Outdoor classes and activities in and around Snohomish County
Published 1:30 am Sunday, March 19, 2017
Happy b-day: Washington State Parks turns 104 years old today, and visitors are invited to help celebrate at a state park for free. The free day is at more than 100 parks, trails and recreation sites statewide. It is the third of 12 State Parks “free days” in 2017, when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day use visits to a park. More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Birding hot spots: Tour of Camano and Stanwood birding hot spots, 9 a.m. to noon today. Destinations may change due to the weather or notable bird activity, but past expeditions have been to English Boom Historical Park, Iverson Beach Preserve and Eide Road. Meet at Terry’s Corner Park and Ride, 860 N. Sunrise, behind Camano Island Coffee Roasters to stage in carpools and get directions. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring binoculars or scopes. No dogs allowed on the guided walk. Tour will take place rain or shine; no reservations required. Part of a public education series hosted by the Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks. Visit www.camanowildlifehabitat.org, call 360-387-7024 or email camanowildlifehabitat@gmail.com.
Be a docent: Adopt A Stream Foundation needs docents at Northwest Stream Center in McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. Naturalist orientation dates are 1 to 3 p.m. March 20 or 7 to 9 p.m. March 21. Formal training sessions are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 24 or March 25. Docents must commit to a minimum of two four-hour shifts per month, be able to understand and retain basic natural resource science, be comfortable speaking to audiences, and complete an open book take-home stream and wetland ecology exam. More at 425-316-8592 or www.streamkeeper.org.
Plant trees: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 26, volunteers are needed to plant 600 trees next to Olaf Strad Creek at Marysville’s Strawberry Fields Park, 6100 152nd St. NE, Marysville. More at www.streamkeeper.org.
Live vicariously: On the fourth Tuesday of the month, Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St., hosts an outdoor adventure speaker. Local authors and outdoor enthusiasts share their adventures and expertise on topics including hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, climbing, trekking, photography and birding. Mike Woodmansee, Real Adventures in the North Cascades, will speak from 6 to 8 p.m. March 28. The outdoor adventurer talks about his more than 40 years of climbing, snowshoeing, trekking, hiking and backpacking throughout “the American Alps.” Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $3. For more, call 360-363-8400.
Ride: Cascade Bicycle Club’s Valley River Ride, April 2, follows the Cedar and Green rivers, and features low-traveled roads, protected trails and a few miles of hard-packed gravel. The ride boasts a low elevation on a nature-inspired route great for those just venturing into longer distance rides. Choose from an easygoing 30-mile route, a 50-mile route with a few challenging hills or knock out your first 62-mile metric century of the year. More at www.cascade.org; info@cascade.org or 206-522-3222.
