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!

Join us as we welcome spring in a mindfulness walk at one of Tacoma’s wetlands, China Lake Park. In this walk, Sarah Low and Claudia Linares will help us wake up to the sounds of spring by practicing mindfulness as we listen to the trees, the Park’s wildlife–herons, finches, wrens, juncos, crows, amphibians, and more!--our breathing, and silence. 

Bring comfortable shoes and dress according to the day’s forecast so you can enjoy the walk! 

Meeting Point: South Shirley Street parking lot, just off of S 19th. 

Acompáñanos en esta caminata de conciencia plena. Le daremos la bienvenida a la primavera en China Lake Park, uno de los humedales de Tacoma. Aquí, Sarah Low y Claudia Linares nos ayudarán a despertar a los sonidos de la primavera mientras practicamos la conciencia plena. Escucharemos nuestra respiración y los sonidos de los árboles, de la vida silvestre del parque (grazas, pinzones, carrizos, juncos, cuervos, anfibios y más), y el silencio.   

Punto de encuentro: Estacionamiento de South Shirley St., a unos pasos de S 19th. 

Prevent and tackle problems with safe remedies specific to vegetable gardening in Western Washington.

Volunteer with us by spending 3 hours at one of our habitat stewardship sites in Fircrest or Puyallup. Activities include caring for existing plants and removing invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry and English ivy. This work supports water quality, our local wildlife, and pollinators. Select the park most convenient for you!

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.

Volunteer with us by spending 3 hours at one of our habitat stewardship sites in Fircrest or Puyallup. Activities include caring for existing plants and removing invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry and English ivy. This work supports water quality, our local wildlife, and pollinators. Select the park most convenient for you!

Sites:

• Deadman's Pond, Puyallup

• Silver Creek, Puyallup 

• Whittier Park, Fircrest 

What will volunteers be doing at the event?

While the exact tasks at hand vary, our projects focus on improving the open spaces, forests, and parks in our local cities.  Healthy ecosystems and thriving forests are vital to our community because they absorb and naturally filter rain water, produce clean oxygen, provide living spaces for wildlife, and create a place for people to connect with the outdoors.

In order to create healthy forests and riparian zones, the work can include:

•    Caring for existing plantings

•    Removing invasive species such as:

o    English ivy

o    Himalayan blackberry

For your safety and comfort please bring:

•    Clothing that can get dirty

•    Long pants and sleeves

•    Sturdy shoes (closed toed shoes required, no sandals or flats)

•    Rain gear and warm layers (the event will happen rain or shine)

•    Full water bottle!

Youth Policy

Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Join Park Steward Albert Styers to help beautify and maintain the restoration site at Oak Tree Park. Volunteers are removing invasive plants and keeping the park clean.

• All ages and abilities are welcome!

• Tools and training will be provided

Come join PCD's Habitat Team as we celebrate Earth Day and continue our restoration efforts at South Prairie Creek Preserve! We just completed installing thousands of trees and shrubs during the 2024 planting season and need your help mulching them in preparation for the dry season ahead. Bring along your family and friends and prepare to have lots of fun improving critical salmon habitat!

What will volunteers be doing? 

• Volunteers will help care for existing plantings by spreading mulch in preparation for the upcoming dry summer months. Mulching helps mitigate weed growth, increase moisture retention, and prevent erosion to improve the survival rate of new plantings. 

• Additional Activities:

  • During the event: PCD will host a coloring station and participants will have the opportunity to observe some of the macroinvertebrates living in South Prairie Creek. 

  • Before the event: PCD's resident birder will lead an optional bird walk at 8 AM (1 hour before the work party begins), so show up early, bring along some binoculars, and get excited to admire the Preserve's thriving avian community. 

What to bring:

• Dress for success (we recommend dressing in layers)

• Close-toes outdoor shoes/boots

• Full water bottle

Optional:

• Personal work gloves (we will have a limited number of work gloves available for loan)

• If you would like, you may bring personal shovels and/or pitchforks (tools will be available)

• Binoculars, if you're attending the 8 AM bird walk. 

Help us care for the park by participating in a work party held on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 9 am-12 pm. Stewardship volunteers help maintain the trails and grounds at the Tacoma Nature Center. Tasks include trimming vegetation, planting, removing non-native species and maintaining planting beds and gardens. Picking up litter and other miscellaneous tasks also may be part of the job.

• No experience is necessary but please come dressed for the weather and getting dirty

• All ages are welcome but children need to be supervised at all times by an adult

• Work parties will occur rain or shine

  Free! No pre-registration necessary

Bring the whole family together to explore concepts of science, technology, engineering, art, and math, also known as STEAM. Join us at Tacoma Public Library locations for an evening brimming with playful discovery and creation! Admission to this event is free and requires no registration.

Application Ends on April 16 2024.

Participate in The Tacoma Shoreline Survey, a project that would transit the entire municipal shoreline, with surveys conducted along the way to give a better idea of how much stuff is out there. With your help, we can share data with the Ocean Conservancy and the Ikkatsu Project, and help keep track locally of what is being found and where, to help guide future cleanup efforts.

Trash pick up will be at Jack Hyde Park. Trash will be weighed and categorized for the Ikkatsu Project.

Participating locations:

1. Jack Hyde Park | 10:30 am-1:30 pm, register online

2. Titlow Park | 10:30 am-1:30 pm, no registration required, drop-ins welcome

How to Participate:

1. Download the Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell App (Apple | Google)

2. Create an account and allow GPS location tracking

3. Track the trash you find

4. Once done surveying, select “share” and email a copy to ken@ikkatsuproject.org to get your count included in the Tacoma Shoreline Survey

Learn More: Find out more about the Ikkatsu Project and the Tacoma Shoreline Survey by clicking here.

Calling All Ocean Lovers and Eco-Warriors!

Earth Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by giving back to our beautiful planet? Join us for a special Earth Day Beach Cleanup event hosted by the Port of Tacoma and be part of a global movement to protect our oceans and shorelines.

Make a Difference: Every piece of trash removed from the beach is a step towards a cleaner, healthier ocean ecosystem.

Celebrate Earth Day: Honor Mother Earth by taking action and demonstrating your commitment to environmental stewardship.

Community Engagement: Connect with like-minded individuals and work together towards a common goal of preserving our natural environment.

• Meet and finish at Dickman Mill Park entrance.

• All supplies provided.

• All ages welcome.

• Rain or shine!

For questions, please contact desiree.kennedy@tacomaparks.com or call (253) 209-5806.

Hosted by

Learn the basics about planting, weeding, and watering your summer vegetable garden.

Join Park Steward Nori Kimura to help beautify and maintain the restoration site at Senator Rosa Franklin Park on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9 am-12 pm.

• All ages and abilities are welcome!

• Tools and training will be provided. 

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.

Whether you know something about PNW land formations or pop cultural references, there’s a category for everyone! Free and open to all Tacoma & UPS community members. Come with a team of friends or join one at the event! 

Our potting parties are held rain or shine at the Tacoma Landfill/Nursery Site. Parking is off-site with a volunteer shuttle. Tools, gloves, snacks and beverages will be provided. 

Please feel free to share this link with friends who'd enjoy visiting with the community, playing with plants and trees and supporting Tacoma's urban canopy!

You will be emailed with more details the week before the event. And as always! Thank you for supporting Tacoma our greening efforts. 

Are you a flower farmer interested in understanding what it takes to sell to local flower wholesalers? Come join us for a panel discussion with two of our region’s wholesale flower outlets, Washington Floral and Seattle Wholesale Growers Market Cooperative. Representatives will be on hand to share how their operations work, what is required to sell through their outlets, what their flower needs are and how the growing number of local flower farms could provide a larger share of the wholesale market. A delicious lunch will be provided to foster networking and further discussion after hearing from our panel. Come discover if the wholesale market outlet is a good fit for your flower operation and connect with other regional flower farmers. Agenda: 9:30 am: Check in and introductions 10:00 am: Panel discussion 11:30 am: Networking lunch