Upcoming outdoor events
Published 2:01 pm Friday, April 10, 2015
Patagonia gear: Patagonia gear experts will be at Feathered Friends, 119 Yale Ave. N., Seattle from noon to 7 p.m. on April 15. They will help repair gear, regardless of brand, and offer used gear for sale. If you don’t have your own gear that needs fixing, they’ll supply some. Fix it and you can keep it.
Free: National Parks will waive entrance fees on April 18-19 to celebrate the beginning of National Park Week. And on April 22, state parks won’t require a Discover Pass to park in honor of Earth Day.
Orcas: Learn more about the orcas of Puget Sound at 11 a.m. April 18 at the Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. Jeff Hogan, a professional biologist and photographer, will present this event for first graders to adults. Register by calling 425-316-8592. Tickets are $7 or $5 for Adopt a Stream members.
Movie: See “Green Fire,” a film created as a tribute to conservationist Aldo Leopold that highlights his career and influences on the environmental movement, at 7 p.m. March 18 at the Camano Multipurpose Center, 141 N East Camano Drive; www.camanowildlifehabitat.org.
Whales: A Welcome the Whales Festival is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 in downtown Langley. It features speaker James Sumich, author of E. robustus: The Biology and Human History of Gray Whales, in addition to children’s activities, a parade, music, and a beach celebration.
Kayaking: The Kayak &Film Festival is April 18-19 in Port Angeles. The event includes on the water and dry land classes in variety of styles of kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. A guided paddle will be offered and a variety of kayak products will be available to visitors to test out. The film festival includes a presentation and film by a man who paddled from Olympia to Bellingham in a kayak made from discarded plastic bottles. Get more info at www.portangeleskayakandfilm.com. Advanced registration is recommended.
Owls: Tony Angell, an artist and author, will speak at the Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th Street SE, Everett, at 7 p.m. on April 23. Angell will talk about his book and present drawings from “The House of the Owls,” which is based on his experiences observing a pair of western screech owls near his home. He will also discuss owls in general. Reservations are required. Call 425-316-8592. $7, $5 for Adopt a Stream members.
ORCA: Learn about EvCC’s Ocean Research Academy during an informational session at 6 p.m. April 23 at its recently expanded waterfront location, 1205 Craftsman Way, Suite 203, in Everett. This is the last information session date before the May 1 application deadline. Visitors and prospective students can see student work, meet faculty members, learn about the program and see the facility, including the oceanography research lab and 120-gallon seawater tank. ORCA is an early college academy for high school students, who can earn up to two years of college credit while completing their high school education. Most students graduate with an associate’s degree in addition to a high school diploma. For more information, contact ORCA executive director Ardi Kveven at 425-267-0156 or go to EverettCC.edu/ORCA.
Kayaking: On April 25, kayakers will be able to paddle the Sultan River below Spada Lake. The river usually has too little flow for kayaking, but the PUD will release water from Culmback Dam to allow for higher flows. The river is rated class IV and may have some obstacles that require portages. For more information go to cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/sultankayaking.
Beach clean: The Washington State Coast Clean-up Day is on April 25. More than 50 beaches are included in the clean-up, from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Pacific Ocean. You’ll spend a few hours collecting trash and then enjoy a group barbecue post-cleanup. To join the effort and see where the clean ups are online, check the website at www.coastsavers.org.
Climbing: Improve your climbing skills at a clinic at Vertical World in Everett at 5:30 p.m. on April 27. You learn about falling safely, improving your belay skills, methods to effectively deal with fear and more. More info at http://on.fb.me/1MHMsEg. Cost are $99.
Drawn: Artist, author and rock climber Jeremy Collins will present his new book and movie at 8 p.m. April 20 at the Neptune Theatre, 1303 Northeast 45th St., Seattle. Collins art is frequently featured in Rock and Ice and Alpinist magazines, as well as on many outdoor adventure products. Collins wrote the book and created the movie, which is a mixture of animation and live action, after the death of a close friend. He explored, north, south, east and west, to tackles his personal fears and hopes. Tickets are $11.50 for $13.50 the day off show. Get more info and buy tickets at http://bit.ly/1FiBJMl
Bike repair: Learn how to keep your bike running smoothly in upcoming classes at Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop. On May 13 or June 24, basic bike mechanics is offered from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. You’ll learn basic bike care, flat tire repair, brake adjustment and pad replacement and derailleur shifting and adjustments. The class is $35. Then, an advanced class begins on April 15 or July 8. Each class runs on Wednesdays for four consecutive weeks. (The April 15 class is nearly full, but there several spots for the July class.) In the advanced class you learn more detailed bike care. You’ll learn about bearing systems, cables systems and more. $100. Classes must be paid in advance to secure your spot. All tools are provided. Call 425-252-6952 or visit the shop at 2525 Broadway, Everett to register.
