An aerial photography film, bicycle tour and visit to a sport horse farm will fill North Olympic Land Trust’s first Earth Day Weekend with activities planned Friday through Sunday.
All are open to the public at no charge.
Land Trust Conservation Director Michele d’Hemecourt said staff and volunteers are collaborating to offer Earth Day Weekend.
“We hope to provide experiences that are thought-provoking, fun and inspirational,” she said.
On Friday, the land trust will co-sponsor the screening of “Home” at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
The film, part of the college’s Magic of Cinema series, illustrates the state of the Earth with aerial scenes shot above 50 countries.
“The film director, award-winning French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, wants viewers to understand how high the stakes are for Earth’s inhabitants and future generations if we don’t act wisely,” d’Hemecourt said.
“Participants will be able to talk after the screening about what they can do, and those who go on the tours will get to see how they could make a difference by helping the land trust.”
Preceding the film, at 6 p.m., aerial photographers Dave Woodcock and Russ Mellon will show some of their images of the Olympic Peninsula.
During that hour, Woodcock and Tim McNulty also will be on hand to sign their new book, From the Air, Olympic Peninsula, which contains Woodcock’s photographs and McNulty’s essays. Books will be available for purchase.
After the film, Woodcock, Mellon and McNulty will lead a discussion.
Mellon, an appraiser and pilot headquartered in Sequim, has provided numerous aerial photographs for the land trust, which have become valuable illustrations in records of properties it protects through conservation easements, d’Hemecourt said.
Bike tour
On Saturday, cyclists on a bike tour will travel from Robin Hill County Park near Sequim beginning at 9 a.m. to visit five properties that the land trust protects permanently through conservation easement legal agreements.
Participants will gather at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the park between Port Angeles and Sequim off Dryke Road, one-quarter mile north of U.S. Highway 101.
Each should bring a bike, sack lunch and water.
Lorrie Campbell, land trust stewardship manager and tour leader, said cyclists will be able to travel entirely on the Discovery Trail, which is not open to motorized vehicles.
She estimated the total distance as about six miles each way and said the relatively flat terrain should make the trip appropriate for most cyclists, although they may turn back at any point.
Campbell would like participants to call the land trust office at 360-417-1815, by 5 p.m. Friday, but those who make last-minute plans to come can “just show up,” she said.
Cyclists will stop at Jerry and Mary Schmidt’s Freedom Farm, Steve Johnson’s Lazy J Tree Farm, Cheryl Smith and Judy Winthrop’s Windsong acreage, Ruth Jenkins and John Warrick’s Discovery Trail easement and Nancy McLaughlin’s land.
“These landowners have helped protect a ‘viewshed’ corridor along two miles of this bike ride,” said Campbell, whose other half-time job involves coordinating Discovery Trail volunteer work.
Horse farm
On Sunday, Sweeneys’ Serenity Farm owners Ken and Sue Sweeney will conduct a tour of the sport horse farm from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Sweeneys host camps for members of Pony Clubs and have an equestrian cross-country course Ken built.
Parking is available at the farm, which is near the end of Gellor Road, off Blue Mountain Road, on the south side of U.S. Highway 101.
The land trust protects 66 properties with a total of 2,059 acres in Clallam County with such special qualities as habitat for salmon and other wildlife, farmland, sustainable timberland, clean water and air, scenic vistas, open space and cultural heritage.
More information about Earth Day Weekend activities and the land trust, which is celebrating its 20th year in Clallam County, is available from www.nolt.org and 360-417-1815.
Monthly overview sessions explaining the land trust’s work area are open by reservation.
