Trails school: North Cascades Trail Skills College is May 20 and 21 in Darrington. Free classes for 80 to 100 students who want to learn about trail work or further their skills. The event is for volunteers, beginners and experts, to inspire citizen stewardship of trails. In exchange for attending the training, volunteers are encouraged to spend at least 16 hours on trail projects in the coming year. Free car/tent camping and meals. Participants should be prepared to hike a minimum of 1-2 miles while carrying personal gear and tools. Hands-on learning opportunities in many classes, resulting in 6-8 hours of active trail maintenance per day. More at www.pcta.org or volunteer@pcta.org.
National Park Week: Free admission days are two weekends, April 15 and 16 and April 22 and 23, at parks throughout the country. Many have special programs and events. More at www.nationalparkweek.org.
State Park Week: Free admission at state parks are April 15 and April 22. Visitors don’t need a Discover Pass for day-use visits by vehicle. More at www.DiscoverPass.wa.gov.
Olympic Birdfest: Through today. Guided birding trips, boat tours, live auction and raffle, banquet and more. Featured speaker is nature photographer Bonnie Block. Extend your festival with a Neah Bay post-trip April 9-11 exploring northwest coastal Washington. More at www.olympicbirdfest.org.
Cougar country: Learn about mountain lions, 7 p.m. April 13, NW Stream Center Auditorium, McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. When you are out in the deep forest, you are in cougar country. More than likely you won’t see mountain lions, but they will be seeing you. Program is by Adopt A Stream Foundation and Snohomish County Parks. Geared for fifth-graders to old-timers. Cost is $5 foundation members, $7 non-members. More at www.streamkeeper.org. For reservations, call 425-316-8592.
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. For more, call 360-363-8400.
Send calendar events to abrown@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
