Join in a Park Guide-led bird walk through Point Defiance and see what species can be found in the forest. The walk will be held the 4th Sunday of every month.

• Please bring your own binoculars, but extras are available to borrow upon request.

• Participants must be able to travel on unpaved, uneven trails for up to two miles.

• The program is free, but registration is required.

• Meet at the entrance gate of the 5-Mile Drive in Point Defiance Park, just past the Owen Beach road turn-off.

• For any questions, please contact Park Guide Alex at (253) 298-2693.

What can a walk from a park to a reservoir teach us about the relationship between trees, cities, and people? By connecting two apparently ordinary landmarks, this walk will help us make sense of the presence and absence of trees, about tree benefits, as well as the importance of cultivating native plants. Join Sarah Low and Alejandro Fernández on this bilingual walk through Hilltop and learn how to see your streets from a new perspective!

Remember to bring comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing so you can focus on enjoying the walk! 

Meeting Point: Grant Park on S. Grant Ave. 

¿Qué nos pueden enseñar un parque y un depósito de agua sobre la relación entre los árboles, la ciudad, y la gente? Sarah Low y Alejandro Fernández nos llevarán del parque al depósito de agua, dos sitios aparentemente ordinarios, para ayudarnos a entender cómo interpretar la ausencia y la presencia de los árboles, sus beneficios, y la importancia de cultivar plantas nativas. Acompáñanos en esta caminata bilingüe a través de Hilltop y aprende cómo ver las calles de tu barrio desde una nueva perspectiva.  

Recuerda portar zapatos cómodos y vestirte de acuerdo al pronóstico del tiempo.

Punto de encuentro: Grant Park sobre S. Grant Avenue

Weekly, every Saturday; 9 am, meet at the Rhododendron Garden

Free! No pre-registration required

Hike with a Park Guide every Saturday starting from the Rhododendron Garden at 9 am. The walk will average 3 miles at a leisurely pace and can be tailored to participant interest and time for a different route each week.

Free. No registration necessary.

Participants should come prepared with water, snacks, appropriate attire for the weather, and any questions they may have for the Park Guide.

THE CLIMATE OF OUR COMMUNITIES

Calling all high school and higher education students in Pierce County! 

Find a creative and unique way to share your story of how Pierce County communities experience climate change. How do we experience joy, hardship, share generational knowledge or envision our climate future? No experience or professional equipment is required for submitting to this free film festival!

Although we are all affected by climate change, our experiences may differ or be similar, depending on our own unique situations. Our communities face challenges and opportunities each day that shape our greater Pierce County community. This film festival is developed by youth for youth to share stories through film about climate change in your community. By sharing these stories, we bring awareness to the various perspectives in our community, learning what is important to each other, connecting us together from Mount Tahoma (Mt. Rainier) to the Peninsula.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Short Films (5 minutes or less) - Winners chosen by a panel of youth judges

• High School Tier (9-12 grades)

• Current Higher Education Student Tier

Creative Clips (60 seconds or less) - Top 10 submissions will be voted on by the audience at the film festival

Prizes will be awarded to Best and Runner Up in the Creative Clips and Short Film Category (for each High School Student Tier and Higher Education Student Tier). Amounts of prizes to be announced.

TIMELINE

• February 15 - Contest opens

• March 2 - Information/Inspiration Session (10 a.m. to 12 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.)

• TBD - Feedback and Support Session

• April 24 - Submission deadline

• May 19 - Youth Film Festival (2-5 p.m. @ The Grand Cinema)

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please upload your film via Film Freeway in the following formats to be accepted into the film festival - MP4 file or Digital Media Package, Vimeo or Youtube.

2. All submissions are due by April 24.

3. Make sure to select the correct category for your submission. 

4. There are no fees associated with submitting your film.

5. You will be notified if you are chosen for the Short Film category by May 10. The top 10 submissions in the Creative Clips categories will be chosen by May 10 and be screened at the Film Festival. Winners for the Creative Clips category will be chosen by the audience at the film festival on May 19.

Come and get free trees :)

What does it mean to be a trustworthy collaborator? During this keynote panel, we will listen to relationships that developed out of the Boldt Decision and how they have worked to be co-stewards for salmon.

Panelists:

Fred Dillon, Councilman, Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Willie Frank III, Chairman, Nisqually Indian Tribe

Jason S. Spadaro, Executive Director, Washington Forest Protection Association

J.T. Wilcox, Washington State Representative 2nd District

Loni Greninger, PLU Alumna and Vice Chair, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council (moderator)

This event is free and open to the public. Parking is free on campus after 5pm.

Did you know Alling Park was once a fruit farm? In fact, the Alling family was the first to ship apples from Washington to China! Frank Alling, farm owner, also happened to be passionate about wildlife and was well aware of our depleted urban forest, which is one of the reasons why he donated 10 acres of his farm to Metro Parks. Alling Park is a great starting point for us to walk together as we consider the relationship between our parks and neighborhoods, how urban development shapes them, and the benefits that trees provide us and wildlife. Join Sarah Low and Alejandro Fernández for this bilingual walk!

Remember to bring comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing so you can focus on enjoying the walk! 

Meeting Point: S 61st Street and Sheridan. 

¿Sabías que Alling Park solía ser un huerto? De hecho, la familia Alling fue la primera en hacer un envío de manzanas desde Washington a China. Frank Alling, dueño del huerto, también era un apasionado de la vida silvestre y le preocupaba lo reducido que estaba el bosque urbano de Tacoma. Su pasión lo llevó a donar 10 hectáreas de su propiedad a Metro Parks para fundar el parque que hoy lleva su nombre. Alling Park es un excelente punto de partida para caminar juntes y considerar la relación entre nuestros parques y nuestros barrios, el desarrollo urbano, y los beneficios que nos regalan los árboles. ¡Únete a esta caminata bilingüe con Sarah Low y Alejandro Fernández!

Recuerda portar zapatos cómodos y vestirte de acuerdo al pronóstico del tiempo.

Punto de encuentro: S 61st Street y Sheridan. 

Join us in celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 20, from 12-4 pm at Meridian Habitat Park! Immerse yourself in the great outdoors and take part in a variety of free demonstrations, nature activities, and games suitable for all ages. It's a day filled with fun and learning as we come together to appreciate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Explore the nature trail and outdoor classroom, guided by local experts and partners who will share their knowledge and passion for the environment. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature and celebrate our planet in a meaningful way!