Dungeness River Audubon Center Classes, Presentations, and Events

Summer , 2008

Contact the River Center at 360-681-4076 or email rivercenter@olympus.net for more information, or to register for sessions.  Pre-registration is encouraged, especially for classes.

The Dungeness River Audubon Center is located at Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 West Hendrickson Road, PO Box 2450, Sequim, WA.  Winter Hours are Tues. to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. 

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:

DUNGENESS RIVER FESTIVAL

Sep. 26 & 27.

Our Amazing Watershed!! Help us celebrate the watershed that keeps the Sequim-Dungeness Valley alive. There will be activities for kids and adults, music, art, food, and much more. . We need help organizing this big event, so please contact the River Center if you’re available to help.

SUMMER NATURE CAMPS
Aug. 18-20. Daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Students ages 8 to 11, this is your chance for fun outdoor activities on the banks of the Dungeness River. . Every day brings a new exciting theme for children’s enjoyment. Fee: $90 per child, + t-shirt & photos. Contact the River Center for information and to sign up.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS 3-DAY CRUISE

Oct. 6 to 8.
Join Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society for a three-day cruise and birding adventure through the San Juan Archipelago. We depart from Sequim Bay aboard the 65-foot M/V Glacier Spirit, stay two nights at Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Is., visit Sucia Is. State Park for picnic lunch and cruise back home by way of spectacular Deception Pass. Lots of birds and maybe orcas. Watch for further details at www.olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org. For additional information, contact 360-681-4076, or e-mail: rcoffice@olympus.net.

 

SCHEDULED EVENTS:  (unless mentioned, events are free – donations gladly accepted!)

Bird Walks
Date: Every Wednesday morning; Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Meet at the River Center for a weekly walk to see and hear the birds of the lower Dungeness riparian forest. Information from these on-going walks helps us understand the annual cycle of the birds of Railroad Bridge Park.

Last Thursday Work Parties
Dates: Jul. 31, Aug. 28, and Sep. 25; Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Cost: Three short hours helping RR Bridge Park
Please help keep RR Bridge Park looking bright and beautiful! Bring your work gloves to assist with gardening, cleaning, trail maintenance, and other chores that make our park shine. Snacks and drinks provided!!

Dungeness River Management Team
The experts and informed public groups that oversee the management of the Dungeness River, meet monthly at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, second Wed. of the month, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Natural Science Study Group
Dates: 2nd Mon. each month, Jul. 14, Aug. 11, and Sep. 8, 10 a.m. to noon.
This adult discussion group focuses on the most interesting aspects of the natural world that affect the north Olympic Peninsula, including climate, weather, rivers, geology, botany, and wildlife. Discussion topics vary with group interests. Come add your two cents and gain some knowledge at the same time.

Ecology of the Dungeness River
Dates: Six Thursdays, Jul. 10 to Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to noon. First session at Dungeness River Audubon Center.
The Dungeness River plunges over 7000 feet in less than 35 miles, one of the steepest rivers in North America. This six-week class investigates the geology, plant and animal communities, and how humans have changed the river during the past 150 years. Class includes five field trips to locations on the river, from the estuary to the mountains.

OPAS Field Trip to Hurricane Ridge
Date: Sat., Jul. 12; Time: Meet at 8 a.m. at the Olympic Nat’l Park Visitor Center on Race Road south of Port Angeles
Hurricane Ridge provides the most accessible subalpine habitat in our area, where we go each year to see birds of open meadows and krumholtz. Target species include Golden Eagles, Pine Grosbeaks, Townsend's Solitaires, and other high mountain denizens. Call Bob Iddins at 360-681-2840 for more information.

Summer River Talk – Native Plants and Noxious Weeds of the Dungeness River
Date: Sat., Jul. 12; Time: 2 p.m.
Join a habitat biologist from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to learn about the native plants of our area and efforts to control invasive weeds along the Dungeness River. Which native plants should you put in your garden? Which plants may become invasive weeds if they escape from your garden? Join us for a walk by the river to see these plants up-close and personal.

Hat-Making Class with Lois Draper
Date: July 6 and 13; Time 2 – 4 p.m.; Cost $20 per person
Join Lois Draper, hat maker extraordinaire, to learn the ins and outs of making a cotton hat. Contact the River Center to learn materials needed for class. Class limit: 8 people.

Hank Warren presents: “Follow the Goldeneye”
Date: Jul. 16; Time: 7 p.m.;
Hank Warren, local author, will present information and read from his new mystery, “Follow the Goldeneye.” Hank is retired Chief Park Naturalist for Olympic National Park, amateur physicist, and excellent author. He will have books for sale after his talk.

Summer River Talk -- Lavender Festival Bird Walk
Date: Sat., Jul. 19; Time: 8:30 a.m.
If you're tired of crowded lavender fields, come on a relaxing bird walk through the riparian forest by the Dungeness River. Bring your binoculars and bird books to see what feathered beauties we can find.

Puffin Dinner Cruises - Lavender Festival Puffin Cruises
Dates: Fri. & Sat., Jul. 18 and 19; Time: 7 to 9 p.m.; Cost: $65 per person
Enjoy birding and dinner aboard the Glacier Spirit as we circumnavigate Protection Island, home to Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, Glaucous-winged Gulls, and other seabirds. This always-enjoyable trip leaves from John Wayne Marina in Sequim Bay. Call the River Center at 681-4076 to reserve your spot.

Salmon and Stories by the Bay – Lavender Festival Northwest Native Dinner
Date: Fri. & Sat., Jul. 18 and 19; Time: 6 p.m.; Cost: $45 per adult, $25 per child
Experience Northwest Indian stories, food, and culture at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s beautiful community center overlooking Sequim Bay. Visit the Tribe’s totem pole carving shed, watch basket weavers in action, and hear Elaine Grinnell’s timeless stories about animals and men. Salmon dinner prepared the traditional way will highlight the evening. Find info at the Lavender Festival website, www.lavenderfestival.com/special-events/index.html.

OPAS Field Trip to Salt Creek tide pools
Date: Fri., Jul. 25. Meet at 10 a.m. at Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles (entrance charge = $3).
Visit world-class tide pools of the Pacific NW coast, led by science teacher Shirley Anderson. View touch-tank organisms at the Feiro Marine Life Center, and then witness these creatures at the rocky intertidal of Salt Creek County Park. Wear rubber boots or sneakers, plus bring a walking stick for balance if needed.

Septics 101
Dates: Tues., Jul. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. (also on Wed., Aug. 27, 6 to 8 p.m,, and Wed., Sep. 24, 6 to 8 p.m.)
The septic system is one of the most expensive parts of many homes, requiring regular inspection and maintenance. This class, taught by Clallam Co. Environmental Health Div., teaches homeowners how septic systems work and how to keep systems in good working condition. You must pre-register with Clallam Co. by calling 360-417-2258.

OPAS Field Trip to Dungeness Bay
Date: Sat., Aug. 9; Time: 9 a.m.
Catch early migration of shorebirds and try to find infrequent visitors such as Ruff, Bar Tailed Godwit, and Pectoral Sandpiper. Meet at Dungeness Landing Park (Dungeness Oysterhouse). For further information call Dave Jackson (360 683 1355).

Railroad Bridge Deck Restoration Work Party
Date: Sat., Aug. 9; Time: 10 a.m.
Keep the old bridge in good shape -- Come help replace deck planks in Railroad Bridge. Peninsula Trails Coalition and the River Center team up to keep the bridge healthy and happy. Lunch provided for hard-working volunteers.

Summer River Talk – River Creatures
Date: Sat., Aug. 23; Time: 2 p.m.
How can you tell if the river is healthy? Join River Center Education Coordinator Powell Jones to search for aquatic organisms that live in the Dungeness River and are used to indicate its health. Powell will teach you how to use special equipment to capture and identify the special animals of the river.

OPAS Field Trip to Ocean Shores
Dates: Sat. and Sun., Aug 23 and 24
Late August is a great time to see migrating shorebirds at Grays Harbor, including special rarities like golden plovers and Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Lodging is your choice, either in motel or campground. Call the Bob Norton (360-928-3053) for trip details, or meet at the marina by the Silver King Resort in Ocean Shores at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 25.

Migrant Shorebirds and Gulls
Date: Three Thurs., Sep. 4, 11, and 18; Time: First session start 9 a.m.. (times may vary each week depending on tides). Cost: $30 for River Center partners, $50 for non-partners
New varieties of shorebirds and gulls migrate through our area in late summer. Learn the identification and natural history of these beautiful birds. Includes field trips to local habitats. Limit: 16 people. Please pre-register.

OPAS Monthly Meeting
Date: Wed. Sep. 17; Time: 6 p.m. potluck dinner, 7 p.m. meeting
Join the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society at their monthly meeting, starting with a delicious potluck. September’s presentation is about the Birds of Ecuador by Nate Chappell, who leads bird tours to that South American country.

Summer River Talk - The History and Use of Railroad Bridge
Date: Sat., Sep. 20; Time: 2 p.m.
Ken Wiersema, civil engineer and River Center Board member, describes the construction and tells stories about the use of our very own Railroad Bridge, from 1915 to present.

Beginning Bird Seminars
Date: Six Tuesdays, Sep. 23 to Oct. 28; Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Cost: $40 for River Center partners, $60 for non-partners
Weekly seminars and field trips designed for beginning birders, new residents who wish to learn local birds, and anyone who wants to better understand birds. Seminars include basic bird identification, bird feeders, birdhouses, field guides and manuals, and birding optics Limit: 16 people. Please pre-register.