Christmas Bird Count: Volunteers are needed to count birds in two 15-mile-diameter circles located mostly in Snohomish County, one roughly north (Dec. 30), the other south (Dec. 16). Join a team of 10 counters in the field or sit in the warmth of your home and count birds at feeders. Call or email the area leaders to find out if your address is in one of the circles, or if you want to join others in the field. No birding experience necessary. South County circle: Rick Taylor, 425-214-2764; taylorrl@outlook.com. North County circle: Scott Atkinson, scottratkinson@hotmail.com.
Fishy trees: Adopt A Stream Foundation’s “Holiday Trees for Salmon” at the Northwest Stream Center is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, through Dec. 24. Selection of live 3 to 5 foot ($40 to $60) Sitka spruce, Western red cedar and Douglas fir trees that are in pots. After the holidays, all trees returned to the center will be planted next to local streams helping out next year’s salmon runs. The center is in Snohomish County’s McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. During December, admission is free to the 20-acre forest and wetland complex, which has a half-mile trail, trout stream exhibit and an elevated nature trail that is about 3 feet above the forest floor and surrounding wetlands. More at www.streamkeeper.org.
Winter Walk: The walk is 9:50 a.m. to noon Jan. 6, Camano Island State Park, 2269 Lowell Point Road, Camano Island. Meet at the picnic shelter near the boat ramp. The walk includes two elevation gains of about 50 feet with the rest of the walk fairly level. The trail is 2.6 miles with views of Saratoga Passage and Elger Bay, including a walk through a fern grotto and ravine. The pace is moderate. Walks take place rain or shine but cancelled if there is snow or extremely high winds. Wear clothing appropriate for weather conditions, sturdy shoes or boots. Discover Pass required. More at www.camanowildlifehabitat.org.
PARKS
Winterfest: Cama Beach State Park has activities throughout December such as guided hikes, starlight low tide beach walks, music and zombies at the park, 1880 SW Camano Drive, Camano Island. Activities take place at various times on Dec. 15, 16, 23, 30 and 31. A Discover Pass is required for day-use visits to the park. More at www.camabeachfoundation.org/winterfest.html.
Calendar: The Washington State Parks 2018 wall calendar is available for $18.99. Photographs include a panoramic view of Daroga State Park, Gardner Cave at Crawford State Park, Skagit Island Marine State Park in the San Juan Islands, fairytale scene of a cabin in the woods at Kitsap Memorial State Park, underwater photo of an opalescent nudibranch at Saltwater State Park and a holiday scene at Deception Pass State Park. To purchase, visit myprint.wa.gov and enter “calendar” in the search area. A link to the calendar order also is available on the State Parks website at www.parks.state.wa.us/wallcalendar. Orders must be made by Dec. 16 for delivery by Christmas. To submit a photo to be considered for inclusion in the 2019 State Parks calendar, go to http://wspf.org.
Free park-ing: The first Washington State Parks free day is Jan. 1. There are 12 free days in 2018. More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
PERMITS
Christmas tree permits: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest permits are on sale through Jan. 5. As part of the national Every Kid in a Park initiative, all fourth graders are eligible for a free holiday tree permit. In order for students to receive a free tree permit, they must present a valid paper voucher printed from the Every Kid in a Park website, www.everykidinapark.gov. If you aren’t a fourth grader, you can purchase permits to cut Christmas trees on the national forest. More at www.fs.usda.gov.
Winter fun: Sno-Park permits are now available. Permits allow visitors to park in specially cleared, designated parking lots with access to areas for cross-country skiing, skijoring, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, tubing and more throughout the state. Available through April 30.
Daily permit is for one, two or three consecutive days; cost is $20 per day. Seasonal non-motorized permit is valid for the entire winter season at non-motorized Sno-Parks that are used for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding; cost is $40. Special groomed sticker affixes to a seasonal Sno-Park permit and is required for use at these non-motorized Sno-Parks: Cabin Creek, Chiwawa Loop, Crystal Springs, Hyak, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee (including Nason Ridge) and Mount Spokane; cost is $40. All snowmobiles are required to be registered annually through the state Department of Licensing or a licensing agent. The $50 registration fee includes one Sno-Park permit, which must be affixed to the towing vehicle.
An annual Discover Pass is needed for Sno-Parks on lands managed by Washington State Parks or Washington State Department of Natural Resources. A Discover Pass is not required for those who purchase an annual Sno-Park permit. More at http://parks.state.wa.us/130/Winter-Recreation and www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Send calendar events to abrown@heraldnet.com.
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