The calendar may be telling you that Earth Day is Sunday, April 22, but at Seattle Parks and Recreation we believe every day is Earth Day and we’re using the whole month of April to celebrate! We strive to connect community to nature so that everyone has access to the ecosystems in our backyard.
This Earth Month, you can help us support a healthy environment by getting involved in a variety of projects at local parks, urban forests, and other natural areas around the city. Activities include nature walks, mulching, cleanup, weeding, invasive species removal, nature exploration, and much more. Celebrate Earth Month with us and join us in being responsible stewards of the land and all of the species that share the city with us.
Volunteer Your Time to Help Our Environment Thrive
In addition to the events below, there are opportunities to volunteer in restoration projects year-round in parks across the city. For projects happening in your neighborhood, check out our Volunteer calendar.
April 7: Earth Month Kick off at Longfellow Creek
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at SW Juneau St. and 26th Ave. SW
Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership and local stewardship groups at Longfellow Creek. Restore the habitat along the creek as well as in adjacent greenspaces to improve water quality and provide habitat. Work includes removing aggressive weeds, spreading mulch, and more.
More info: https://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer/event/a0E8000000P3RBqEAN/
April 16-22: Earth Week on the Burke-Gilman Trail
April 16, 18, and 20 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
April 17, 21, and 22, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
NE 65th St. and 58th Ave. NE
Join this restoration work party at Burke-Gilman Trail and help weed out invasive plants. All ages are welcome.
More info: https://seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/13461/
April 19: Springtime Restoration at Northacres!
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Northacres Park
Welcome in spring at Northacres Park with some enthusiastic and focused maintenance weeding and mulching to give our new plantings the best chance to survive and establish the future of this valuable urban forest. All ages are welcome. Coffee, tea, and goodies will be served.
More info: https://seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/12480/
April 19: Delridge and Myrtle Restoration Event
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 21st Ave. SW and SW Myrtle St.
The Nature Consortium program is hosting this additional volunteer event in honor of Earth Month, thanks to a sponsorship from Pyramid Brewing Company. You and your fellow volunteers will participate in fun, hands-on conservation work led by Nature Consortium program staff. Restoration work includes removing invasive plants, planting native species, and mulching new plantings, depending on the restoration progress at each site. Work parties are often accompanied by live musicians, bringing the arts and nature together for our enjoyment!
More info: http://www.naturec.org/volunteer/
April 20: Earth Day Celebration at Discovery Park!
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Discovery Park
Join EarthCorps and the Green Seattle Partnership for restoration work in Discovery Park. The park provides an open, quiet space away from the stress and activity of the city, a sanctuary for wildlife, as well as an outdoor classroom for people to learn about the natural world. Work includes removing aggressive weeds, spreading mulch, and more.
More info: https://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer/event/a0E8000000P3RC5EAN/
April 21: Duwamish Alive! Earth Day Celebration
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at multiple sites in West Seattle
Restore native habitat at various sites along the Green-Duwamish River and in its forests. This event is family-friendly and brings together volunteers to restore healthy wildlife habitat in our parks and open spaces. This habitat is essential for river otters, bald eagles, blue herons and beavers as well as our five salmon species, including our endangered Chinook salmon which our Orca depend upon. Opening ceremony is at Pigeon Point Park.
More info: http://www.duwamishalive.org/event/duwamish-alive-earth-day/
April 21: Fremont Peak Park Work Party for Earth Day
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Fremont Peak Park
Participate in Earth Day park maintenance! Some gloves and tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. Coffee and cookies available, but donations welcome. Dress for changing weather conditions, as there is no shelter at this park.
More info: Contact susan_sheldon@hotmail.com.
April 21: Earth Day Restoration Event at Seward Park
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Seward Park
Come celebrate Earth Day by helping re-forest a section of Seward Park! Help is needed with weeding and mulching the restoration site. All ages are welcome. Pre-registration is required.
More info: https://seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/13494/
April 22: Volunteer Park Annual Spring Clean Up
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Volunteer Park
Celebrate Earth Day by making Volunteer Park beautiful for everyone. Work will involve weeding beds, cleaning grounds, improving gravel paths and mulching. Coffee and donuts available. All ages are welcome.
More info: http://volunteerparktrust.org/events/
April 22: Earth Day Beach Clean Up
2 – 4 p.m. at Discovery Park
Celebrate the earth by making a difference in the health of Puget Sound. Come to Discovery Park and help clean up the beach. All ages are welcome. All needed supplies and safety instructions provided. $5 donation.
More info: http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/ELCs/Spring2018Detailedflyer.pdf
April 28: Earth Month Event at Kubota Gardens
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Kubota Gardens Natural Area
Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership and Seattle Parks & Recreation as we work to restore the urban forest around Kubota Garden. The garden is surrounded by a natural buffer of urban forest, which is where restoration work will be focused. Work may include removing aggressive weeds, spreading mulch, and more.
More info: https://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer/event/a0E8000000P3rUjEAJ/
Explore Your Environment and Learn About Wildlife
April 7: Colors of Spring Tot Trek
10:30 – 11:45 a.m. at Camp Long
Take a hike through Camp Long searching high and low for all the colors of Spring. Ages 2 and 3 with an adult. $5 fee for adult and child.
More info: http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/ELCs/Spring2018Detailedflyer.pdf
April 14 & 28: Bird Tour Wildlife Walk
8 – 10 a.m. at Discovery Park
Discover the wonders of birding. Join experienced leaders as we look for migrants and year-round residents within Discovery Park’s varied habitats. Please dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. Ages 8 and older. $5 per person.
More info: http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/ELCs/Spring2018Detailedflyer.pdf
April 14: Green Lake Amazing Geo Race
Noon – 4 p.m. at Green Lake Community Center
What better way to explore nature around Green Lake than by going on a treasure hunt? Join in on the Green Lake Amazing Geo Race and you’ll have a blast using an app to complete missions hidden all around the neighborhood. Get outdoors and win prizes! Pre-registration is required. Individuals and teams can register. All ages welcome. $15 per person. Children 5 and under are free.
More info: https://facebook.com/events/389724778158275/
April 15: Marine Mammals in the City!
Noon – 4 p.m. at Discovery Park Beach
Discovery Park is an amazing habitat for many different critters, from bees, slugs, and mice to herons, otters and raccoons. Harbor seals also use the beaches here regularly, which means we need to remember that we must share these resources! Find out what other mammals travel or reside in the Puget Sound waters. Learn how to watch them safely and what to do if you are lucky enough to spot a seal on the shore! Knowledgeable volunteers will share fun facts about local marine life through artifacts and photos, while giving practical information about what to do when you encounter wildlife in these busy areas.
More info: http://seattlewildlifeweek.org/event-overview
April 15: Youth Voices of Climate Change
1 – 4 p.m. at Amplifier Art Lab (220 2nd Ave. S)
Discover the connection between art and climate action with this event by the Seattle Youth Climate Action Network. Come hear from speakers and a poet from Youth Speaks, do group art activities, and learn about how you can get involved in climate action. Plus, you can check out the My Climate Hero exhibit at Amplifier Art Lab. Light refreshments provided.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1389565114479111/
April 21: Wildlife Festival
1 – 5 p.m. at Discovery Park
Become a champion for urban wildlife with Seattle Parks and Recreation and the National Wildlife Federation! Enjoy kids’ activities, wildlife hikes, bird watching, arts and crafts, and more!
More info: https://parkways.seattle.gov//2018/02/12/wildlife-in-the-city-festival/
April 27-30: City Nature Challenge
Seattle Metro Area
Woodland Park Zoo is mobilizing people across the greater Seattle area (all of Snohomish, King and Pierce counties) to join a friendly nature observation competition. Which city can find the most species of plants, animals and other living things over the course of one weekend? Find wildlife, take a picture of what you find, and share your observations using the free iNaturalist app.
More info: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2018-seattle-metropolitan-area