See Below
RECURRING EVENTS
Tuesdays, 9 am – 3 pm: South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party
Contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org.
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.
Saturdays, 10 am – 3 pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market (700 N Capitol Way; Olympia 98501)
Sundays, 10 am – 3 pm – Olympia Farmers’ Market
2nd Annual Stream Team Holiday Tree “Rentals”
Local, convenient, and ecological! This season bring greenery into your home with a potted Douglas fir to enjoy and care for. After the holidays, drop it off at designated locations by January 4, 2013, and shortly thereafter your tree will be planted at a local restoration site. To order your tree, call Puget Sound Plants in Olympia, at 866-816-5080 (M-F, 8 am – 4:30 pm). Let them know that you want to purchase a tree through the Stream Team Holiday Tree Rental Program: they will give you directions to the nursery and let you know when to pick up your tree. Prices: 3-4 foot Douglas-fir (not filled out yet, so smaller & lighter), $15;
4-5 foot Douglas-fir, $30; 5-6 foot Douglas-fir, $38. Reserve your tree by December 18th. For more information, contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or (360)753-8336. If you are a City of Lacey resident, contact Katie Schmitz at (360) 438-2672 or kschmitz@ci.lacey.wa.us to reserve your tree: we already have trees in stock, so they are no cost to City of Lacey residents. (We have Korean fir, Fraser fir and Noble fir trees ranging from 3 ½ to 6 ½ feet tall.)
Waste Free Holiday Season
Did you know that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, trash in the United States increases by 25%? You can help make this year a Waste Free Holiday by helping to reduce and reuse this holiday season. When you host a gathering, use reusable dishes, napkins, and flatware, provide recycle bins for cans and bottles, and compost bins for food scraps. Instead of gift wrap, consider re-useable containers like tins or baskets. Consider giving the gift of an experience instead of stuff, such as treating someone to dinner or a movie, or a gift certificate for a massage. For more waste-free holiday ideas visit ThurstonSolidWaste.org.
Saturday, December 15
8:00 am – late afternoon – Black Hills Audubon Field Trip: Birding in Port Townsend and vicinity
This is a great opportunity for beginning birders to see some of the harder-to-find special birds of the Pacific Northwest. Stops will include Fort Worden, Point Hudson, Mystery Bay, and Fort Flagler State Parks, as well as Kah Tai Lagoon. Pre-registration required: e-mail Lonnie Somer at wheelermombi@comcast.net. For more information, go to http://blackhills-audubon.org/fieldtrips-events.htm.
9 am – noon – Ohop Creek work party
Join Nisqually Land Trust as they remove invasive English Ivy near Eatonville. Your help is another step toward restoring Ohop Creek to its original habitat. English Ivy is preventing the growth of native plants and trees that can improve habitat for salmon and other wildlife. Coffee, water, and some light snacks will be provided; please bring a water bottle and anything else you might need. Work parties are rain or shine. Bring layers, raingear, and close-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. All minors MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. RSVP is required for directions: go to https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=jzh7gggab&oeidk=a07e6qhfek8602448b1. For more information, contact Cris Peck at volunteer@nisquallylandtrust.org
or (360) 489-3400 x 106.
9 am – noon – Downtown Ducks at Capital Lake
Join Burt Guttman for his fabulous annual quest for winter birds in downtown Olympia. There are all kinds of ducks, geese, grebes, and the occasional loon possible, as well as passerines in the trees and shrubs. This trip begins at Marathon Park at Capital Lake and generally includes Tumwater Historical Park and Percival Cove. Sometimes visits to lower Budd Inlet are included. This trip is especially oriented toward beginner birders, but all interested folks are welcome. No registration required—just show up!
9 am – 12 pm – McKinley Park Cleanup Work Party
(500 E McKinley Way; Tacoma 98404) Meet down at the new playground and restrooms off of McKinley Ave. Metro Parks will provide all of the necessary tools and equipment. Volunteers need to dress for the weather and have work gloves. Volunteers will be assigned to work in specific areas removing invasive and non-native plants such as English Ivy and blackberry bushes. For a map, go to https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=upsgreenspaces@gmail.com&gsessionid=OK and click on the event.
9 am – 12 pm – Oak Tree Park Work Party
(Tacoma) Oak Tree Park is a beautiful and unique 25-acre park located off of South 74th and Cedar Streets. It protects a Garry Oak woodland community that has become increasingly rare due to a combination of land development and colonization of invasive species of native trees like Douglas fir. The work at Oak Tree Park on this day will include removal of non-native and invasive plant species, and litter pick-up. Bring sturdy shoes and clothes to get dirty in. Optional: gloves, shovels, rakes, and loppers – some gloves and tools will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them and can bring them. The east entrance to Oak Tree Park is at the north end of Pine Street South. Please meet at the end of Pine Street South in the culdesac. For a map, go to https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=upsgreenspaces@gmail.com&gsessionid=OK and click on the event.
10 am – 1 pm – Sunrise Park work party
(505 Bing Street NW; Olympia) Join us at Sunrise Park as we sheet mulch around the trees in this much loved park! We will focus on restoring the health of the plants and trees and cleaning up the park. Meet near the community garden. 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 (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. For more information, contact Mike Baker at 360.570.5854.
10 am – 3 pm – Interior Storm Window Insert Workshop
(Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation: 2300 East End St. NW; Olympia) Are your windows putting a chill on your comfort and your budget? Save energy, cut costs and help the environment while you learn how to build simple, low-cost interior insulating window inserts. These double-layered windows fit snugly inside the window opening, are easily removable and can be made in custom sizes. They are built on a wood frame with shrink wrap and weatherstripping. Perfect for single-pane or aluminum windows. We provide the tools and materials, you bring measurements—and together we’ll build a set of inserts for your house (and for others) to stay warm and save money this winter. Cost is $1 per square foot of window area or pay what you can. An inexpensive way to reduce cold air infiltration, condensation and heat loss! To register, contact Joe Joy at joejoy2@comcast.net or (360) 280-8651. Once you contact us, we will send you registration and window measurement forms.
1:00-2:00 pm – Mighty Microbes: The Superheroes of Sludge
(WET Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE, in downtown Olympia) Put on your lab coat and gloves, and take a look at some mighty microbes under our microscopes. You’ll learn how these tiny heroes help LOTT clean up the dirty water from your house. You’ll also get to visit the water quality lab to talk to a real scientist. Everyone will take home some fun trading cards with fun facts about these microscopic bugs. Limited to upper elementary-aged children and older. For more information, contact Amber Smith at 360.528.5742 or at ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.
Monday, December 17
8:30-9:30 am — High Tide Meeting At Percival Landing
(Percival Landing in downtown Olympia) There will be high tides (above 16 feet) on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We have invited City Council, County Commissioners, Port Commissioners, and interested citizens to join us at Percival Landing at 8:30 am for coffee and pastries as we meet with Andy Haub from Public Works and others to discuss the danger the rising tides pose to infrastructure in downtown Olympia. We will be looking at the infrastructure around the kissing couple—maybe using one of the shelters for coffee and pastry table if the rain is coming down as the tide is coming up.
Tuesday, December 18
9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party
We will be spending the day at Tenalquot prairie, mostly working with Douglas-firs. Our tasks include stacking sticks for burn piles and cutting down small Doug-firs. All the trees we fell will go to Audrey, who is putting in a carbon sequestration fence at the Prairie Demo Garden. If you have a chainsaw and would like to use it, please bring it and appropriate safety gear along. We also need about four people to seed Perideridia at Glacial Heritage. This task should only take about an hour, so you can come join us at Tenalquot after seeding. If you’re interested, please email me at ssvolunteers@cnlm.org so we can organize this group. As always, please be sure to bring rain gear, gloves, a box lunch, and water. Directions to Tenalquot Prairie from Olympia: Head south on I-5; take exit 99 and head east on 93rd Street; when 93rd dead-ends onto Old Hwy 99, turn right and continue to head south; at Waldrick Road turn left, and continue until it ends at Military Road; turn left onto Military Road, and continue until Military meets Rainier Road at the blinking red light; turn left and continue on Rainier Road for about 1/4 a mile; turn left off onto the first dirt road off of Rainier Road, and proceed to the gate and park. For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org.
Friday, December 21
9 am – 12 pm – Wetland Habitat Restoration work party
(Tacoma Nature Center: 1919 S. Tyler St; Tacoma) Join us for our regular stewardship activities as we care for the park by removing invasive plant species, re-planting areas with native plants and helping those plants thrive. No experience necessary—experienced habitat stewards will guide you through the projects. Come dressed for the weather and prepared to get dirty. Bring your own gloves and gardening gear or use what we provide. All ages are welcome, but children need to be supervised at all times by an adult. Work parties occur rain or shine! Call 253-591-6439 for more information. For a map, go to https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=upsgreenspaces@gmail.com&gsessionid=OK and click on the event.
Saturday, December 22
Holiday Handprint Crafts at LOTT
(WET Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE, in downtown Olympia) Looking to make a last minute holiday gift for a loved one? Bring the family down to get creative and make a special holiday work of art including handprint trees, wreaths, reindeers, and snowmen. We supply all the materials and you create the holiday memories. For more information, contact Amber Smith at 360.528.5742 or at ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.
Tuesday, December 25
9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party ??
(Details provided as soon as they are available.) As always, dress for the weather, and bring along gloves, water and a box lunch. For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org.
6:30-9:00 pm – Climate Crisis action group
(Olympia Center: 222 Columbia Street NW; Olympia 98501) The climate crisis is the overriding issue of our times. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation has created a new climate action group to work 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 will meet the second and fourth Tuesdays from 7-9 pm. The tentive room number is 200, but check the schedule near the first floor info desk to confirm. Join us!! Info: Bourtai Hargrove, 352-6327 bourtai31@gmail.com
Saturday, December 29
1:00-2:00 pm – Go Green in 2013!
(WET Science Center: 500 Adams Street NE, in downtown Olympia) Bring the family in to get some easy ideas for greening-up around the house. There is no better time to start new family habits that will help save money as well as the environment! This fun, all-ages presentation starts at 1 pm. Earth inspired coloring activities will be in the classroom all day. For more information, contact Amber Smith at 360.528.5742 or at ambersmith@lottcleanwater.org.
Tuesday, January 1
9 am – 3 pm – South Sound Prairie Restoration Work Party ??
(Details provided as soon as they are available.) As always, dress for the weather, and bring along gloves, water and a box lunch. For more information, contact ssvolunteers@cnlm.org.
Friday, January 4
9 am – 12 pm – Upland & Forest Habitat Restoration work party
(Tacoma Nature Center: 1919 S. Tyler St; Tacoma) Join us for our regular stewardship activities as we care for the park by removing invasive plant species, re-planting areas with native plants and helping those plants thrive. No experience necessary—experienced habitat stewards will guide you through the projects. Come dressed for the weather and prepared to get dirty. Bring your own gloves and gardening gear or use what we provide. All ages are welcome, but children need to be supervised at all times by an adult. Work parties occur rain or shine! Call 253-591-6439 for more information.
Saturday, January 5
9 am – noon – Help plant trees & shrubs at Northwest Trek
(Eatonville) Northwest Trek recently completed the initial phase of construction on our mitigation site, and now needs to install over 10,000 plants. We need as many hands as possible to get the plants in the ground, tubed and mulched. Volunteers should wear clothes and shoes appropriate for walking in tall grass, wet and muddy conditions and potentially around blackberry bushes. Bring water bottles and snacks as needed. Tools will be provided. Youth are welcome to attend with chaperones; we only have gloves in adult sizes, so youth should bring their own gloves to ensure a good fit. PLEASE RSVP TO: Jessica Moore at 360-832-7160 or jessica.moore@nwtrek.org.
10 am – 1 pm – Priest Point Park work party
(2600 East Bay Drive NE; Olympia) Ring in the New Year by helping improve the beach access trail and remove invasive ivy in historic Priest Point Park. There will be a fun contest and prizes. Meet at kitchen shelter #2. 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 (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. For more information, contact Mike Baker at 360.570.5854.
8:00 pm – Pier Peer
Join South Sound Estuary Association at Boston Harbor Marina for Pier Peer night-lighting events the first Saturday of each month starting November 3rd. 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 your own flashlight (one per person is ideal) and dress for the weather. Children under 5 are not advised. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost to register is $10/adult; children are free. Registration is required: go to http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=xcpwlrdab&oeidk=a07e6ii85hx867667c3 Questions?—contact Gabby@sseacenter.org or call (360) 878-9320.
Saturday, January 12
9 am – noon – Downtown Ducks at Capital Lake
Join Burt Guttman for his fabulous annual quest for winter birds in downtown Olympia. There are all kinds of ducks, geese, grebes, and the occasional loon possible, as well as passerines in the trees and shrubs. This trip begins at Marathon Park at Capital Lake and generally includes Tumwater Historical Park and Percival Cove. Sometimes visits to lower Budd Inlet are included. This trip is especially oriented toward beginner birders, but all interested folks are welcome. No registration required—just show up!
10 am – 1 pm – Grass Lake Nature Park work party
(814 Kaiser Rd NW; Olympia) Come out to Grass Lake Nature Park and help us groom the loop trail and remove invasive plants. We will focus on maintaining an area that was restored with native vegetation. Meet near the trailhead. Parking is limited, so please be courteous to neighbors. 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 (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. For more information, contact Mike Baker at 360.570.5854.
Saturday, January 19
10 am – 3 pm – Amphibians of the Pacific Northwest
(LOTT WET Science Center: 500 Adams St NE; Olympia) If you have an interest in our local Pacific Northwest species of amphibians and would like to learn more about them, including how to identify amphibian egg masses, then you will love this free workshop. Workshop instructor, Dr. Marc P. Hayes is a herpetological ecologist and senior research scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has 39 years of experience working with amphibians and reptiles in locations in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Costa Rica, Florida and Mexico. FREE! To register, or if you are interested in conducting amphibian egg mass surveys, contact Michelle Stevie at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us or 360-753-8336. More details are available in the Stream Team Newsletter at http://streamteam.info/pdf/current.pdf.
Sunday, January 27
10 am – 12:30 pm OR 1 pm – 3:30 pm – Winter Twig ID Field Class
Join WSU Native Plant Salvage Project at the McLane Creek Nature Trail to learn how to identify native trees and shrubs in their winter splendor. $5 fee for the field class. To register or for more information, contact nativeplantsalvage@gmail.com or call 360-867-2166.
Tuesday, February 5
6-9 pm – Naturescaping for Water & Wildlife Workshop
(Olympia) This workshop will help you learn how to landscape to protect water resources, attract more birds and butterflies, plan for four-seasons of interest, and deal with tricky spots in your landscape. Registration is required, and space is limited. Register online at www.streamteam.info and click on the calendar, or call 360-867-2166.
February 6
7-8:30 pm – Eyes Over Puget Sound
(Olympia City Hall, Council Chambers) Four times per month, scientists from the Department of Ecology take to the sky in a float plane to take aerial photographs and collect water samples from 37 stations throughout Puget Sound and the coast. This year-round data has been collected since 1989, and aerial photos and data can be viewed at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/surface.html. Come meet some of the scientists, see some of the gear, and learn about how the monitoring is done and what the results and trends are revealing.
Saturday, February 9
10 am – 1 pm – The Amazing Life of Lichens: lecture followed by field trip
(LOTT WET Science Center: 500 Adams St NE, Olympia) Certified Arborist, Micki McNaughton will share her fascination with lichens and the importance of these unique symbiotic organisms and their relationship to the health of our environment. Micki has a degree in Ecology and Horticulture and is currently working on an advance degree in Restoration of Natural Systems, as well as working as the Urban Forestry Special Project Coordinator for the Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources. Following the lecture, there will be a field trip from noon to 1 pm at Priest Point Park. For more information, or to register for this free workshop and field trip, visit www.streamteam.info and click on the calendar or call 360-753-8336.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Environmental Lobby Day 2013 – stay tuned for details
Tuesday, February 26
7-8 pm – Creatures of the Deep: Explore the Wonders of Puget Sound
(LOTT WET Science Center: 500 Adams St NE, Olympia) Stream Team invites you to an evening with David Jennings, scuba diver and photographer, to enjoy the beauty of his amazing underwater photographs capturing the wonders of Puget Sound from Budd Inlet to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. David will also talk about issues threatening Puget Sound and what we can do to help. As a member of Reef Environmental Education Foundation’s (REEF) Northwest Advanced Assessment Team, David volunteers his time conducting diversity surveys from the Salish Sea to Monterey Bay. David’s previous presentation in 2011, was standing room only, so arrive early to get a seat. For more information visit www.streamteam.info and click on the calendar.