Check out the list below for numerous volunteer opportunities, events, and trainings in the Olympia area.
When and Where to See Salmon
Every fall, we can delight in watching the return of the adult Chinook and chum salmon from the Pacific Ocean to their natal rivers and streams to spawn. This year, you can also enjoy viewing the pink salmon, which return to Washington rivers and creeks in odd years on a two year life cycle.
SALMON WHEN STREAM VIEWING LOCATION
Chinook September Deschutes River* Tumwater Falls Park
Pink September Mashell River** University of Washington Pack Forest
Pink September South Prairie Creek Veteran’s Park in Town of South Prairie
Chum November Kennedy Creek*** Kennedy Creek Trail
Chum November McLane Creek* McLane Creek Nature Trail
* These locations will be staffed with knowledgeable Stream Team Salmon Stewards on most weekend days from 11 am – 3 pm. Tumwater Falls will also be staffed most weekday evenings.
** Nisqually River Pinks are best viewed in the Mashell River tributary. To view pinks at the University of Washington Pack Forest, enter the gate for 200 Road, near the junction of Highways 161 and 7. Do not park in front of the gate. A trail map can be found at www.packforest.org/education.
*** For more information: www.masoncd.org/Kennedy
Chehalis Basin Partnership needs volunteers
The 6th Annual Chehalis Watershed Festival is coming up on Saturday, September 17th from 10 am to 4 pm at Morrison Riverfront Park and Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen. Volunteers are needed to help staff a Chehalis Basin Partnership table, and to help greet festival-goers with the brochure and answer questions. In addition, volunteers are needed to help with school visits on September 14, 15 and 16 to Grays Harbor area schools. We will be doing brief classroom presentations first, then a visit outside. To volunteer or get more details, contact Janel Spaulding at (360) 538-4212 or at jspauldi@ghc.edu.
Stream Team Volunteer Opportunities
Nisqually Watershed Festival, Saturday, September 24: Sign up for any 2-hour shift between 10 am and 4 pm. Contact Chris Maun at maunc@co.thurston.wa.us or 360-754-3355 ext. 6377.
Return Of The Chinook Salmon, Sunday, October 2: At Tumwater Falls Park. Sign up for any 2-hour shift from Noon to 4 p.m. Contact Debbie Smith at dmsmith@ci.tumwater.wa.us or 360-754-4148.
Volunteer with South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA)
Volunteers are needed to help SSEA do community outreach at the following events:
• September 24: Nisqually Watershed Festival
• October 2: Cruising for the Sound
To volunteer, contact Melanie at melanie@sseacenter.org.
Help out at the Native Plant Salvage Foundation’s Water-wise Plant Sale
Sunday, October 2 at the WSU Extension offices on Mud Bay Rd./Harrison Ave. If you’d like to help out, email Erica at erica@nativeplantsalvage.org.
Need a Stormwater Steward?
The Native Plant Salvage Project and Thurston Co. Stormwater Utility/Stream Team new “Stormwater Stewards” program is currently training volunteers—and in late summer/early fall they will have a practicum period, during which they will provide guidance to residents who want to manage stormwater on-site via rain gardens and other low-impact techniques. If you want to be placed on a list to receive services, contact erica@nativeplantsalvage.org.
Every Monday:
3-7pm – Schaefer Park Cleanup
Schaefer Park is located north of Centralia. It is a wonderful park, with the beautiful Skookumchuck River running along the edge. It recently was shut down due to lack of money. However, with the help of a few wonderful volunteers the park is up and running and looking great! If you’re interested in lending a hand, volunteers are encouraged to show up at the park on Mondays from 3-7pm. Also see the facebook page Save the Schaefer.
Every Tuesday:
9am-3pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party
Contact: Ashley Smithers at 503.451.0824 or asmithers@tnc.org.
Every Wednesday:
8-10am – Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Bird Walk
Meet at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Overlook at 8am, and join Phil Kelley from Black Hills Audubon Society for the entire walk or for as long as you wish.
3-6 pm – GRub Farm Drop-in Volunteer Session
(GRuB Farm; 2016 Elliott Ave NW; Olympia 98502) Volunteers support the GRuB Farm in weeding, transplanting, seeding and miscellaneous maintenance of the farm. We ask that anyone under 14 be accompanied by an adult. Visit http://www.goodgrub.org/volunteer ahead of time so you can fill out a volunteer interest form that you can bring with you.
Every Thursday:
10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)
Every Friday:
10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)
Every Saturday:
9 am – 2 pm – West Olympia Farmers Market (Garfield Elementary bus loop, between the school and adjacent Woodruff Park, on Thomas Street.)
10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)
10 am – Budd Inlet Shoreline Walks (see details on Wednesday, above)
Every Sunday:
10 am-3pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 Capitol Way N; Olympia)
10 am – Budd Inlet Shoreline Walks (see details on Wednesday, above)
1-4 pm – GRub Farm Drop-in Volunteer Session
(GRuB Farm; 2016 Elliott Ave NW; Olympia 98502) Volunteers support the GRuB Farm in weeding, transplanting, seeding and miscellaneous maintenance of the farm. We ask that anyone under 14 be accompanied by an adult. Visit http://www.goodgrub.org/volunteer ahead of time so you can fill out a volunteer interest form that you can bring with you.
Tuesday, September 13
7:00 pm – Olympia Science Café: Prevention and Control of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Central Asia
(Batdorf & Bronson Coffee House, 516 Capitol Way South, Olympia) While infrequently encountered in the United States, drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is an entrenched and growing menace in other regions of the world, including the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. Requiring the use of more toxic and more expensive drugs over a longer treatment course, drug-resistant TB presents an ominous threat to global population health. In Uzbekistan and its semi-autonomous region of Karakalpakstan, environmental, socio-economic, structural and political forces have coalesced—allowing drug-resistant TB to establish itself as an alarming endemic disease. Over the course of a twelve-month mission serving with the international humanitarian assistance organization Medecins sans Frontieres or MSF (aka Doctors without Borders), Shawn McBrien (currently an epidemiologist with the Washington State Department of Health TB Program) had an amazing opportunity to participate in the frontline battle against drug-resistant TB in Central Asia. He will share his observations and reflections, both personal and professional, from his experiences in Uzbekistan, including the design, value and limitations of international humanitarian assistance, and the common bonds of humanity that can serve to unify us in our collective struggle against diseases that afflict and threaten our global community.
Saturday, September 17
8 am – 2 pm – People For Puget Sound Waterbird Survey & Weeding Party
(Titlow Park, Tacoma) People For Puget Sound will be leading a waterbird survey (8 am to 10 am) followed by a volunteer weeding work party (10:30 am to 2 pm) at Titlow Park in Tacoma. We hope that you can join us for one or both activities! If you plan to attend, please wear sturdy footwear, dress for the weather, and bring your own water bottle. No experience is necessary for either event, but we ask that children ten and under have adult supervision. For the waterbird survey, please bring your own binoculars, if you have them. Meet on the walking path near the outdoor swimming pool at 8 am. For the weeding work party: Please bring your own work gloves, if you have them. We will provide tools and will have some extra work gloves to share. We will be spreading mulch and removing Himalayan blackberry and other invasive species, so long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Meet on the walking path along the upper lagoon shoreline at 10:30 am (from the outdoor swimming pool, walk past the playground on the right and continue over the small footbridge into the forest). You may want to bring a sack lunch, though light snacks will be provided. Parking for both events is available at the Titlow Lodge and Community Center (8425 6th Ave, Tacoma 98465) or at several nearby lots. For more information and directions, contact Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org.
9:00am – noon – Stormwater Pond Care and Maintenance Workshop
(Tumwater City Hall; , 555 Israel Road SW in Tumwater) Most residential developments built after 1985 have stormwater ponds and are responsible for maintaining them. Stormwater ponds are engineered depressions in the land where stormwater runoff gathers and either infiltrates into the ground or flows onward to another body of water. Well-maintained ponds help prevent pollution, flooding and protect property values. Before winter rains begin, learn how to maintain and inspect your neighborhood stormwater pond and meet reporting requirements at a free combined Thurston County and City of Tumwater workshop. Participants will visit two representative ponds and practice filling out annual maintenance reports required by Thurston County. To register for the workshop, call Chris at 754-3355 ext.6377 or email him at maunc@co.thurston.wa.us.
9 am – 1 pm –Thurston Crop Mob!
(Left Foot Organics; 11122 Case Rd S; Olympia 98512) South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust invites you to attend the first Thurston Crop Mob. Spend half a day on a local sustainable farm, helping with tasks such as planting, weeding, or harvesting, while learning about farming and networking with other volunteers. After a few hours of good hard work, we’ll share a delicious meal provided by the farmer. After the noon meal, Left Foot Organics will be hosting a composting workshop at 1:00 p.m. If you plan to attend, please RSVP so we know how much food to prepare. To RSVP, email communityfarmlandtrust@gmail.com. To learn more about the history of crop mobs visit: http://cropmob.org/about. For more information about Left Foot Organics go to: www.leftfootorganics.org.
10 am – 4 pm – 6th Annual Chehalis Watershed Festival
(Morrison Riverside Park and Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen) Family-friendly and free. Fin the great big salmon will be there again. Info: jspauldi@ghc.edu.
10 am – 1 pm – How to Keep a Wave on the Sand; Capturing the Outdoors in Photographs
(Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge) Come learn some basic and professional outdoor photography techniques and tips from writer and national photographer Greg Farley. Learn to take your camera off the “automatic” settings and onto the “manual” settings in just a couple of hours. Workshop participants will spend time inside learning camera operations, then head outside to apply what they’ve learned. Never again let nature’s beauty escape your lens! 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—although you do need to pay the Refuge entrance fee. For more information, contact the Refuge at (360) 753-9467. Directions: take I-5 exit 114, and follow signs to the Refuge.
10 am – Olympia Rain Garden Tour
Tour downtown, east, and west side of Olympia to see the lovely variety of rain gardens your neighbors have constructed to infiltrate stormwater into the ground. Stay all day or tour just one part of town. Also, learn about the City of Olympia’s new rain garden incentive. Free and open to the public. 10:00 am: meet at Olympia Timberland Library(313 8th Ave SE) for brief indoor overview, and tour 2 nearby locations. 12:30 pm: meet at San Francisco Street Bakery (1320 San Francisco St NE) and tour three nearby locations. 2:30 pm: meet at Olympia Food Co-op, West Side (921 Rogers St NW) and tour three nearby locations. For more information or to RSVP (not required) contact Patricia Pyle (360) 570-5841 or ppyle@ci.olympia.wa.us
10 am – 1 pm – Salmon Steward Chinook Field Training
(Tumwater Falls Park) To register, contact Debbie at 360-754-4148 or dmsmith@ci.tumwater.wa.us.
11 am – 12 noon – Tune Up Your Bike
(Westside Farmers’ Market; Thomas St NW, next to Garfield School; Olympia) Larry Leveen from Oly Bikes will show you how. Don’t forget to bring your bike! For more details and a list of other re-skilling demonstrations coming up, go to www.oly-wa.us/transitionolympia.
2-6:30 pm – Kiwanis Food Bank Garden Work Party & $5 Challenge Meal
Work-party at the garden (2:00-4:00 pm), followed by a $5 Challenge meal that you help prepare. It’s fine to attend just the work-party or just the meal, or attend both! With your cooking expertise and a seasonal menu, we will prove that a meal prepared with quality local ingredients and cooking methods that enhance the food flavors is a value meal costing just $5 a person. We are asking each family to prepare one of four menu items (beet salad, potato gratin, chicken casserole, or zucchini bread—the recipes are posted at http://slowfoodolympia.org/recipes2011.html), or if you prefer, bring low-cost non-alcoholic drinks, homemade breads or help with set-up, serving and clean-up. Bring your own plates, glasses, silverware and folding chairs. If you are also attending the work-party, bring a change of clothes if you like: we’ll provide access to restrooms so you can wash and change before the meal.
Registration: To honor the $5 meal concept, we need to balance dishes brought to the meal, so we ask you to please register with Kim Murillo (kimhmurillo@yahoo.com), by Sept 12. Let her know which menu item you will bring and share your food preference (vegan, gluten-free). Also tell her if you will also attend the work-party. There is no charge for the dinner – just volunteer to bring one of the selected dishes or help in other ways by emailing Kim. Come help us prove that Slow Food is not only good tasting, good for the environment and good for those who grow our food, but a great food value and even better when we share the meal together.
Sunday, September 18
10:30-11 am – Cooking Demo: Uncommon Veggies
(Olympia Farmers Market Stage) Set aside 15 – 20 minutes of your Sunday morning market visit to learn about preparing locally grown vegetables that are less commonly eaten. Pick up cooking and nutrition tips and a recipe card. Sponsored by Slow Food Greater Olympia, the Olympia Farmers Market, and Friends of the Olympia Farmers Market.
Noon – 4 pm – Henderson Inlet Watershed Tour
Join Stream Team as we take a closer look at a local watershed that flows through the heart of Lacey yet also supports a thriving shellfish farm. See how local efforts to protect and enhance water quality are paying dividends in both the Woodland and Woodard Creek sub-watersheds. Climb aboard a deluxe tour bus and visit several sites to learn about local efforts to reduce stormwater impacts, improve salmon habitat and keep shellfish harvesting viable and healthy. Local experts will be on hand to share their expertise and answer your questions. The tour will culminate with a delicious shellfish tasting at the Henderson Inlet Community Shellfish Farm! The tour is free, but registration is required—and this popular tour fills up fast!. For more details, or to register for this free tour, please contact Laura Hurson at streamteam@ci.lacey.wa.us or 360-438-2672.
4:00-7:30 pm – Nisqually Land Trust Annual Membership Meeting & Salmon Bake
(Odd Fellows Puget Beach Park; 6500 79th Avenue NE; Olympia 98516) Join us for a Nisqually Chinook Salmon Barbecue and an update of the Land Trust’s activities. Members and supporters welcome. Suggested donation: $5 per adult (to cover the cost of food). To register, call 360-489-3400 or go to http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e47yuksj3abe5493&llr=jzh7gggab. We also need volunteers to set up and take down tables and chairs, greet guests, set and clear tables and clean up, and more. For information, or to volunteer, call Connie or Candi at 360-489-3400 or email us at cbond@nisquallylandtrust.org.
Mon, September 19
noon – 1pm – Plant Walk at Adriana Hess Wetland Park
(University Place, near Tacoma) Take a lunch break and enjoy a guided plant walk at a local urban park to learn how you can use native plants to attract wildlife to your yard. The Adriana Hess Wetland Park was preserved by the Hess Family and given to the city of University Place in 1995, and since then has undergone a transformation from a backyard to an urban wildlife sanctuary. Join us to discover the possibilities and get inspired! Volunteers at Tahoma Audubon Society provide monthly walks on the third Monday of each month. Pick up a free Donna Cooper Pepos Native Plant Trail Guide and come by anytime. Adults and families welcome. FREE. Call 253-565-9278 to sign up or for more information.
Thursday, September 22
12 noon – Focus on Food: Local, Sustainable, and Delicious
(Lacey Library; 500 College St SE; Lacey 98503) Enjoy a sampling of dishes showcasing food from the local area while learning about alternatives to industrialized food production systems. This potluck, panel discussion, and introduction to the sustainable food movement is part of Sustainable South Sound’s Food Summit series. Kim Murillo, Lynn Wilkinson, and Halli Winstead will review several books related to a locally sustainable food system for all. Snacks will be provided by the Olympia Food Coop. Sponsored by the Olympia Food Co-op and Olympia’s Slow Food chapter.
Saturday, September 24
9 am – noon – Scots Broom Pull at Thurston Ridge
Join volunteers in removing invasive Scot’s broom on the Nisqually Land Trust’s Thurston Ridge properties, near Yelm. Bring your friends. No tools or experience required! With persistence and elbow grease, we can stop this nasty weed from taking over the protected forests of the Nisqually River watershed. Work parties are rain or shine, so dress for Washington weather. RSVPs are required for directions–this ensures that we bring enough tools for everyone. Youths 16 and under MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult. To sign up, go to http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=jzh7gggab&oeidk=a07e4mm6y06482b4d7a.
9am-2pm – Mushroom Foray in Capitol Forest
We will meet at 9:00 am at the Mud Bay Park & Ride on Madrona Beach Road. Carpools will be formed as desired, caravan into Capital Forest to look for mushrooms. Tom Keller, president of the South Sound Mushroom Club, will explain what to look for and how to identify the more common mushrooms, as well as those to avoid. Dress for the weather and outdoors; bring rain gear if needed. Afterwards, we will gather at a home for a mushroom potluck lunch. Bring a dish to share (including mushrooms in the dish is optional). The cost is $15. Registration: to reserve your space at this event your check must be received by Sept 21. Send your e-mail address and make checks payable to Greater Olympia Slow Food, and send to: Liz Douglas; 2725 Hibiscus Ct SE; Olympia, WA 98513. No spots will be saved until a check is received. For questions; email Liz Douglas at eadouglas@comcast.net.
9:30 am – 5:00 pm – Birding Tour in Grays Harbor
Join Cascade Land Conservancy for an afternoon of birding, and learn more about the estuary conservation work along the Pacific Coast. Please bring your binoculars, sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Space is limited to 15 for this event, please register early or contact Emiko Blalock if you have questions, 206-905-6912. To register, go to https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/EventDetail.asp?cguid=6374B924-D0D5-4655-BC98-66623676DF2C&eid=37210&sid=581D9FC0%2DA67E%2D4859%2D9A64%2DDC33AFAD5327.
10 am – 7 pm – Moving Planet Day
Olympia Climate Action is joining with Transition Olympia, the local Green Party and folks around the earth to call attention to the effect of transportation on climate on Moving Planet Day. Join us as we leave our cars at home and gather downtown—by bicycle, by foot, by bus, by skateboard—and move one step closer to becoming a car-free city. Added to the goal of reducing our carbon footprint will be an opportunity to support local businesses which provide family-supporting jobs and pump dollars back into the community. Picnicking in Sylvester Park from 5 pm onward will provide a chance to visit with friends while listening to local bands. You can buy a picnic dinner at many local spots, and Food Not Bombs will have enough food for those who can’t afford to buy it. Contact http://www.moving-planet.org/map or janetjordan@email.com for more information.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Green Tacoma Day
Please join us to celebrate the ongoing success of the Green Tacoma Partnership and Public Lands Day by joining volunteers to help restore 15 parks and green spaces through the city. Dress for the weather and bring rain gear, as we will work rain or shine. Wear work clothes, sturdy shoes and plenty of layers. Volunteers under the age of 18 should come to the event with the signed parent/guardian waiver (go to www.cascadeland.org/files/2008%20under%2018%20volunteer%20waiver.doc). For more information or to RSVP for this event, email Richard Madison (Metro Parks) at RichardM@tacomaparks.com or call (253) 752-2596.
10 am – 3 pm – Woodard Bay Work Party and Guided Trail Walk
For more information, contact Christina Donehower at cdonehower@pugetsound.org.
10am – 4pm – Nisqually Watershed Festival
(Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge) This year’s festival includes numerous exciting entertainment acts, educational activities and exhibits for kids of all ages. The main stage will feature reptiles, birds, music and dancing. The Red Salmon Story Tent will be back along with the Drain Dare trailer and Fin, the Wild Olympic Salmon. There will be activities and exhibits from many conservation-minded agencies and organizations—including fish printing, plywood fish painting, a touch tank and much, much more. Bring your appetite: the famous Nisqually Salmon Bake will be on the grill again this year. This event is FREE (except for the food), so come out and celebrate the Nisqually Watershed. If you would like to help volunteer at Stream Team’s booth or with the Drain Dare, contact Chris Maun at 360-754-3355 ext. 6377 or maunc@co.thurston.wa.us. Directions: take I-5 exit 114, and follow signs to the Refuge.
1-3 pm – film: The Future of Food
(Lacey Timberland Library) In a compelling expose, “The Future of Food” investigates the rise of genetically-modified foods in the 20th century, detailing the impacts that the patenting of crop varieties has had on farmers’ lives and consumers’ diets. This film screening is part of Sustainable South Sound’s Food Summit series.
4-7 pm – Olympia House Party for the Center for Environmental Law and Policy
(Jerry Parker’s Home; 803 Rogers St. NW; Olympia) At the house party, you’ll: meet the incoming Executive Director of CELP, Suzanne Skinner; hear what CELP has been doing at the Legislature, in the courts, and elsewhere to advocate on behalf of the public interest in water management, and protection of instream flows; hear what CELP is planning to do in the near future, including the 2012 legislative session; and of course, eat and drink delicious hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, and other nourishing food. Please attend and bring your friends! (Jerry’s testimonial: I have been a member of CELP for years, and have actively helped it in its water protection work. There is no other organization in Washington that does what it does, and does it so effectively.) For more information on CELP’s activities, go to www.celp.org.
Sunday, September 25
10:30-11 am – Cooking Demo: Uncommon Veggies
(Olympia Farmers Market Stage) Set aside 15 – 20 minutes of your Sunday morning market visit to learn about preparing locally grown vegetables that are less commonly eaten. Pick up cooking and nutrition tips and a recipe card. Sponsored by Slow Food Greater Olympia, the Olympia Farmers Market, and Friends of the Olympia Farmers Market.
Tuesday September 27
5:30 pm – public hearing before the Thurston County Board of Commissioners
(Room 280, Building 1 of the Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW;
Olympia 98502) The Thurston County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to hear testimony on proposed changes to the Public Participation chapter (chapter 2.05) of the Thurston County Growth Management Act (GMA). Staff is proposing to modernize and update this chapter to clarify docketing procedures, accommodate future changes in the methods of public participation, and recognize the widespread use of the internet, and other electronic communications that were not as prevalent in 1997. For more information, go to http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/planning/comp_plan/comp-plan-participation-amendment.html.
September 28
7:30 – 9 pm – Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart-Cookin’ Mamas
(Olympia Timberland Library) Join us for a discussion of “Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart-Cookin’ Mamas.” Mark Winne, the book’s author, will join the discussion via speaker phone! This event is part of the South Puget Sound Food Summit. Register for this program in person at the Olympia Timberland Library Information Desk, beginning on Monday, August 29. The first ten to register will receive a free copy of the book!
Thursday, September 29
7-9 pm – Food Swap
(GRuB Farm) The food swap craze is coming to Olympia! The organizers of the Oly Food Swap have put together a blog: http://olyfoodswap.wordpress.com to answer all of your questions on how a food swap works and how to sign up for this FREE event. “Like” the Oly Food Swap facebook page for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oly-Food-Swap/162431900497015?ref=ts#!/pages/Oly-Food-Swap/162431900497015.
October 2
10 am – 4 pm – Return of the Chinook Salmon Celebration
(Tumwater Falls Park) To volunteer in the Stream Team booth, contact Debbie at 360-754-4148 or dmsmith@ci.tumwater.wa.us.
11 am – 4 pm – Native Plant Salvage Project Water-Wise Plant Sale
(4131 Mud Bay Rd. NW, Olympia) For more info., visit www.nativeplantsalvage.org.
2-5 pm – South Sound Estuary Association’s Cruising for the Sound
Join SSEA for a three-hour educational exploration of South Puget Sound, on board the luxury yacht, My Girl. The Cruise will depart from Port Plaza Dock in Olympia and take participants to the various inlets of the South Puget Sound. The program, “Early Encounters on Puget Sound,” will be presented by Les Eldridge, local author and maritime history nut. While cruising he will provide a detailed history of South Sound geographical features encountered, including some surprising American Civil War connections. Tickets are $100 each, and all proceeds benefit SSEA’s mission to establish and maintain an interpretive center for marine and estuarine life. A limited number of spaces are available. Register at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e4rqtdt86da67300&llr=xcpwlrdab or through Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/192324. For more information, call Melanie Kincaid at 360-918-8708 or email melanie@sseacenter.org.
October 5
7:30 – 8:45 pm – author visit with Thor Hanson
(Olympia Timberland Library) Join us for an evening with biologist Thor Hanson, author of “Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle”. “If you feel a sudden need to read about dinosaurs, fly fishing, muttonbirds, and showgirls, this is your book! Absolutely fascinating history, and a terrific read…!”
October 6
noon – 1 pm – Adult Book Discussion: “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard
(Chehalis Timberland Library) Contact Number: (360) 748-3301
Saturday, October 8
9 am-noon – Ohop Valley Tree Planting with the Nisqually Land Trust
RSVPs are required for directions, to ensure that we bring enough tools for everyone. To sign up, send an email to staff@nisquallylandtrust.org.
10 am – Noon – Percival Creek Revegetation Project
(at Sapp Rd in Tumwater) Contact Debbie at 360-754-4148 or at dmsmith@ci.tumwater.wa.us.
10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Guided Mushroom Walk
The Maxine G. Morse Nature Conservancy is a special place, currently being restored and taken care of. It has many things to offer, including plant identification and mushrooms! Join Cascade Land Conservancy for a tour of the property, and learn about mushrooms that grow in the Northwest. Please note: this will not be a foraging event—conserved properties are protected and therefore, no mushrooms will be taken from the property. To register, go to https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/EventDetail.asp?cguid=6374B924-D0D5-4655-BC98-66623676DF2C&eid=37211&sid=6938DBB6%2D5750%2D4144%2DAF46%2D0190DF1DF588. For more information, contact Emiko Blalock at emikob@cascadeland.org or at 206-905-6912.
Sunday, October 9
Noon-2 pm – Yelm Creek Tree Planting
Contact Ann Marie at 360-754-3355 ext. 6857 or at finanam@co.thurston.wa.us.
October 14th & 15th: Coming to the Table – A Community Food Summit
October 14th will feature a giant community pot-luck on the streets of downtown Olympia, and environmental and agricultural expo, and a presentation by Mark Winnie – author of Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart Cookin’ Mamas: Fighting Back in an Age of Industrial Agriculture and Closing the Food Gap – at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts
October 15th will be a ‘roll up your sleeves’ conference at the Thurston County Fairgrounds where we will learn about our current local food system, clarify our vision for the future, and start building the roadmap to get us from today to tomorrow.
The food summit will be the capstone of a series of events throughout the fall and summer that is called Focus on Food. Events leading up to the summit will include tours of local farms and gardens, events and programs at local Timberland Regional Libraries, discussion groups, and other opportunities to learn about the food system, our local food economy, and options for a more sustainable food future. To register, go to http://cometothetablefoodsummit.eventbrite.com. Email Halli Winstead at hallilw@gmail.com if you have questions!
October 12
6:30 – 8:00 pm – Green Cleaning
(Yelm Timberland Library) Jennifer Johnson from Thurston County Environmental Health will show you how to have a healthy home and will provide the supplies for you to make and take your own green cleaner. Discover the benefits of cleaning with low-toxic cleaners that are easy to make, effective, smell good, cost less than commercial products, and don’t pollute indoor air. Registration is required.
7:30 – 8:45 pm – Dog Days, Raven Nights with authors John and Colleen Marzluff
(Olympia Timberland Library) Experience natural science at work. Join authors John Marzluff, professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington, and Colleen Marzluff, an expert in dog training and animal behavior, in the wilds of Maine as they train and race reluctant sled dog and study the mysterious raven.
Sunday, October 16
Noon – 2 pm – Spurgeon Creek Tree Planting
(Circle Hawk Farm near Rich Rd.) Contact Ann Marie at 360-754-3355 ext. 6857 or at finanam@co.thurston.wa.us.
October 19
7-9 pm – SSEA Discovery Lecture Series at LOTT’s WET Science Center
For more information, contact Leihla at at 360-888-0565 or leihla@sseacenter.org.
October 22
10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Restoration Event at Clover Creek Reserve
(Tacoma) Clover Creek Reserve is an example of woodland prairie, an increasingly rare landscape in Pierce County. Dress for the weather. Suggested dress: boots or comfortable athletic shoes, work clothes, rain gear and appropriate layers. Volunteers should bring a refillable water bottle. Snacks, drinks, tools and gloves will be provided. Directions: Clover Creek Reserve is located on Johns Street E, Tacoma 98445 (enter 6th Ave E & Johns St E, Tacoma, WA 98445 on on google maps/mapquest). If you are under 18 and attending the event without a parent or guardian, please come to the event with a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. (Go to www.cascadeland.org/files/stewardship-files/Youth%20Waiver.updated%2011.22.10.pdf) To register for this event, go to https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/EventDetail.asp?cguid=6374B924%2DD0D5%2D4655%2DBC98%2D66623676DF2C&eid=38536&sid=923AEE4B%2D2232%2D45D5%2D87B8%2D38E0D515BBAD.
Thursday, November 3
6-9 pm – Naturescaping for Water & Wildlife Workshop
(Tumwater) Fall is an ideal time to do some research and make plans for your lawn and garden. If you are interested in learning how to turn your yard into a lovely year-round landscape that attracts birds, butterflies and amphibians, then this workshop is for you. Attend this FREE workshop to learn: planting for 4-season interest; landscaping for tricky areas like slopes; easy ways to minimize lawns; water-wise ideas for your landscape; how simple landscape changes can save you time and money. Erica Guttman, WSU Native Plant Salvage Project, will teach the class. Registration is required, and space is limited. To register, or for more information, contact nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com or 360-867-2166.
Nov 12
10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Environmental Restoration at Clover Creek Reserve
(Tacoma) Clover Creek Reserve is an example of woodland prairie, an increasingly rare landscape in Pierce County. Dress for the weather. Suggested dress: boots or comfortable athletic shoes, work clothes, rain gear and appropriate layers. Volunteers should bring a refillable water bottle. Snacks, drinks, tools and gloves will be provided. Directions: Clover Creek Reserve is located on Johns Street E, Tacoma 98445 (enter 6th Ave E & Johns St E, Tacoma, WA 98445 on on google maps/mapquest). If you are under 18 and attending the event without a parent or guardian, please come to the event with a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. (Go to www.cascadeland.org/files/stewardship-files/Youth%20Waiver.updated%2011.22.10.pdf) To register for this event, go to https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/EventDetail.asp?cguid=6374B924%2DD0D5%2D4655%2DBC98%2D66623676DF2C&eid=38534&sid=89CF7DD7%2D4E81%2D4BBA%2D92A1%2DC48FDE2AD220.
Saturday, November 12
10 am – noon – Salmon Steward Chum Field Training
(DNR McLane Creek Nature Trail) To register, contact Ann Marie at finanam@co.thurston.wa.us or 360-754-3355 x6857.
November 16
7-9 pm – SSEA Discovery Lecture Series at LOTT’s WET Science Center
For more information, contact Leihla at at 360-888-0565 or leihla@sseacenter.org.
December 7
7-9 pm – SSEA Discovery Lecture Series at LOTT’s WET Science Center
For more information, contact Leihla at at 360-888-0565 or leihla@sseacenter.org.
March 21
7-9 pm – SSEA Discovery Lecture Series at LOTT’s WET Science Center
For more information, contact Leihla at at 360-888-0565 or leihla@sseacenter.org.