Volunteer: Local Event and Volunteer Opportunities! (Olympia, WA) |

RECURRING EVENTS

3^rd Monday of each month: Birds and Beer (Olympia), 4:30 pm. For more information, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm

Tuesdays: South Sound Prairie work party, 9 am – 3 pm

West Olympia Farmers’ Market, 4-7 pm (1515 Harrison Ave NW in the parking lot of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church) Fresh produce, baked goods, poultry, meats, flowers, veggie starts, crafts. Everything is locally grown and produced.

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

http://olympia.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Tumwater City Council, 7 pm on the 1^st & 3^rd Tuesday (Tumwater City Hall: 555 Israel Rd. SW) www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/ccagendasTOC.htm

Wednesdays: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Bird Walk, 8-11 am – Meet at Visitor Center Overlook at 8 am.

Nisqually Land Trust Work Party, 9 am – noon

Last Wednesday of each month: Birds and Beer (Shelton), 5:00 pm. For more information, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm

Thursdays: Olympia Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 3 pm (700 N Capitol Way; Olympia 98501) http://olympiafarmersmarket.com.

Lacey City Council, 7 pm on the 2^nd & 4^th Thursday (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.

3^rd Thursday of each month: Birding at Eagle’s Pride Golf Course at JBLM. For more information, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm

Fridays: South Sound Prairie work party, 9 am – 3 pm

Olympia Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 3 pm (700 N Capitol Way; Olympia 98501) http://olympiafarmersmarket.com.

Saturdays: Olympia Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 3 pm (700 N Capitol Way; Olympia 98501) http://olympiafarmersmarket.com.

South Sound Estuarium, 10 am – 3 pm (608 Washington St NE; Olympia 98501) http://sseacenter.wordpress.com/south-sound-estuarium

First Saturday of each month: First Saturday Birding and Breakfast. For more information, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm.

Sundays: Olympia Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 3 pm (700 N Capitol Way; Olympia 98501) http://olympiafarmersmarket.com.

South Sound Estuarium, 10 am – 3 pm

Other lists of volunteer events in Washington

Department of Fish and Wildlife: http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/volunteer/events

Washington Department of Natural Resources: http://www.dnr.wa.gov

Washington Department of Parks: http://www.parks.wa.gov/262/Volunteer-Program

Eatonville Salmon Fest Volunteers Needed October 17^th and 18^th

The 2^nd Annual Eatonville Salmon Fest is quickly approaching and we sure could use your help to make the event a success! On Saturday, October 18th, representatives from around the Sound will gather at Mill Pond Park in Eatonville to showcase the amazing life cycle and environmental necessity of our native salmon. Approximately 40 volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 18th to help with a variety of activities throughout the day, with shifts scheduled in 2-hour blocks from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Volunteers are also needed to help with set-up on Friday, October 17^th: we will begin working on site at 8am and will work until we are finished! Volunteers are needed to assist with the following activities: set-up before the event; parking attendants; information booth ; salmon life cycle bead craft; salmon print t-shirts; wooden salmon sign painting; fin (the giant salmon!); drain dare; face painting; salmon cam; henna tattoos; clean-up after the event. All volunteers who work a minimum 2-hour shift during the festival, will receive a $5.00 food voucher coupon. To sign up for a shift or two, contact Rachael Mueller at Rachael.Mueller@nwtrek.org.

Wednesday, October 8

9:00AM-12:00PM — Nisqually Land Trust Work Party – Powell Creek

(near Yelm) We’ll be pulling Scotch Broom. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

9:30am – 12pm — Harry Fain’s Legion Park work party

Too late in the season for painting you say? Park Stewardship has no fear! Join the team at Harry Fain’s Legion Park to spruce up paint jobs on park features. A rain plan will also be prepared in case of wet conditions. Meet at 1115 20th Ave SE. Limited street parking is available. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Please sign up so we know how many people are coming, by going to https://apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec, or contacting Mike Baker or Jennifer Gessley at 360.753.8365 or at olympiawa.gov/parkstewardship.

7-9 pm — Fifty Native Trees & Shrubs for Northwest Garden

(Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 South Tyler Street, Tacoma) Trees and shrubs are the backbone of any garden. They provide structure, shade, food and shelter for wildlife, and year-around interest. Very often, gardeners think first of exotic trees, overlooking most of our natives. Learn to go beyond Oregon-grape, kinnikinnick, and red-osier dogwood in your garden. There are good choices for wet sites, for sun or shade, for cool west-side gardens and for parched eastern Washington sites. Learn the strengths (and weaknesses) of both evergreen and deciduous species. You don’t have to go 100% native, but including locally adapted trees and shrubs can save you money on your water bill while making your yard more attractive to wildlife. Mark Turner draws on his work in the new field guide, Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest, in this program. Mark Turner is the owner of Turner Photographics and has been a professional photographer since 1993, specializing in gardens and native plants for books, magazines, and commercial clients. He is the photographer and co-author of Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press, 2006). Sponsored by the South Sound Chapter of theWashington Native Plant Society. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Oct. 9 (Thurs)

7 pm — BHAS Monthly Program meeting and presentation: “Wildlife on the Tibetan Plateau”

(First Christian Church: 701 Franklin Street SE; Olympia 98507) Rich Harris has spent considerable time over the past 25 years helping local governments in China assess and conserve their unique large mammal fauna. Many in North America are unaware of the surprising diversity of species that live in this high-elevation environment. Surprisingly, some continue to thrive while many others face severe threats. Rich will present an overview of the area and species, and answer questions on natural history and conservation issues. Arrive at 7:00 pm to socialize; the program will begin promptly at 7:30.

Friday, October 10

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

(South Thurston County) Please Join us at Shotwell’s Landing Nursery to help us weed and clean seed. This is a great opportunity to fine tune those botany skills and see some rare plants not often observed on the prairies. Dress for the weather, and bring along a box lunch, gloves and plenty of water. 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.

Saturday, October 11

All Day — Plant Distribution on Hood Canal

Native Plant Salvage is providing free native plants to shoreline residents who want to be better stewards of our precious Salish Sea! We’ll be in Belfair and Quilcene on both days. Contact us at nativeplantslave@gmail.com for details if you want to spend a day “Doing Good for the Hood”!

9 am – noon—Ohop Creek Restoration NatureMapping Field Trip

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 with the habitat restoration efforts by providing data collection and monitoring of the wildlife in the project area—using citizen-scientists to help collect data. This event is free, and you do not need to have NatureMapping experience. Participants should come dressed for the weather and for walking in tall grass and in wet environments on uneven surfaces. To sign up or get more information, contact Rachael Mueller at Rachael.Mueller@nwtrek.org.

9:30-11:30 am — Tree Planting at Pioneer Park

(Pioneer Park: 5801 Henderson Blvd SE) Join the City of Tumwater for October’s Volunteer Tumwater project, as we plant trees at Pioneer Park. This event will be fun for the whole family to attend. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided. In order to make sure enough equipment is available, please register to attend ahead of time by contacting Monica Langford (Volunteer Coordinator, City of Tumwater) at (360) 252-5424 or MLangford@ci.tumwater.wa.us. A volunteer release waiver is required to participate. Waivers must be completed by a parent or legal guardian for volunteers under 18 years old. Participants under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult to attend the volunteer project.

10 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

(South Thurston County) Join us at Glacial Heritage Preserve to pull broom. We are going to finish up a block of tall broom that many people have put in lots of hard work to pull out. It should be a fun day with a grand feeling of accomplishment! Dress for the weather, and bring along a box lunch, gloves and plenty of water. Directions to Glacial Heritage: take I-5 to exit 95 (the Littlerock exit), ~10 miles south of Olympia; go west into Littlerock; continue going straight through Littlerock—do not take any turns, and follow the road (128^th Ave) until it ends at Mima Road/Waddell Creek Road; turn south (left) on Mima Road and go 2.7 miles; take a left onto a gravel road with sign for Glacial Heritage—there will be a tractor sign shortly before 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. Because we are only at the house at 9:00 am and at lunch time—and it can be difficult to find us once we are out in the field—volunteers should plan to arrive before 9 am or around lunch time. For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

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

Park Stewardship returns to this nature oasis to continue work on the San Francisco Ave entrance to the park. Volunteer a few hours on this Saturday morning to help create an aesthetic and inviting atmosphere for all park users! Meet at 1700 San Francisco Ave NE. Neighborhood street parking is available. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Please sign up so we know how many people are coming, by going to https://apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec, or contacting Mike Baker or Jennifer Gessley at 360.753.8365 or at olympiawa.gov/parkstewardship.

1:00-4:00 PM — International Coastal Cleanup Event at City of Tumwater’s Pioneer Park

(Pioneer Park: 5801 Henderson Blvd SE; Tumwater) Please join the Pacific Shellfish Institute (PSI) for an International Coastal Cleanup event at Pioneer Park. Come be a part of this exciting event and prevent plastic bottles, food wrappers, cans, and other debris from flowing into the Deschutes River and ultimately Puget Sound. Meet at the picnic shelter where PSI will supply gloves, bags, grabbers, and data collection cards generously provided by our co-sponsor, the Puget Soundkeepers Alliance. Activities include removing park debris, completing data recording cards, dissecting albatross boli from the Hawaiian Islands, viewing North Pacific Gyre “garbage patch” water samples, and discovering microplastics in personal care products. Refreshments will be available, so remember to bring your own reusable beverage container. Contact: Aimee Christy or Mary Middleton: (360) 754-2741 or psi@pachsell.org.

2 pm — Marine Life of Puget Sound

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Learn about the fascinating marine creatures living right here in Puget Sound. At 2 pm, beautiful photos and videos take you on a cool virtual field trip filled with surprises. You can also make a jellyfish, sea star, or salmon print anytime throughout the day. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

3pm — Sandra Pollard: “Puget Sound Whales for Sale”

(Orca Books: 509 E. 4th Ave; Olympia 98501) Orca Books is delighted to welcome marine naturalist Sandra Pollard to the store. Sandra will be talking about her new book, Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting. For more information, go to www.orcabooks.com.

Monday, October 13

3:00 – 4:00 PM — Celebrate the Bountiful Byway!

(Schilter Family Farm: 141 Nisqually Cutoff Rd SE; Olympia 98513) You are invited to join the founders of the Thurston Bountiful Byway to celebrate its launch at the Schilter Family Farm. The Bountiful Byway is a scenic route in the heart of Thurston County’s most picturesque rural and agricultural lands. The Byway promotes agricultural tourism, or agritourism, in the rural parts of the county. The route starts in the Nisqually Valley, stretches south to the city of Yelm and west to the Capital Forest before ending at the intersection of Mud Bay Road and Delphi Road SW. Along the way, you can explore dozens of special stops and activities including creameries, nurseries, wineries, historic sites, and even a sculpture garden. Pick a day and stop at as many attractions as time allows! For more information, contact Becca Pilcher at pilcher@co.thurston.wa.us or 360-786-5747, or go to www.ThurstonBountifulByway.com.

7-9 pm — Fifty Native Trees & Shrubs for Northwest Garden

(Capitol Museum Coach House: 211 21st Avenue SW; Olympia) Trees and shrubs are the backbone of any garden. They provide structure, shade, food and shelter for wildlife, and year-around interest. Very often, gardeners think first of exotic trees, overlooking most of our natives. Learn to go beyond Oregon-grape, kinnikinnick, and red-osier dogwood in your garden. There are good choices for wet sites, for sun or shade, for cool west-side gardens and for parched eastern Washington sites. Learn the strengths (and weaknesses) of both evergreen and deciduous species. You don’t have to go 100% native, but including locally adapted trees and shrubs can save you money on your water bill while making your yard more attractive to wildlife. Mark Turner draws on his work in the new field guide, Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest, in this program. Mark Turner is the owner of Turner Photographics and has been a professional photographer since 1993, specializing in gardens and native plants for books, magazines, and commercial clients. He is the photographer and co-author of Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press, 2006). Sponsored by the South Sound Chapter of theWashington Native Plant Society. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, October 14

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

(South Thurston County) Dress for the weather, and bring along a box lunch, gloves and plenty of water. For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org. Sponsored by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM — Nisqually Land Trust Work Party – Mt. Rainier Gateway

(near Ashford) We hope you will join us! We’ll be planting on steep ground. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information, at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

7:00 – 9:00PM — What’s In Your Medicine Cabinet?

(Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation: 2300 East End St NW; Olympia 98502) Have you taken a look at your medicine cabinet lately? I mean really taken a good look in there to see if you have unused or outdated prescription or over-the-counter medications? Are you unsure what to do with these medications? Many of us end up flushing old meds down the toilet or throwing them in our garbage cans. Some even toss them down their sinks. That’s when the drugs that are designed to improve our lives contaminate our water and soil. Please join us to learn how to evaluate what’s in your medicine cabinet. At the end of the class, you will know the dangers lurking in your medicine cabinet and, more importantly, how to dispose of unwanted medications properly. Doing this correctly will help protect everyone in your home (including your pets) and even the environment. There will be some homework between sessions. Dr. Kenneth Trzepkowski is a Family Physician practicing at Madigan Army Medical Center. To register and get more information, go to http://ouuc.org/pages/adultED.html.

Wed, October 15

9:00 am – 3:00pm — Nisqually Land Trust Work Party: Mt. Rainier Gateway

(near Ashford) We hope you will join us! We’ll be planting on steep ground. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information, at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

9:30am – 12pm — Decatur Woods Park work party

Journey to the westside for more invasive removal at Decatur Woods Park. This quaint neighborhood park deserves a little facelift now and then to prevent unwanted plants from taking over. Volunteers will meet under the small covered shelter off 1015 Decatur St SW. Parking on the street is limited, but overflow parking is available north of the park at the end of the church parking lot off 9th Ave. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Please sign up so we know how many people are coming, by going to https://apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec, or contacting Mike Baker or Jennifer Gessley at 360.753.8365 or at olympiawa.gov/parkstewardship.

6:30pm-8:30pm — Black Hills Audubon Society Class: eBird Class and Online Resources

(Black Hills High School Library) Birders now often compile their lists on an electronic database of some kind. This class will allow you to explore eBird, Birdlist, the Cornell website, and other valuable resources for birders. Bring your own device or use one of the computers provided. Contact Deb Nickerson at debranick@gmail.com to register or call our voicemail at 360.352.7299

6:30PM – 8:30PM — Confronting the Climate Crisis

(Olympia Center: 222 Columbia Street NW; Olympia) Join the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s group addressing the climate crisis. This year, we are active in four separate campaigns: 1) make Washington State the first state in the nation to divest from fossil fuels; 2) persuade the Port of Olympia to stop importing fracking proppants destined for the Bakken Oil shale industry; 3) start a housing efficiency demonstration project using no obligation public funding and on-bill utility payments; 4) persuade Governor Inslee to declare a moratorium on all fossil fuel infrastructure permits (the entire group). Contact Information: Bourtai or Ted at 352-6327 or climate@olympiafor.org.

7 – 9 p.m — Talking Fish in Common: Lessons from the Treaties

(Olympia City Hall, Council Chambers: 601 E 4th Ave; Olympia) On this 40^th anniversary year of the Boldt Decision, Stream Team Salmon Steward program is please to offer an evening presentation on the background of the treaties between northwest tribes and the United States. The speakers will discuss how the courts have interpreted the treaty language that secures to the tribes the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations “in common with” citizens of the territory. The speakers will also describe how Washington State and the treaty tribes went from being adversaries to co-managers, and how the fishery managers work together today. Speakers include: Fronda Woods, Assistant Attorney General, Washington Attorney General’s Office; Jeff Dickison, Squaxin Island Tribe; Kyle Adicks, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Emmett O’Connell, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Registration is encouraged, but not necessary, by going to http://www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar.

October 16

7 – 8:30 pm — Ingrid Tohver: “Global Climate Change from a Pacific Northwest Perspective”

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) We hear about icebergs melting and South Pacific islands flooding. Are changes happening here? Ingrid Tohver is a research scientist with the Washington State Climate Impacts Group. She will speak about the effects of global climate change close to home, here in our Pacific Northwest. Doors open at 6:30 PM; come early to enjoy LOTT’s educational center. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

Friday, October 17

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

Saturday 18 October

9:00 am – early afternoon – BHAS Field Trip: Millersylvania Mushroom Foray

(Note: The date for this trip is tentative and may be sooner or later, depending on the season’s wetness and auspicious conditions for mushrooms.) Long one of the most popular trips Black Hills Audubon Society offers, this quest for the rainy season’s first mushrooms is a must. Leader Jim Pruske will help you identify many of the more common mushroom species associated with Pacific Northwest conifer and deciduous forests. With luck, chanterelles, boletes, and other edible species will be found. Come learn about the ecological value of fungi in the overall health of a forest. Meet at Millersylvania State Park’s main entrance parking lot at 9:00 a.m. A Discover Pass is necessary at Millersylvania. Be prepared to walk through damp undergrowth and kneel on wet ground. Bring snacks, lunch, and water, and a basket if you plan to take specimens home. Plan to look for forest birds and amphibians, too. Contact Jim Pruske at 360-459-3655 or the BHAS office line at 360-352-7299 to sign up.

10:00 am – 3:00pm — Eatonville Salmon Fest

Visit the Land Trust booth at the Eatonville Salmon Fest!

10:00am – 1pm — Priest Point Park work party

Join the Park Stewardship team as we work to save trees in Priest Point Park. Our goal for the day will be to create “Tree Life Savers” around many trees off of the Woodsy Wonder Trails. Volunteer a few hours on this Saturday morning to help remove invasive English Ivy! Meet at 2600 East Bay Dr. NE Near Shelter #1. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Please sign up so we know how many people are coming, by going to https://apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec, or contacting Mike Baker or Jennifer Gessley at 360.753.8365 or at olympiawa.gov/parkstewardship.

10 am – 4 pm — Design It! and Treatment Plant Tour

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Inspire the next generation of engineers with fun, hands-on design challenges. Build a hoop glider, balloon car, or puff mobile, and race it or do freestyle tricks! Then find out how the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant cleans up our urban wastewater and the steps taken to protect Puget Sound. A slideshow followed by a treatment plant tour begins at 1 pm. Tour participants must be 10 or older and wear closed-toe, closedheel shoes. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

1 pm – Shellfish Feast!

Join Capitol Land Trust for an incredible shellfish feast on beautiful Little Skookum Inlet. Mussel curry, geoduck ceviche, oysters, clam sauté, fresh egg rolls the most delicious shellfish you will ever taste! For more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/851915 or call Alison at 943-3012.

Sunday, October 19

10:00 am – 3:00 pm — Woodard Pathway/West Bay Revegetation

Native Plant Salvage is partnering with the Northwest Olympia Neighborhood Association and the City of Olympia to plant this steep right-of-way that has been recently transformed into a new pedestrian connection to West Bay Drive! We need helpers to plant potted plants, install live stakes, and to mulch. Email nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com to register for meeting location and other details.

Tuesday, October 21

8:30 am – 12:00pm — Nisqually Land Trust Work Party: Ohop Valley

(near Eatonville) We hope you will join us! We’ll be setting out potted plants for the student planting events. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information, at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

7 pm — 40 Days at Everest Base Camp

(Olympia) In this personal and eye-opening exposé, Dianne Whelan shares gripping stories of Maoist rebels, avalanches and dead bodies surfacing out of a dying glacier. From her perspective at base camp, she interviews climbers, doctors and Sherpas, all living there for months on end as they wait for a weather window to summit the top of the world. For more information and to RSVP, go to http://www.rei.com/event/61283/session/100309/11222014. Sponsored by REI and Capitol Land Trust.

Wednesday 22 October

9:00 am – 12:00pm — Nisqually Land Trust Work Party: Mashel River

(near Eatonville) We hope you will join us! We’ll be pulling Scotch Broom. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information, at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

9:30am – 12pm – Yauger Park work party

Park Stewardship will complete a series of work parties at Yauger Park to finish mitigation efforts between the new bike pump track and sensitive wetland area. Join fellow volunteers in planting over 700 salal, oregon grape, snowberry, rose, and sword fern! Follow directional signs to meet at the pump track project site near the skate court. Yauger Park offers two parking lots located at 3100 Capital Mall Dr SW and 530 Alta St SW. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy. Youth under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and all youth under 18 years must have a signed Waiver and Medical Alert or have a parents’ signature on the sign-in roster at the project work site. Please sign up so we know how many people are coming, by going to https://apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec, or contacting Mike Baker or Jennifer Gessley at 360.753.8365 or at olympiawa.gov/parkstewardship.

Friday, October 24

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

Sat, October 25

All Day — Plant Distribution on Hood Canal

9:00 am – 12:00pm — Nisqually Land Trust Work Party: Mashel River

(near Eatonville) We hope you will join us! We’ll be pulling Scotch Broom. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information, at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

10 am – 4 pm — Bioluminescence and Spooky Creatures of the Deep

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Some of earth’s spookiest creatures live in the deepest parts of the ocean. Learn about their mesmerizing bioluminescence through photos and videos that will amaze and inspire you. You can also make anglerfish hats – a great Halloween costume option – and other bioluminescent art to take home. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

10am – 1pm – Yauger Park work party

Tuesday, October 28

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

Wed, October 29

9:00 am – 12:00pm – Nisqually Land Trust Work Party: Mashel River

(near Eatonville) We hope you will join us! We’ll be setting out plants for upcoming school group events. Contact Cris to RSVP and for more information, at Volunteer@NisquallyLandTrust.org.

9:30am – 12pm – Yauger Park work party

Friday, October 31

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

Sat, November 1

10am – 1pm – Yauger Park work party

2-3 pm — Miraculous Magic

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) John London of JLO Magic is one of Western Washington’s best entertainers. His magic shows are hilarious, fun, and amazing for all ages! He’ll perform a magic show from 2-3 pm, followed by a drawing for five lucky guests to receive a balloon sculpture of their choice! Check out JLO Magic and Entertainment at www.jlomagic.com. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

Tuesday, November 4

9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie work party

November 7

8 pm — Pier Peer

(Olympia) Join South Sound Estuary Association at Boston Harbor Marina for Pier Peer night-lighting events the first Friday night of each month. 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! The cost is $10 for 12 and older; children 6-11 that accompany an adult are free. (The event is not appropriate for children under 6.) Pre-register is required: go to http://sseacenter.wordpress.com/pier-peer. If you find registration is closed, don’t worry — there is a Pier Peer every month ALL YEAR!

November 8

12-4 — What’s the Buzz about Honeybees?

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Want to know more about the fuzzy, amazing honeybee? Join the Olympia Beekeepers Association from 12-4 pm for fun activities as you interact with local beekeepers. Bees are important to humans in so many ways – they pollinate food and flowering plants and make many products we enjoy like honey and beeswax. Attend a 2 pm presentation to learn about life in a honeybee hive; why we’re so interconnected with bees; why they’re currently in trouble; and the simple things we can do to help protect them. Bee there! Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

Sunday, November 9

11 am – 4 pm — Suzanne Shafer Memorial Revegetation

Join Native Plant Salvage and Capitol Land Trust as we honor our longtime supporter Suzanne Schaeffer with this planting in her honor at CLT’s Twin Rivers Ranch near Shelton! Carpools will leave from the WSU Extension office in West Olympia. Please contact Native Plant Salvage for details, at nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com or (360)867-2167

Monday, November 10

7-9 pm — Rhyme of the Great Navigator: Echoes of Captain Cook in the Journals of Lewis & Clark

(Capitol Museum Coach House: 211 21st Avenue SW; Olympia) In the self-enclosed micro-universe of Lewis and Clark studies, the Corps of Discovery’s greatest moments are seen as unique, one of kind, or otherwise extraordinary. However, when studied in comparison to other expeditions, the experience of Lewis & Clark is seen not as an exception, but a part of continuum of effort and manner of expression. In this talk David Nicandri draws on the ways the voyage and literature of Captain Cook’s three voyages anticipated or prefigured events or explanations of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Sponsored by the South Sound Chapter of theWashington Native Plant Society. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, November 12

7 PM – REI/CLT Speaker Series: Wolves in Washington

(Olympia) Missing from Washington State since the 1940’s, wolves just recently began recolonizing back into WA State. With wolves being depicted in our cultural folklore, books, and movies as “The Big Bad Wolf”, what are people’s current perception of wolves? Wolf Haven International, a nonprofit sanctuary for captive-born wolves, located in the small farming community of Tenino, WA will present Wolves in Washington, a fun educational program about wolf behavior, biology and social structure. To RSVP and for more information, go to http://www.rei.com/event/61861/session/101806/11302014.

7-9 pm — Life in the Slow Lane: Understanding Slugs and Snails in Gardens and the Wild

(Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 South Tyler Street, Tacoma) In his book, The Secret World of Slugs and Snails: Life in the Very Slow Lane, David George Gordon invites readers to “step into a world that, until now, you’ve only stepped on.” During David’s presentation, he’ll share his insights about West Coast slugs and snails, their curious behaviors, relationships with native plants and fungi, and the many niches they fill in the natural world. He’ll also explain how to forge a meaningful and lasting peace with these slimesters and offer tips for controlling their damage to our flower gardens and vegetable plots. A book signing will follow his talk. Sponsored by the South Sound Chapter of theWashington Native Plant Society. Meetings are free and open to the public.

November 15

2-3 pm — Hazards on the Homefront

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Find out about the hazards of common household products to people and the environment. We’ll show you how to read product labels for toxicity levels and proper use, storage, and disposal. Learn about safer alternatives to common hazardous products through a fastpaced bingo game. The presentation is ideal for ages 11 and up. And, two lucky people will win a green cleaning kit! Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

Thursday, Nov 20

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm — Naturescaping for Water & Wildlife, part 1

(Tumwater) Join us for an inspiring and highly-informative class taught by Native Plant Salvage’s Erica Guttman, to gain in-depth knowledge and advice for how to create the home landscape you’ve always wanted. A well-designed yard can be a beautiful extension of your house, a place to relax and entertain, a place to play, a place to grow food, and a worthwhile investment. Your yard can also help protect drinking-water supplies, streams, lakes, and Puget Sound, as well as salmon, shellfish, birds, other wildlife, and people that depend on clean water. Enjoy visits from birds and butterflies—and a healthier yard for your family—as you create habitat right outside your windows. This is a great opportunity to learn sustainable landscaping techniques, receive an introduction to many beautiful native and water-wise plants, and take the first step to bringing your home landscaping dreams into fruition. Tonight is the first part of a two-part workshop, and features detailed, hands-on information about how to incorporate beautiful native and other drought-tolerant plants into your landscape to attract amphibians, birds and butterflies while protecting water resources. Participants will learn how to transform their landscape while also saving time, money and resources! Part II of the workship is optional, and will be offered in spring 2015 to a limited number of participants who want to bring their draft plans back for review and feedback from professional landscape designers!

7 pm — Forage Fish: Why Puget Sound’s Salmon and Birds Depend on Them

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) South Sound Estuary Association’s Discovery Speaker Series presents Dayv Lowry, Research Scientist with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Other experts join him to teach about forage fish, what they are, why they’re so important, and how citizen science can help us learn more about population dynamics. Doors open at 6:30 pm The 90-minute presentation begins at 7 pm. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

November 22

2 pm — Green Chemistry Workshop

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Make your own green cleaner samples and learn about green chemistry! Chemists from Earth Friendly Products will illustrate how to choose the right ingredients to make a safe and sustainable product. The workshop is for ages 8 and up, and begins at 2 pm. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

December 5

8 pm — Pier Peer

December 6

noon–Green Building Design Workshop for Kids

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Solar panels, green roofs, and rain gardens, oh my! This workshop starts at noon and encourages children and adults to observe, explore, and design together. A slideshow followed by a tour of our LEED certified green building provides the inspiration for a handson design lab. You get to be the engineer and construct your own green building model to bring home! Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

December 13

2 pm — Waste-Free Holidays

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) During this season of heightened consumerism, consider starting a new tradition of waste free holiday giving! Create your own, personalized gift certificates and envelopes for a wide variety of memorable experiences or services – the possibilities are endless! Join us for a 2 pm presentation highlighting how consumer products are made and their environmental impacts, especially their water footprint. Knowing the story behind the things we buy, use, and toss can help us make purchasing choices that improve our lives and the lives of others. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

December 20

2 pm — Lunar Wonder

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Join us as we explore our powerful moon! Check out the phases of the moon and its effects on tides, plants, and animals. From werewolves to weather prediction, the moon is a prominent figure in the folklore of many cultures. Beyond stories, science is revealing more and more about the moon’s influence on rhythms here on Earth. Come learn, talk, and create as you explore the moon’s influence in your life. The presentation begins at 2 pm and there will be activities in the classroom all day. Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

December 27

2 pm — Down the Drain and Then What?

(LOTT Wet Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE; Olympia) Want to know more about how your community’s wastewater gets cleaned and reused? Join us for a 2 pm presentation on wastewater treatment, reclaimed water production and its uses, and what happens to residual chemicals from our medicines, cleaners, and personal care products. Hear more about LOTT’s Reclaimed Water Infiltration Study and how you can get involved! Free! For more information, contact Amber Smith at (360) 528-5742 or ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.

Monday, January 12

7-9 pm — Cowlitz Tribe Prairie and Huckleberry Restoration Projects

(Capitol Museum Coach House: 211 21st Avenue SW; Olympia) Ecologist Nathan Reynolds will speak about some of the habitat restoration projects that the Cowlitz Tribe is undertaking, both alpine huckleberry meadows and lowland prairie/oak woodland habitats. In particular, he will focus on the ethnoecology of these places, to demonstrate that many habitat types only existed because of the indigenous management regime, and that successful restoration often means a return to techniques approximating indigenous management. Sponsored by the South Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, January 14

7-9 pm — Cook’s Third Voyage and the Evolution of the Northwest Passage

(Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 South Tyler Street, Tacoma) Drawn from Dave Nicandri’s work-in-progress book on Cook’s voyaging in the high latitudes, and the map collection of the Washington State Historical Society, this illustrated lecture shows the progression of European depiction of the Pacific basin from the 16th century forward, emphasizing the pivotal cartographic implications of the great navigator’s third and final voyage in quest of the Northwest Passage and its aftermath. Sponsored by the South Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society. Meetings are free and open to the public.

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