Category Archives: Get Involved

Spring 2018 Stewardship Work Parties

Looking for a volunteer opportunity that will make a positive impact on your local watershed? Consider joining us for one of these upcoming work parties. 

You bring gloves, boots, a water-bottle, and dress for the weather – We’ll bring tools and show you what to do! 

 
Upcoming Stewardship Work Parties
Saturday, March 10th – Freeland Wetland Preserve
  • Saturday, 3/10 from 10am – noon
  • Freeland Wetland Preserve: In Freeland on Newman Rd, 100 yards from Main Street. Past Petosa Rosa. You will see the sign!
  • We’ll target invasive holly, tansy, and blackberries for removal; Build more foot bridges for any low, wet spots; Hope to install new rain barrels and gutters on the barn!
  • Contact Amy to RSVP
Tuesday, March 20th – Robinson Beach
  • Tuesday, 3/20 from 10am – noon
  • Frank D. Robinson Beach: 6020 Robinson Rd, Freeland, WA 98249
  • We’ll plant new Shore Pines, and remove invasive Scotch Broom
  • Contact Amy to RSVP
Saturday, April 7th – Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom
  • Saturday, 4/7 from 10 am – 1 pm
  • Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom, 7015 Maxwelton Road, Clinton. Park in the lot, or along Maxwelton Road
  • ** Earth & Ocean Month “Take Action” Event ** Includes a guided tour and Outdoor Classroom Open House + Trail Maintenance Work Party to get the trails ready for our spring programs. Snacks will be provided!
  • Contact Amy to RSVP

Please email amy.whidbeywatersheds@gmail.com with questions, or to RSVP! 

Volunteer Teachers Needed at the Outdoor Classroom!

Share your love of the environment! Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Teachers Needed

Volunteers provide school aged children in our community memorable half-day nature experiences at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom.

Join the talented crew of Outdoor Classroom volunteer teachers and help make these rich experiences happen. Whidbey Watershed Stewards staff provide the lesson plans, training, and all the tools you need to be successful! No experience is necessary. 

Two opportunities for Spring 2018 Volunteer Teacher Training are on:

  • Thursday, April 12th from 9am – 2pm
  • Tuesday, April 17th from 9am – 2pm

Lunch and good conversation provided! 

The classroom is located at 7015 Maxwelton Rd, Clinton. 

DETAILS:

This spring, students along with our volunteer teachers, will explore forest habitats and the creatures that live there through rotating stations that include art, games, science, and exploration!

Volunteers choose their teaching days and times. It is helpful  to volunteer for one teaching day per week, or more if available. Our Spring 2018 season runs from April 24th – June 8th, Monday – Friday, between 9:30 am – 1:00 pm. 

To sign up or for more information, contact Education Director Lori O’Brien at lori.whidbeywatersheds@gmail.com or (360) 579-1272. 

Outdoor Classroom Turns 20!

In October, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom! 

Twenty years ago, educators, parents, and local experts collaborated to realize the vision of the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom. What began as an idea to raise salmon in a classroom has grown to provide regular opportunities for hands on science and environmental education to K-8 students from Whidbey Island and beyond! The Classroom itself was dedicated in the Fall of 1997, and has become the vehicle to help educate more than 25,000 students since. 

Event photos by photographer and volunteer, Gordon Marvin:

For more information, please see this recent article from the South Whidbey Record. And also this article from the South Whidbey Record. 

An Opportunity to Give

An Opportunity to Give
This spring you have TWO amazing opportunities to help the programs of your Whidbey Watershed Stewards’ to flourish- the WWS Spring Challenge 2016 and Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG! Your financial support blooms even bigger than the individual dollars you gift as there are matching donations provided by others within each giving opportunity!

WWS Spring Challenge 2016

A wonderful group of dedicated WWS supporters is offering this fundraising challenge… donate directly to Whidbey Watershed Stewards before June 1st and they will match your financial gift dollar-for-dollar up to a value of $3500.00!! Support raised through this challenge goes toward our General Education Fund.

WWS projects and programs benefitting from your Spring Challenge financial gift include:

— Maxwelton Valley Outdoor Classroom elementary education classes
— South Whidbey Elementary School Salmon in the Classroom
— Langley Middle School Ocean Acidification program
— Freeland Wetland Preserve Wetland Wednesdays
— Smith and Minor Island Aquatic Reserve Kelp Harvesting Project

GO TO WWS DONATE PAGE

Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG 2016

GiveBIG, the one-day online charitable giving event hosted annually by The Seattle Foundation encourages people to give generously to nonprofit organizations who make our region a healthier and more vital place to live. GiveBIG is a day to support the people behind these organizations, those who work tirelessly to improve the lives of everyone in Greater Seattle with their champion-worthy work. To donate to Whidbey Watershed Stewards through the GiveBIG event visit WWW.SEATTLEFOUNDATION.ORG and search for Whidbey Watershed Stewards. All donations to WWS receive a portion of the Seattle Foundation’s “stretch pool” of matching funds. WWS uses the funds raised through GiveBIG to support our restoration and research work, which this year includes:

— Completing invasive plant removal at Robinson Beach in Freeland
— Replanting with native plants on all properties we steward
— Leading a kelp foraging research project in the Smith and Minor Island Aquatic Reserve

GO TO SEATTLE FOUNDATION GIVEBIG 

Letter from the President – March 2015

 Hello Supporters of Whidbey’s Watersheds,

Get your calendars ready…we have so many great events and opportunities on the horizon and we don’t want you missing out!

So much is going on around South Whidbey in April, with both the annual Welcome the Whales event and month-long Earth and Ocean Month programs.

  • April 18th– Welcome the Whales, Langley
    • WWS Bake Sale, Langley United Methodist Church from 11-3
    • Langley Middle School Ocean Acidification Project Presentation, XXXX from XX-XX
  • April 22nd (Earth Day!)- a WWS Earth and Ocean Month Event
    • Wetland Wednesday, Freeland Wetland Preserve from 12-3

What is a Wetland Wednesday? Through a generous gift from the Friends of Freeland we are now Stewards of the beautiful Freeland Wetland Preserve near the corner of Scott and Newman Roads. While the Preserve is open to the public year round, Wetland Wednesdays is our chance to get out on the land with you to explore, dream and learn together. We have a handful of experts joining us to share on a variety of topics, including wetland hydrology, native plants, and birding.

  • Save these additional dates for Wetland Wednesday’s:
  • May 20th, June 17th, July 15th, Aug. 19th, and Sept. 16th
  • Times, guest speakers and other information for our Wetland Wednesday’s available on our Facebook page and website at least a week before the event.

Salmon Enchanted Evening is coming up on July 25th…this dinner is a great chance to mix and mingle with fellow supporters of the Stewards. If you have not attended this annual fundraising event before and would like to receive an invitation, please e-mail info@whidbeywatersheds.org.

Other events on the drawing board include a celebration at Robinson Beach in Freeland later this spring and a family friendly fishin’ and picnicking party at Maxwelton Beach with our event partners, the South Whidbey Fishin’ Club, in August. As with the upcoming Wetland Wednesdays, we will post more about these parties on Facebook and our website as the details get sorted out. I’m sure you’ll read more about what we’ve got going on through future e-newsletters, too.

Thank you so very much for supporting Whidbey Watershed Stewards.

I look forward to seeing you at our events this year!

Sarah Boin, Board President

Salmon Enchanted Evening – 7/26

Salmon Enchanted Evening

Every Summer we have our biggest fundraiser of the year called Salmon Enchanted Evening. Read down to see how much fun we had last year. It was a big success with all the Who’s Who of Whidbey Island attending. Send us an email if you want to add your name to our Newsletter mailing list and find you will be “in the know” when we announce our next SEE Event 2015!
Where? 
Island Art Glass
2062 Newman Rd
Langley, WA

What?   
  • Ott & Murphy Wines, Local Micro Brew & Sparkling Beverages
  • Hearty Hors d’oeuvres locally sourced or grown; Chef Vincent Nattress, Cultivar Catering
  • Fiddle to Classical Music, Fiddler Brian Kenney
Who?     
  • Meet our stellar Scholarship Recipients
  • Special Preview of Documentary Producer Chris Korrow’s “Dancing with Thoreau”. We are honored to introduce Chris Korrow, local farmer, naturalist, photographer, nationally acclaimed filmmaker & author. Chris will speak to DEEPENING OUR CONNECTION TO NATURE. View film trailers for the recent Dancing with Thoreau & Garden Insects.
Plus!     
Delicious Homemade Pies & Ice Cream & the Extra Special Pie Auction
All Proceeds go to fund our Education Programs
Festivities: $75 per person
We welcome additional contributions!
Please RSVP by July 18th by phone or email.
360 5791272
info@whidbeywatersheds.org

Confirm your reservation by sending a check to:

WWS
PO Box 617
Langley, WA 98260

OR

Order your Tickets Online;
1. Click the DONATE BUTTON on our site!
2. Enter your information
3. In the section labeled; “Designation” Type letters — SEE

Recap: Freeland Wetland Preserve Opening Event

Event Update 6/23 What a wonderful event last Saturday! Friends of Freeland passed the torch and the new Freeland Wetland Preserve over to the Whidbey Watershed Stewards. We opened the Wetlands to the public and will begin developing public restoration and public outreach events that will highlight the environmental challenges and threats our wetlands face here on planet Earth. Would also like to report the Sun did appear to “stand still” in the sky for our event as we would expect for such a momentous occasion. Thanks to Friends of Freeland and the Rotary for all your support. Rick Freeland Wetland Preserve Sign Freeland Wetland Preserve 1 Freeland Wetland Preserve Opening Booth