Outdoors classes and activities around Snohomish County
Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 4, 2018
GET OUT
Sno-Park permits: Attention snow enthusiasts: Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program’s Sno-Park permits are available for purchase online and at various vendors statewide through April 30. The permits allow visitors to park in cleared, designated parking lots with access to areas around the state for skiing, skijoring, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, tubing and other winter fun. More at www.parks.state.wa.us/winter.
Free park-ing: The next day to visit Washington State Parks without an entrance fee is Nov. 11 on Veterans Day. Others free days are Nov. 23 (Autumn Day), Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day), Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), March 19 (State Park’s birthday), April 14 (Spring Day), April 22 (Earth Day), June 2 (National Trails Day), June 9 (National Get Outdoors Day), June 10 (Fishing Day) and Aug. 25 (National Park Service’s birthday). More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
STAY IN
Mountaineer open house: Preview upcoming winter courses offered by the Everett Mountaineer’s branch at an open house at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Snohomish PUD headquarters, 2320 California St., Everett. Winter courses include: avalanche, alpine scrambling, back-country skiing, basic climbing and snowshoeing. Nic Tormohlen, an Everett climbing and photographer, will present “Aconcagua — The Stone Sentinel of South America” and share his climbing experiences through photos and videos. More at www.mountaineers.org.
Outdoor adventures: Marysville’s Outdoor Adventure Speaker Series continues at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 with Jason Colby on “The Ocean’s Apex Predator” at the Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St., Marysville. A historian and professor, Colby’s talk will explore humanity’s transformed relationship with the ocean’s apex predator — the orca — and what it means for the future of our local environment and Puget Sound adventures. Entry is $5 at the door. Call 360-363-8400.
Snowshoeing Basics: A“Snowshoeing Basics” class is at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Alderwood REI, 3000 184th St. SW, Lynnwood. This free class will cover the basics of snowshoeing, from selection of gear and technique to supplies and where to go to get started. Space is limited. More at www.rei.com.
Trumpeter swans: Learn about the history and biology of Washington’s native trumpeter swan — the largest waterfowl in the world — and tundra swans at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Island County Multipurpose Center, 141 NE Camano Drive, Camano Island. Trumpeter swans once again grace the skies after nearly going extinct. The free Camano Wildlife Program will be led by Martha Jordan, a swan biologist and executive director of the Northwest Swan Conservation Association. More at www.camanowildlifehabitat.org or by calling 360-387-2236.
Practice good judgment: A “Learning and Teaching Good Judgment for Outdoor Enthusiasts” class is at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at Alderwood REI, 3000 184th St. SW, Lynnwood. Free. Making good decisions in the outdoors can be the difference between life and death. Instructor Wayne Horodowich will review decision-making processes, what constitutes good judgment and lead role-play situations that have caused outdoor enthusiasts problems in the past. Space is limited. More at www.rei.com.
