Celebrations and cleanups are planned across the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend and the following week in honor of Earth Day, which is Saturday.
Here is a list by community:
PORT ANGELES
Celebration of science
PORT ANGELES — Olympic Climate Action and the Feiro Marine Life Center will host a free celebration of science in honor of Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Information booths and presentations from scientists are planned at City Pier, The Landing mall at 115 E. Railroad Ave. and the marine life center, which is on City Pier at 315 N. Lincoln St.
From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., attendees can explore the Marine Sanctuary Discovery Center in The Landing mall where scientists will speak.
From noon to 4 p.m., activities for children, booths and displays, and a wall of scientists honoring living scientists working on the Peninsula will be available at the marine life center.
For more information, visit https://OlyClimate.org.
Spring cleanup
PORT ANGELES — Clallam Spring Clean Up Day on Sunday will give city and county residents an opportunity to spruce up their yards and homes while benefiting the Port Angeles Food Bank.
Yard waste, tires, large appliances and other metals, waste oil, antifreeze and auto batteries will be accepted for recycling from residents living within Port Angeles and in surrounding Clallam County from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Regional Transfer Station, 3501 W. 18th St.
The fee of $10 per load will benefit the Port Angeles Food Bank. Only checks and cash will be accepted; no credit cards and no food donations.
Household garbage and large items will be accepted for disposal. Yard waste, tires, large appliances and other metals will be recycled.
Loads are limited to one per household and can be no greater than a full-size pickup truck or a 5-foot-by-8-foot trailer. No commercial loads or vehicles will be allowed.
Tires, metals, waste oil, antifreeze, auto batteries and yard waste must be separated for recycling, and there is a limit of up to four tires and four refrigerators/freezers per household. No paint or hazardous waste will be accepted.
Computers and televisions can be taken to Goodwill and mercury lighting to Thurman Supply or Around Again for free recycling.
For more information, contact the Solid Waste Division at 360-417-4872 or visit the city’s website, www.cityofpa.us.
Earth Week
PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College will celebrate its annual Earth Week with activities from Tuesday through April 29.
At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dan Underwood will present “Sustainability When Reality Matters” in Room J-47 of the Pirate Union Building (PUB) at the college’s Port Angeles campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Underwood has a doctorate in economics and has done postdoctoral work in forest ecology through the University of Washington.
On Wednesday, students are encouraged to participate in “Ride the Bus Day,” which involves riding Jefferson or Clallam Transit and taking a selfie on the bus. The photo can then be posted to the college’s “Student Life” Facebook page to win a prize.
At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dann May will present “Cascadia Megathrust Fault” in Room A-12 in the Cornaby Center at the college’s Port Angeles campus.
May has a master’s in geology from the University of Washington.
On Friday, April 28, students can participate in “Ride Your Bike Day.”
Students who ride their bicycle to any of the three Peninsula College campuses and then post a selfie to the college’s “Student Life” Facebook page can win a prize.
Finally, the Associated Student Council, which coordinated the college’s Earth Week, will join the Washington CoastSavers’ statewide cleanup by tackling a beach near La Push on Saturday, April 29.
For more information, contact the college’s student council at 360-417-6432 or ASC@pencol.edu.
GARDINER
Earth Day celebration
GARDINER — Wild Birds Unlimited will host its 13th annual Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The celebration will include bird exhibits, raffles, music and numerous local vendors at the store at 275953 U.S. Highway 101.
Jaye and Gary Moore of the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center will showcase rehabilitated birds of prey.
Vincent Redhouse and the Wind People will provide music for the event.
Items featured in the $5 raffle will be five sets of quilted place mats, an advanced pole system, a squirrel-proof bird feeder, a hummingbird feeder and a 20-pound bag of “No-Mess” birdseed blend.
Donations of paper towels, laundry baskets, mealworms, Kleenex and other household items for the wildlife center are suggested.
For more information, phone 360-797-7100 or visit www.gardiner.wbu.com.
SEQUIM
YMCA road cleanup
SEQUIM — The public is invited to participate in the YMCA’s Adopt-A-Highway cleanup at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
The group will meet at the Sequim YMCA at 610 N. Fifth Ave., then bus to Sunny Farms to clean between U.S. Highway 101 mileposts 261.25-263.5.
Volunteers will receive bags, reflective vests, gloves and directions to where they will clean along the highway.
The state Department of Transportation urges those interested to watch a safety video before participating in the cleanup at www.wsdot.wa.gov/operations/adoptahwy.
For more information, contact Mikki Hughes at 360-452-9244 or mikki@olympicpeninsulaymca.org.
Work party
SEQUIM — The public is invited to Olympic Peninsula Gardens’ weeding party at Terrace Gardens at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Volunteers will pull weeds from lavender beds in Carrie Blake Park at 202 N. Blake Ave.
They will get an introduction to the garden, be told of plans for the future and hear a presentation of common weeds and how to recognize as well as how to eradicate them. Helpers can take home a lavender plant they seeded themselves and will receive a tutorial on how to care for it.
Those interested are advised to bring their own weeding tools, gloves and plastic bags.
For more information, contact Jean Pier at jeanpier@bellhill.net or 360-681-2308, or Joe Irvin at jirvin@sequimwa.gov or 360-582-2457.
PORT TOWNSEND
Downtown cleanup
PORT TOWNSEND — Volunteers will clean up, weed and paint downtown Saturday through a Port Townsend Main Street-sponsored program.
Volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to noon.
Participants are asked to bring hand tools and gardening gloves and wear work clothes.
To volunteer, contact the Main Street office at 360-385-7911 or admin@ptmainstreet.org.
Earth, art and owls
PORT TOWNSEND — Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue will provide up-close visits to owls and hawks during a free Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Bird displays and an art contest are planned at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St.
Children ages 10-12 can draw pictures of the birds and enter them in the contest.
Art supplies will be provided for free, and three professional artists will judge children’s art by age groups.
The first-, second- and third-place finalists will have their art featured at Safeway.
Parents are encouraged to drop their children off and join in a nearby Main Street program cleanup project.
Those interested must sign a photography permission form.
Donations are suggested.
For more information, phone 360-379-0802 or visit www.discoverybay wildbirdrescue.com.
Taming Bigfoot
PORT TOWNSEND — The public is invited to Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s “Taming Bigfoot” contest follow up and discussion 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Last year’s contestants will compare their last month’s footprint to their last years’ footprint at the fellowship, located at 2333 San Juan Ave.
Attendees will have opportunities to share insights and idea on reducing individual and collective carbon footprints as the group marks Earth Day.
“We had this contest a year ago,” said Bob Bindschadler, organizer, “so we decided to check on people are doing.”
For more information, contact Bindschadler at bobindschadler@gmail.com or 360-775-5864.
Science presentation
PORT TOWNSEND — A free presentation about green energy is planned at 7 tonight.
Scott Edmundson, a research scientist, will speak about recycling wastewater and carbon for renewable gasoline at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.
An open reception will follow the presentation.
The presentation is sponsored by the Visiting Scholars division of the Adult Learning Program.
Park work party
PORT TOWNSEND — A work party is planned at Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park at the park from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.
The public is invited to help remove spurge laurel, holly and Scotch broom or pick up trash.
Scotch broom pullers, five trash grabbers and tea and snacks will be provided.
Directions to the park are to drive east on state Highway 20, turn left at the Kearney stoplight, then left into the parking lot of Chase Bank, located at 419 Kearney St., to park.
For more information, phone 360-385-0307 or email ptrose53@gmail.com.
State park cleanup
PORT TOWNSEND — Volunteers will work to remove Scotch broom at various locations on Artillery Hill in Fort Worden State Park from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday.
Bring gloves, water and friends to the work party at North Beach County Park, 5787 Kuhn St.
Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Film screening
PORT TOWNSEND — The public is invited to attend Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s free film screening at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The film, “Plastic Ocean,” is a documentary about what is beneath the surface of the world’s oceans. It will be presented in the National History Exhibit at 532 Battery Way.
Following the film, a 30-minute panel discussion with representatives for several conservation agencies is planned.
This screening is co-sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Washington CoastSavers.
For more information, phone 360-385-5582 or email info@ptmsc.org.
‘Sonic Sea’ showing
PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Public Library will host a showing of “Sonic Sea” at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Questions and answers will follow the film with guest Barb Laski of the Ocean Noise Reduction Coalition at 1220 Lawrence St.
SAPPHO
Earth Day cleanup
SAPPHO — Volunteers are invited to an Earth Day cleanup at the Sappho park and ride at the junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 113 at noon.
Volunteers should bring gloves and water. There will be a gathering afterward at the Hungry Bear Cafe, 205860 U.S. Highway 101.
