"SATURDAY STORIES" AT THE ELISABETH C. MILLER LIBRARY IN SEATTLE FEATURING "GARDEN SCIENCE STORY PROGRAM" - SATURDAY, MAY 16TH 2015 FROM 10:30-11:15AM

Go and enjoy "Saturday Stories" - a monthly, themed storytime and art/craft or play event!

" As the weather warms up and we're spending more time outdoors, let's allow time for scientific inquiry. These books focus on some easily-observed processes and cycles in nature, with plenty of room for kids to theorize, predict, and observe. After the stories, kids can make an ecological bookmark in the program room.. "

                                                                      

 Featured Stories:

IN MY BACKYARD by Margriet Ruurs
SECRETS OF THE GARDEN by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
GARBAGE HELPS MY GARDEN GROW by Linda Glaser

Recommended for children ages 3 to 8 and their families.

For more info. go here.

15th Annual Backyard Wildlife Festival with all things nature and gardening plus a "The Bubbleman" performance at the Tukwila Community Center - Saturday, May 9th 2015 from 9am-3pm

 

" Join us as we celebrate wildlife, nature and gardening at the 15th Annual Backyard Wildlife Festival! This event features presentations from local experts including Sue Goetz and Marianne Binetti, along with a variety of educational exhibitors, arts & craft vendors and native plant sales. 

Don’t leave the kids at home... there is plenty to keep the entire family entertained at this event – so make sure you check out the Kids Garden Party area. "

2015 Event Day Schedule:

9:00am - 3:00pm - Arts and Crafts Marketplace, Educational Exhibitor Booths and Native Plant Sales 

9:30am - 3:00pm – Kids Garden Party: Arts, Crafts, and Garden Planting 

9:30am – Guided Bird Tour along the Duwamish River 

10:30am – Marianne Binetti, “Saving the World: Bee Happy! Projects and Plantings for Bee and Bird Pollinators” 

11:00am – Bubbleman Show 

11:30am - Sue Goetz - Top Ten Multi-Purpose Herbs 

12:30pm – Marianne Binetti, “Landscape Planning for the Birds and the Bees” 

1:30pm – Stacy Davison, “Incredible Edibles: Fantastic Flowers for Pollinators and People”

For more info. go here.

Earth Day Celebration with hands-on nature activities and art projects at Magnuson Park in Seattle - Saturday April 18th 2015 from 10am-2pm

"Come join the fun and celebrate Earth Day in the garden! We’ll have special hands-on nature exploration activities and art projects for kids and families to do, along with all the other nature fun. Seattle Works volunteers, Magnuson P-Patchers, and others will also be doing seasonal garden tasks such as weeding, mulching, and planting our new Pollinators Garden! "

For more info. go here.

"Outfoxed! And Other Opportunistic Creatures" - A ranger program at Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center (MSEEC) in Bellevue - Sunday, April 12th 2015 from 2-3pm

"Outfoxed! And Other Opportunistic Creatures"

" Many opportunistic animals have adapted to living in urban areas. Learn what these awesome creatures have that gives them the edge in a not-so-natural environment, and what we can do to help them to live natural and healthy lives. "

For more info. go here.

"SATURDAY STORIES" AT THE ELISABETH C. MILLER LIBRARY IN SEATTLE FEATURING "TREES ARE FOR EVERYONE STORY PROGRAM" - SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH 2015 FROM 10:30-11:15AM

Go and enjoy "Saturday Stories" - a monthly, themed storytime and art/craft or play event!

" We love trees! Each of these three books has a different angle on the ways trees have a place in our hearts, from tree forts to wondrous life cycles to family trees planted in honor of those we love. After the stories, visit the Program Room to make a tree picture of your own. "

                                                                      

 Featured Stories:

OLIVER'S TREES by Kit Chase

TAP THE MAGIC TREE by Christie Matheson

MAPLE by Lori Nichols

Recommended for children ages 3 to 8 and their families.

For more info. go here.

Free Parent and Child Gardening Classes - 3 week series - Fridays at 10am - at the Lake Hills Greenbelt Ranger Station in Bellevue - March 13th through 27th 2015 - Free but registration for each class required! Choose one or all!

What a fun activity to do with the kids and just in time for spring planting!

" Explore the world of gardening through hands-on experiences with soil, plants, and water. Discover the wonders of seeds, growing plants and plant care.   As we investigate the world of plants, parents and their children can also grow together. "

Schedule: (Attend one or all!)

March 13th: Plan and Prepare Your Garden. Course #90780

March 20th: Maintain Your Garden: Watering, Weeding, and Trellising.  Course #90954

March 27th: Attracting Pollinators and Determining Helpful Bugs. Course #90955

All Ages Welcome.  Cost is Free, Registration Required.  

For more info. call 425-452-6993 or go here and put each course # listed above in the activity code search box. 

Happy planting!

18th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count - Family nature fun, plus a photo contest! - Your location - Now until Monday, February 16th 2015 - 15 mins (or more!) a day!

Educational, outdoor, nature family fun! 

Join Us for the Next Count, February 13-16, 2015

 It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Register for the count or use your existing login name and password. If you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count or any other Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you’ll need to create a new account. If you already created an account for last year’s GBBC, or if you’re already registered with eBird or another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing login information.

2. Count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day, for each new location, or for the same location if you counted at a different time of day. Estimate the number of individuals of each species you saw during your count period.

3. Enter your results on the GBBC website by clicking “Submit Observations” on the home page. Or download the free GBBC BirdLog app to enter data on a mobile device. If you already participate in the eBird citizen-science project, please use eBird to submit your sightings during the GBBC. Your checklists will count toward the GBBC.

For more info. go here.

For getting started tools go here.

"SATURDAY STORIES" AT THE ELISABETH C. MILLER LIBRARY IN SEATTLE FEATURING "BEE MINE STORY PROGRAM" - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH 2015 FROM 10:30-11:15AM

Go and enjoy "Saturday Stories" - a monthly, themed storytime and art/craft or play event!

" Bees are fascinating and vitally important for gardeners and farmers. Learn about their life cycle in these books. After the stories, families are welcome to make a bee craft in the program room "

                                                                      

 Featured Stories:

THESE BEES COUNT by Alison Formento
FROM FLOWER TO HONEY by Robin Nelson
FLIGHT OF THE HONEYBEE by Raymond Huber

Recommended for children ages 3 to 8 and their families.

For more info. go here.

"Clash: Encounters of Bears and Wolves" (Nature Movie) at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center in Bellevue - Friday, January 30th 2015 from 5-6pm

Check out a free movie with the kiddos!

" In Yellowstone's vast and complex kingdom, two dominant predators reign supreme: the grizzly bear and the wolf. Size and power square off against speed and teamwork, as mighty grizzly bears contend with powerful packs of wolves for control of the food supply. We'll provide the popcorn! "

For more info. go here.

18th Annual Frog Frolic with kids activities, bog tours, live music and more in Renton - Sunday, September 7th 2014 from 1-5pm

" Join us in celebrating community and the environment during the 18th Annual Frog Frolic at the Shadow Lake Nature Preserve! 

Featuring: Guided tours through the 5,000 year old peat bog, kids activities and crafts, live music, raffle and silent auction of outdoor items, food, drinks and more!

This event is FREE and open to everyone. "

For more info. go here and here.

Family Garden Day with free nature activities for kids PLUS free concert featuring the kindie band The Not-Its and Off the Hook (a Rolling Stones Tribute Band) - Tonight, Friday, July 18th 2014 at 6pm

Fun night to be had with the family tonight at Magnuson Park!

" Guess who's coming to Magnuson's Amphitheater this Friday?! It's the NOT IT's! Have a rocking' good time with one of Seattle's most popular kid bands! Concert starts at 7pm. Off the Hook, a Rolling Stones tribute band, plays at 8pm. And that is not all! Magnuson Children's Garden is having a Family Garden Day with free nature activities for the kids! Come by and join in the fun! 

For more info. go here.

"2014 Wild Wednesdays in the Park" - Free, Environmental Education Workshops for Families at Saint Edward Environmental Learning Center in Kenmore - Wednesdays - July 9th through August 20th 2014 - Various times

Head to St. Edward's Park with the family on Wednesdays and learn all about the environment in these free workshops! They include learning about birds of prey, bats, nature journaling, photography, trees, orienteering, other animals, art and more!

For more info. go here.

Great American Backyard Campout - Saturday, June 28th 2014 - All night! - Make a pledge online by June 28th that you will camp out on the 28th or sometime soon and help Wildlife!

Camp out with your friends or family and help America's Wildlife!

" The 2014 Great American Backyard Campout will take place on Saturday, June 28!

This year, we’ve set a goal of getting more than 200,000 people across the country to camp out. AND, just in time for the 10th anniversary of the Great American Backyard Campout, National Wildlife Federation's Board of Directors and other friends have offered to donate $2 in support of NWF's wildlife conservation work for every person that participates in this year’s Campout— up to $400,000! "

For more info. go here.

Watershed Fun Fair with crafts, a maze, geocaching and more in Edmonds - Saturday, May 31st 2014 from 11am-4pm - Various Locations!

	Explore the connections between Edmonds Marsh, Willow Creek, and Puget Sound.

Watershed Fun Fair Activity Schedule:  

Edmonds Marsh - 180 West Dayton Street

11:00am-4:00pm

• Interpretive walks every 30 minutes

•Status update on marsh restoration

•"Shorebird Maze" and crafts for kids

•Geocaching activity

•No restrooms are available at Edmonds Marsh.

•Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Wildlife Habitat and Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Willow Creek Hatchery - 95 Pine Street

11:00am-4:00pm

•Guided tours at 11:30 and 1:30

•Backyard wildlife habitat information

Olympic Beach

1:00pm

•Ranger-guided low-tide beach walk beginning at Visitor Station

FREE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL SHUTTLE BUS EVERY 20 MINUTES! CLICK HERE TO SEE MAP OF BUS STOPS.  PARK DOWNTOWN, OR AT THE WILLOW CREEK HATCHERY.

For more info. go here.

Eastside Audubon presents Eagle Nest Viewing with high-powered scopes at Heritage Park in Kirkland - Sunday, April 27th 2014 from 9-11am

One of the reasons I LOVE living in the Pacific Northwest - all of the beautiful eagles!

Heritage Park Eagle Nest Viewing

" Come to Heritage Park in Kirkland for close-up views of the Bald Eagles' nest! Eastside Audubon members will be there with their spotting scopes. Our nesting pair of Bald Eagles has come home to Heritage Park in Kirkland. One adult bird appears to be sitting on the nest all of the time, and that means there's an egg or (more likely) two. We're hoping for babies this spring once again — perhaps at the end of April or early in May.

Stop by for a close view through our high-powered spotting scopes. We'll be there the last Sunday of every month from 9 to 11 a.m. and all day on July 4. "

Free. Everyone is welcome. "

For more info. go here.

5th Annual "Celebrate Urban Nature" with Caspar Babypants, a reptile show and lots more at Magnuson Community Center in Seattle - Saturday, April 12th 2014 from 10am-1:30pm - "Less than a Latte" each at $10 per family or $3 each!

Definitely recommend this one! 

" This annual spring event, co-sponsored by Magnuson Community Center and Earthcorps, features family-friendly presentations, interactive booths, and displays, art and nature activities, nature- themed carnival, Nature Explorers Lab, and more! A fun-filled day for the whole family! "

Featuring:

• 10:30 am Caspar Babypants sings nature songs in the Auditorium

• 11:30 am Reptile Show with Isaac Petersen, son of the reptileman

• 12:30 pm Raptor Presentation by Sarvey Wildlife Care Center

• 10:30am-1:30pm in the gym: The “Nature Explorers Science Lab” will be chock-full off hands-on adventures including wildlife tracks, pond water from the Magnuson Wetlands, birds and their nests, Magnuson’s fabulous dragonflies,  how ants build their homes, where ladybugs go in the winter, and more!

Along with:

• Animal Encounter’s Spring Petting Farm of Bunnies and Chicks, and their Exotic Live Bug Zoo,
• Don Ehlen’s Insect Safari
• PCC Natural Markets Kid Picks Mobile
• Just Frogs & Friends Amphibian Center
• Interactive booths from EarthCorps, NOAA, Seattle Audubon, Bats Northwest, MESA, Magnuson P-Patch & Children’s Garden, Washington Native Plant Society, & more.
• Test your “nature knowledge” and win prizes at our vast array of nature carnival games!
• Go on a “nature scavenger hunt” and play “wheelbarrow guess” for prizes in Magnuson Community Center’s Bird-friendly Landscape and Resource Conservation Landscape!

Don’t miss this event…it will be fun, educational, and something for everyone!

For more info. go here.

"GREEN HOUR" AT LEWIS CREEK PARK IN BELLEVUE - 3RD SATURDAYS OF THE MONTH 2014 AT 1PM

Check out the "Green Hour" at Lewis Creek Park! 

Join in for a Green Hour at Lewis Creek Park.  You and the kids can observe and explore the park during this hour of unstructured play and interaction with the natural world.  Each month creative, science-based ideas will have children and parents deepening their knowledge and love of nature together! 

Recommended for kids ages 5 years and older.

No registration required.

For more info. call 425-452-4195 or go here.

Mother Goose Storytime with Special Guest Appearances, sing-a-longs, scavenger hunts, activities and more at Seward Park Environmental and Audubon Center in Seattle - Saturdays - January 11th through May 31 2014 from 1-2pm

We love this place! There is also a great playground right outside and great paths along the waterfront for biking or strolling! So, throw the kids' bikes in the trunk and bring them with you!

" Bring your kids ages 0-6 to meet master storyteller Mother Goose for myths and legends, sing-a-longs, scavenger hunts and other activities highlighting birds and animals of Seward Park and legends of the Northwest. Guest appearances by Talking Tree, Sasquatch, Owl, Eagle and Bear. "

Recommended for kids ages 0-6.

For more info. go here.

Halls of Wonder: Interactive Exhibits, Hands on Science and Nature Crafts at Seward Park Environmental and Audubon Center in Seattle - Saturdays - January 11th to May 31st 2014 from 10am-3pm

Halls of Wonder: Interactive Exhibits, Hands on Science and Nature Crafts For All Ages

" Discover hidden treasures and sensory curiosities as you explore these interactive exhibits, build artifacts at themed craft stations, do science experiments and hunt elusive creatures on scavenger hunts and self-guided nature walks. Solve the mystery. Discover new curiosities. Enter the Halls of Wonder. "

Schedule so far...

Saturdays, January 11 - 25: Arctic Visitors and the Birds of Winter

Saturdays, February 1 - 22: Big Carnivores

Saturdays, March 1 - 29: Shifting Landscapes: Geology, Ecology and Climate Change

Saturdays, April 5 - 26: The Birds of Spring

For more info. go here.  

Free Open House at Discovery Park Visitor Center presented by Heron Habitat Helpers with interactive stations, crafts, refreshments and more in Seattle - Saturday, January 18th 2014 from 11am-2pm

Learn all about our neighbor the Heron with lots of interactive fun!

For more info. go here.