Outdoor classes and activities in and around Snohomish County
Published 1:30 am Sunday, November 12, 2017
Whales: “Gray Whales of Puget Sound” talk by Cindy Hansen, 7 p.m. Nov. 15, Camano Island County Multipurpose Center, 141 N. East Camano Drive. Hansen, education and events coordinator with Orca Network, will discuss the biology and behavior of gray whales and their role in the ecosystem. Learn about their history with humankind, from the whaling days to their current “friendly” behavior. The Camano Wildlife Habitat Project hosts public presentations the third Wednesday of the month. More at 360-387-2236 and www.camanowildlifehabitat.org.
Adventure Speaker Series: “Snowshoeing and Winter Safety” talk by Bud Hardwick, 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 28, Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is a $3 suggested donation. More at www.marysvillewa.gov or 360-363-8400.
Work in the woods: The U.S. Forest Service will be accepting applications for more than 1,000 seasonal spring and summer jobs in Oregon and Washington from Nov. 14 to 20. Positions are available in multiple fields, including fire, recreation, natural resources, timber, engineering, visitor services and archaeology. Apply at www.USAJOBS.gov. For Forest Service jobs across the nation, go to https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com/Outreach.
PARKS
Park input: Needed for long-term recreation plan for Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar. Kickoff meeting is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Sultan City Hall Community Room, 319 Main St., Sultan. State parks staff will provide background on the park and the goals for the planning process. Public comment can be also be made by contacting Randy Kline, parks planner, at 360-902-8632 or randy.kline@parks.wa.gov. Submit comments online at http://parks.state.wa.us/1074/Wallace-Falls-Planning.
Free park-ing: Visit Washington State Parks for free on Nov. 24, in celebration of autumn. Day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass ($30 annual, $10 day). There is one more free day this year: Free days apply only to day-use access by vehicle, not overnight stays or rented facilities. More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Winter park-ing: More than 100 Washington State Parks remain open for camping or day-use activities and about 19 parks are closed until dates in March, April or May, due to weather and other circumstances. See the schedule at www.parks.state.wa.us/winterschedule.
NATIONAL FORESTS
No fees Nov. 11-12: The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington Saturday and Sunday in honor of Veterans Day. The fee waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads, and visitor centers. Concession operations will continue to charge fees unless the permit holder wishes to participate. Fees for camping, cabin rentals, heritage expeditions, or other permits still apply. To learn more about the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, see www.fs.usda.gov/r6
PERMITS
More 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.
