in volunteering, contact Leihla at 360 888-0565 or at leihlascharlau@yahoo.com.

Friday, June 14

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

We will be at Shotwell’s Landing to pull weeds and collect seed. Feel free to arrive whenever and stay for as long or short as you’d like. Please bring water, a box lunch, and gloves, and dress for the weather. We will be out there rain or shine. Directions to Shotwell’s Landing Nursery (14447 Littlerock Road SW; Rochester 98579): take I-5 to exit 95 (Littlerock exit), ~10 miles south of Olympia; go west on Maytown Rd SW to the only stop sign in Littlerock (by the elementary school); 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. For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

9:30 am – 12 pm – Priest Point Park work party

Help beautify the Rose Garden at Priest Point Park. Weeding and mulching of flower beds will be first priority. As a follow-up to National Trails Day, volunteers will also continue the resurfacing of Ellis Cove Trail. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert (available at http://olympiawa.gov/~/media/Files/Parks/Volunteering/WAIVER%20Form.ashx) or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Priest Point Park is located at 2600 East Bay Dr NE. Meet at kitchen shelter #1 on the east side of East Bay Dr near the Rose Garden. For more information, contact Christina Newman ‎(City of Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation) at cnewman@ci.olympia.wa.us or (360) 753-8365.

Saturday, June 15

10 am – 1 pm – Mission Creek Nature Park work party

Join the northeast neighborhoods for trail maintenance and invasive species removal at Mission Creek Nature Park! The work party will meet at the San Francisco Street entrance at 1700 San Francisco Ave NE. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert (available at http://olympiawa.gov/~/media/Files/Parks/Volunteering/WAIVER%20Form.ashx) or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Christina Newman ‎(City of Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation) at cnewman@ci.olympia.wa.us or (360) 753-8365.

10 am – 1 pm – How to Keep a Wave on the Sand: Capturing the Outdoors in Photographs

(Nisqually Wildlife Refuge) Never again let nature’s beauty escape your lens! In this hands-on workshop with writer and photographer Greg Farley, you will learn to take your camera off the “automatic” settings and then head outside to apply basic and professional outdoor photography techniques. Bring your camera (film, DSLR, or point and shoot), extra batteries and a sense of adventure! Meet in the Visitor Center auditorium. The program is free, but there is a $3 fee for entering the Refuge.

1:00 pm – Budd Inlet Treatment Plant Tour

(WET Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) The Budd Inlet Treatment Plant has been cleaning up our urban wastewater since the early 1950s. Come and learn how we do it, including the steps we’ve added along the way to further protect Puget Sound. A slideshow followed by a treatment plant tour will begin at 1:00 pm Tour participants must be ten years or older, dress for outdoor weather, and wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes.

Monday, June 17

4:00 – 7:00 pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail Work Party

(Olympia) Join Stream Team as we trim, weed and repair the boardwalk at the McLane Creek Nature Trail. A pizza snack will be provided along with gloves, tools and refreshments. To register, go to http://www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar. For more information, contact Ann Marie at 360-754-3355 ext. 6857 or pearcea@co.thurston.wa.us.

Tuesday, June 18

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

Wednesday June 19

5:00 – 8:30 pm – An Evening with Capitol Land Trust at Salish Cliffs Golf Club

(Shelton) You are invited to spend an evening with Capitol Land Trust at the Salish Cliffs Club House—a world-class, salmon-safe certified golf course located in Shelton. Golfers and non-golfers alike are encouraged to attend. This non-fundraising event is a unique opportunity to learn about the conservation work of Capitol Land Trust while enjoying live music, food, drink and the beautiful views from the newly built Club House. There will be a putting contest and a beginners golf clinic for those hoping to learn a bit more about the game. 21 and over only please. This is a FREE event, but registration is required. To register, call (360) 943-3012 or send an email to kathleen@capitollandtrust.org.

6:00 – 9:00 pm – Stream Bug Monitoring Training

(Olympia) Stir things up this summer with Stream Team as we gather “stream bug” samples from local streams. Learn all you will need to know at this training. Volunteers can sign up for one or more monitoring dates at the training. To register, go to www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar. (There will be a duplicate training July 9^th, should you not be able to attend this one.) For more information, contact Ann Marie at 754-3355 ext. 6857 or pearcea@co.thurston.wa.us.

6:30 – 8:30 pm – Confronting the Climate Crisis

(Olympia Center: 222 Columbia Street NW; Olympia 98501) The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation has a climate action group that is working ambitiously on a wide range of climate issues, including the coal train comments and hearings, 350.0rg’s divestment campaign, and maintaining constant pressure on elected officials. We will also be out on the streets with creative non-violent actions demanding an immediate massive economic push—comparable to the massive mobiliation during World War II—to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We meet monthly. Look near their info desk for the room number. Join us!! Info: Bourtai Hargrove, 352-6327 bourtai31@gmail.com or go to their website at http://www.olympiafor.org/Climate_Crisis.html.

Saturday, June 22

8:30am – 12noon – Birds of a Feather: Take Flight on a Bird Walk

(Nisqually Wildlife Refuge) Experience the thrill of seeing a Peregrine Falcon (the world’s fastest bird) or of hearing a woodpecker pecking away (up to 20 pecks per second)! Join experienced birder David Richardson for a guided walk full of the sights and sounds of one of the Refuge’s largest treasures: The birds! Meet at the landing overlooking the pond at the Visitor Center. The program is free, but there is a $3 fee for entering the Refuge.

10am – 12 noon – It’s in Your Nature: Exploring the Wild

(Nisqually Wildlife Refuge) From bitterns to butterflies, chickadees to crabapples, the Refuge is home to many types of wildlife. Join naturalists Art Pavey, Jan Kramer, and Cheri Greenwood on this nature walk that is sure to teach you something new about the creatures of the Refuge. Meet in the Visitor Center. The program is free, but there is a $3 fee for entering the Refuge.

11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Priest Point Park & Burfoot County Park

Trained Beach Naturalists from South Sound Estuary Association will be on the beach during low-tide to answer questions. Visit the beach and see what you can discover! For more information, go to www.sseacenter.org.

2:00 pm – So What Is a Watershed Anyway?

(WET Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Join the City of Lacey for some “watersheducation” and learn how you can improve the watershed where you live. First you’ll follow three teens in the short movie “Lost and Puget Sound” as they learn about where water goes when it rains. Then use materials like rocks, clay, soil, florist foam, moss and toothpicks to build your own watershed, followed by a friendly competition to see whose watershed soaks up the most water during a simulated heavy rain!

Sunday, June 23

11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Tolmie State Park

Tuesday, June 25

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

Friday, June 28

9:30 am – 12 pm – Friendly Grove Park work party

Park Stewardship will head to Friendly Grove Park for this high spirited weekday work party! Join fellow volunteers in maintenance of paved trails, fence rail repair, and invasive species removal. Friendly Grove Park is located at 2316 Friendly Grove Rd NE. Meet under the covered picnic area near the main parking lot. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert (available at http://olympiawa.gov/~/media/Files/Parks/Volunteering/WAIVER%20Form.ashx) or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Christina Newman ‎(City of Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation) at cnewman@ci.olympia.wa.us or (360) 753-8365.

7:30 – 9:00 pm – Bat Talk

(Olympia) Join Stream Team for a fun, fact-filled lecture and bat walk to learn about bat life history, habits and habitats. Learn where bats spend the day and what they require to raise their young. Learn about our local species of big and little brown myotis and Yuma bats. Special guest speaker, Greg Falxa will provide basic bat biology and dispel age-old myths. Bat Walk to follow after lecture. To register, go to www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar.

Saturday, June 29

8:30am – 12noon – Birds of a Feather: Take Flight on a Bird Walk

(Nisqually Wildlife Refuge) Experience the thrill of seeing a Peregrine Falcon (the world’s fastest bird) or hearing a woodpecker pecking away (up to 20 pecks per second)! Join experienced birder David Richardson for a guided walk full of the sights and sounds of one of the Refuge’s largest treasures: the birds! Meet at the landing overlooking the pond at the Visitor Center. The program is free, but there is a $3 fee for entering the Refuge.

10:00 am – 1 pm – Margaret McKenny Park work party

This work party will follow-up on previous efforts to create and mulch tree circles at the side entrance to the park. Join the team at Margaret McKenny located at 3111 21st Ave SE. Street parking is available. Meet in the large open area near the main entrance to the park. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert (available at http://olympiawa.gov/~/media/Files/Parks/Volunteering/WAIVER%20Form.ashx) or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Christina Newman ‎(City of Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation) at cnewman@ci.olympia.wa.us or (360) 753-8365.

10:00 am – Seminary Hill Natural Area Poetry Walk

(Centralia) Join this unique walk led by David Underwood. Come to the woods and hear wondrous verses by renowned bards, plus some stanzas by our own Northwest poets. Stretch your legs, breathe fresh air, and nourish your spirit. Note: Some trails are quite steep, and there is a 2-300-foot elevation gain from the parking lot to the higher points in the Natural Area. Wear appropriate shoes or hiking boots: trails can be slippery when it has been raining. A walking stick can make the climbing and descending much easier and safer. Be prepared for changes in the weather: layered clothing and rainwear are advisable. Remember your camera, a water bottle, perhaps a snack and a litter bag. Books for identifying trees, flowers, birds and animals are also handy. Meet in the parking lot at the main entrance to Seminary Hill Natural Area, at the corner of East Locust Street and Barner Drive in Centralia. For more information, call 360-736-7045 or 360-330-7688.

2:00 pm – Water: A Never Ending Story

(WET Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Water is all around us and always in motion. Water doesn’t only move on the surface of the Earth, it also moves in the sky and in the ground. Come and learn all about the natural and built water cycle through games and by making a take home Water Cycle Wheel.

Sunday, June 30

10 am – 3 pm – Boston Harbor to Gull Harbor kayak trip with Capitol Land Trust

Join Capitol Land Trust and Alpine Experience for a kayak tour of Budd Inlet and Gull Harbor. Gull Harbor is one of the last pristine estuaries in the Southern Puget Sound region. Capitol Land Trust has conserved 152 acres and 8,500 feet of shoreline within Gull Harbor as part of the Budd-to-Henderson Coastal Conservation Initiative, which was established to create an overland corridor between Gull Harbor and Woodard Bay. Gull Harbor provides habitat for variety of rare and unique native wildlife species as well as seven different species of salmonids who spend most of their lives in salt water before returning to fresh water to spawn. Come see this treasure for yourself and enjoy a day on the water as we’re guided by Capitol Land Trust’s Executive Director, Eric Erler, and Alpine Experience’s General Manager, Russ Gilsdorf. We’ll provide the kayaks, snacks, beverages, and great company! The cost is $45 per person including kayak rental, $20 per person if you bring your own kayak. To register, email Quita at quita@capitollandtrust.org or call 360-943-3012.

Tuesday, July 2

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

9:30 am – 12 pm – Yashiro Japanese Garden work party

Celebrate our nation’s independence early by joining the community to beautify one of Olympia’s most unique parks! Yashiro Japanese garden is conveniently located close to downtown at 1010 Plum St SE. Volunteers will meet inside the garden near the entrance off the main parking lot. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert (available at http://olympiawa.gov/~/media/Files/Parks/Volunteering/WAIVER%20Form.ashx) or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Christina Newman ‎(City of Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation) at cnewman@ci.olympia.wa.us or (360) 753-8365.

7:00 pm – South Sound Fruit Society: Orchard Soils

(The Farmhouse at Evergreen State College’s Organic Farm) Jeb Thurow will be talking about orchard soils. Jeb has just finished his paper on what good soil is composed of. He analyzed the Evergreen Organic Orchard Soil and we hope he will shed some light on why this soil is so good for growing fruit trees and what makes up a good soil. For directions, go to www.evergreen.edu/conference/drivingdirections.htm.

Saturday, July 6

9 am – noon – Wilcox Flats NatureMapping and Habitat Restoration Field Trip

(near Wilcox Farms in Roy) The Nisqually Land Trust is looking to gather wildlife data at its Wilcox Flats property along the Nisqually River—a site vital to salmon recovery efforts along the Nisqually River. Northwest Trek has offered to help by organizing citizen-scientists 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. Today’s field trip will consist of data collection, invasive species removal, and weeding and care of new plantings. No previous NatureMapping experience is required, and the event is free. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in grassy and woody environments and on uneven surfaces. To sign up or for more information, contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org.

10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Priest Point Park & Burfoot County Park

9 pm – Pier Peer at Boston Harbor Marina

(Boston Harbor Marina; Olympia) Join South Sound Estuary Association for a night-lighting event. Peer below the waters of Puget Sound and discover the lives of mysterious and beautiful creatures. Jellyfish, colorful sea slugs, predatory worms and more visit us at the underwater lights. Learn about the animals of Puget Sound and see them like you never have before! Bring a flashlight (one per person is ideal) and dress for the weather. All children must be accompanied by an adult, and children under 5 are not advised. Registration is required, and the cost is $10/adult; accompanying child 6 and over are free. To register, go to www.sseacenter.org and click the Pier Peer tab. Event registration will be closed at ten adults for the safety and enjoyment of participants.

Sunday, July 7

11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Tolmie State Park & Frye Cove County Park

Tuesday, July 9

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

6:00 – 9:00 pm – Stream Bug Monitoring Training

(Olympia) Stir things up this summer with Stream Team as we gather “stream bug” samples from local streams. Learn all you will need to know at this training. Volunteers can sign up for one or more monitoring dates at the training. To register, go to www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar. For more information, contact Ann Marie at 754-3355 ext. 6857 or pearcea@co.thurston.wa.us.

Wednesday, July 10

4:00 – 7:00 pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail work party

(5044 Delphi Rd SW, Olympia 98512) Help Stream Team and Native Plant Salvage keep the McLane Creek Nature Trail accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Volunteers will be issued a temporary Discover Pass for this event. For more information contact Ann Marie Pearce at pearcea@co.thurston.wa.us or 360-754-3355 x6857.

Saturday, July 13

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 are working together to restore the creek through the Ohop Valley to its original meandering pathway. Northwest Trek is helping by using citizen-scientists to collect data on wildlife in the project area—which is what today’s event involves. No previous NatureMapping experience is required, and the event is free. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in a wet environment on uneven surfaces. To sign up or for more information, contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org.

10:00 am – Seminary Hill Natural Area Photography Workshop

(Centralia) Come and learn new techniques for taking pictures with resident teacher and photographer Marlene Hodge. Bring your camera manual, and a tripod if you have one. Study your manual ahead of time so you are ready to “focus in” on her advice. Note: Some trails are quite steep, and there is a 2-300-foot elevation gain from the parking lot to the higher points in the Natural Area. Wear appropriate shoes or hiking boots: trails can be slippery when it has been raining. A walking stick can make the climbing and descending much easier and safer. Be prepared for changes in the weather: layered clothing and rainwear are advisable. Remember your camera, a water bottle, perhaps a snack and a litter bag. Books for identifying trees, flowers, birds and animals are also handy. Meet in the parking lot at the main entrance to Seminary Hill Natural Area, at the corner of East Locust Street and Barner Drive in Centralia. For more information, call 360-736-7045 or 360-330-7688.

Tuesday, July 16

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

Thursday, July 18

10:00 am – FREE Composting Workshop on Worms and Yard Waste for small spaces

(Olympia Farmers Market Garden—located on the east side of the Market, on the north end of Capitol Way in downtown Olympia)

Saturday, July 20

10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Priest Point Park & Burfoot County Park

Sunday, July 21

10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Tolmie State Park

Mon, July 22

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

(Olympia) Stream Team will pair with local divers and retired volunteer marine biologists David Jamison and Joe Hiss. Divers will demonstrate their equipment prior to diving to the bottom of the Sound to collect marine creatures for our viewing. Biologists will talk about each species found and their habitat needs and what is required to keep Puget Sound clean and healthy. All the marine creatures are kept in seawater and gently released back into Puget Sound. Life vests required for age 6 and under; please bring your own or the marina has a few loaners. This is one of our most popular, all ages event. Online registration is necessary to keep the group size small: go to http://streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar. For more information contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336.

1:00 – 2:00 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

See description for event earlier today.

Tuesday, July 23

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

Saturday, July 27

10:00 am –Children’s Nature Activity at Seminary Hill Natural Area

(Centralia) Barbara Fandrich, Margie Joy and Marshall Murray, retired forester, will be your guides as you and your child explore the flora of Seminary Hill. Children up to age 12 and their parents are welcome to participate. Then they will make forest notebooks filled with samples of the flora they find. All materials will be provided, and activities will vary by the age of the child. Meet in the parking lot at the main entrance to Seminary Hill Natural Area, at the corner of East Locust Street and Barner Drive in Centralia. For more information, call 360-736-7045 or 360-330-7688.

Mon, July 29

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

1:00 – 2:00 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

See description for event earlier today.

Tuesday, July 30

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party

(Stay tuned for details) For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

Saturday, August 3

10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Priest Point Park & Burfoot County Park

9 pm – Pier Peer at Boston Harbor Marina

Sunday, August 4

10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Tolmie State Park & Frye Cove County Park

Mon, August 5

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

1:00 – 2:00 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

See description for event earlier today.

Saturday, August 10

10:00 am – FREE Composting Workshop on Yard Waste

(Dirt Works Garden) Directions: From I-5 take HWY 101 towards Shelton. Get off at Black Lake Blvd. exit and at the bottom of the ramp turn right. Get in the left lane and make a left onto Cooper Point Road. Make a left onto Capital Mall Drive and follow it until you see the Yauger Park and Dirt Works sign on the corner of Alta Street. Turn right onto Alta Street. Follow this road into the park and drive through the parking lot until it ends. The garden entrance is located at the end of the parking lot.

Mon, August 12

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

1:00 – 2:00 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

See description for event earlier today.

Tuesday, August 13

6:00 – 7:30 pm – Priest Point Park Beach Seine

(Olympia) The nearshore and open waters of lower Puget Sound are highly productive. Juvenile salmon, sand lance and Pacific staghorn skulpin all utilize the nearshore environments shallow waters to rest, feed or spawn. These fish are critical to the larger marine food web and the integrity of the nearshore environments of Puget Sound. Join Washington State Department Fish and Wildlife fish biologist, Larry Phillips for a beach seine at Priest Point Park. Participants will help unroll a seining net and pull the net to shore to see what is caught. Larry will identify and talk about the fish and other marine creatures that are found in the net and their importance to the health of our nearshore ecosystems. To register, go to http://streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar. For more information contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336.

Saturday, August 17

10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Priest Point Park & Burfoot County Park

10 am – Seminary Hill Natural Area Geology Walk

(Centralia) Join geologist Jim Ward on a trip back in time as he explains the geological history of the Seminary Hill area. As we walk we will see examples of and learn about development of the present-day land forms of this region. Note: Some trails are quite steep, and there is a 2-300-foot elevation gain from the parking lot to the higher points in the Natural Area. Wear appropriate shoes or hiking boots: trails can be slippery when it has been raining. A walking stick can make the climbing and descending much easier and safer. Be prepared for changes in the weather: layered clothing and rainwear are advisable. Remember your camera, a water bottle, perhaps a snack and a litter bag. Books for identifying trees, flowers, birds and animals are also handy. Directions: Follow Seminary Hill Road past the Armory, then past Saxon and Baker Streets to the large blue gate on the right (just beyond the small pump house). Enter through the large blue gate to park and meet the event leader. For more information, call 360-736-7045 or 360-330-7688.

Sunday, August 18

10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Meet Us At The Beach at Tolmie State Park & Frye Cove County Park

Monday, August 26

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

1:00 – 2:00 pm – Marine Creature Monday at Boston Harbor Marina!

See description for event earlier today.

August 22-25 – Joint WA Ornithology Society / Western Field Ornithologists Conference

Black Hills Audubon Society (BHAS) will host the first joint conference of the Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) and the Washington Ornithology Society (WOS) at the Red Lion Inn in Olympia. The conference will feature over 20 field trips in addition to workshops, science sessions, and panels. For more details, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm and http://blackhills-audubon.org/pubs/WFO-WOS_2013_Conf_flyer.pdf.

Saturday, September 7

9 am – noon – Red Salmon Creek NatureMapping Field Trip

The Nisqually Land Trust protects this 25+ acre site near the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. The site is a mosaic of small coastal streams buffered by narrow forest bands and pastures that have been planted with natives in the last 6 years. The site also contains a small area of salt marsh at the southwest edge of the property and an active beaver population. The land trust needs to collect wildlife data at the site, and Northwest Trek has offered to help by organizing citizen-scientists to do the data collection. No previous NatureMapping experience is required, and the event is free. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in grassy and woody environments and on uneven surfaces. The terrain ranges from uneven meadows and forests to riparian and wetland edges. Some areas require climbing and maneuvering over debris. Rubber boots and walking sticks are advised for portions of the site. To sign up or for more information, contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org.

9 pm – Pier Peer at Boston Harbor Marina

September 14

10:00 am – FREE Composting Workshop on Yard Waste

(Closed Loop Park—just inside the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center entrance at 2418 Hogum Bay Road at Hawk’s Prairie). Directions: From downtown Olympia take I-5 North. Take exit 111, the ramp has two lanes. Stay in the left lane and follow it to the traffic light on Marvin Road. Turn left onto Marvin Road; make sure you are in the right lane. Once you go through the light turn right onto Hogum Bay Road (a Mexican restaurant on this corner). Take the second road into the Waste and Recovery Center entrance. Look for a small “Closed Loop Park” sign on the fence at that intersection. Follow the road in and the garden is located on the right, just past the dog park.

Saturday, September 21

9 am – noon – Powell Creek NatureMapping Field Trip

(near Yelm) This Nisqually Land Trust property was recently planted to restore natural habitat for wildlife use along the Nisqually River. The land trust needs to collect wildlife data on the site, and Northwest Trek has offered to help by organizing citizen-scientists to do the data collection. No previous NatureMapping experience is required, and the event is free. 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 maneuvering over debris. To sign up or for more information, contact Jessica Moore at 360.832.7160 or at Jessica.Moore@nwtrek.org.

Saturday, October 12

9 am – noon – Ohop Creek Restoration NatureMapping Field Trip

10:00 am – FREE Composting Workshop on Putting your worms to bed for the winter

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