Events
Finding Your Civic Voice Workshop
Our friends and colleagues at the Whidbey Island Environmental Action Network (WEAN) will be hosting this event on December 8th. It will be led by Marnie Jackson. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited.
See Flyer: https://bit.ly/findyourcivicvoice
Register Here: https://forms.gle/QigFvSzYJpQzLNRWA
Discussion on Marine Mammals and the Puget Sound Stranding Network!
How well do you know your marine mammal neighbors? Can you tell the difference between a seal and sea lion? Do you know what to do if you saw a whale in trouble?
Come learn about local marine mammals! Find out about the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, who your local chapter is, what they do and how you can help all wildlife by safely admiring from a distance.
Join WWS on November 16th at 2PM for a discussion at the South Whidbey Community Center. Our marine educator - Rachel Mayer - has prepared a 90 minute event filled with marine mammal facts and fun wildlife stories. Come and learn how to share the shore with seals and get answers to your burning questions about these underwater masters!
South Whidbey Community Center
723 Camano Ave
Room 109
Langley, WA 98260
Freeland Wetland Preserve Celebration
Freeland Wetland Preserve is celebrating perpetual access to the Wetlands and trails!
Sept 15th 2-4PM
1820 Newman Rd, Freeland, WA 98249
Special Presentations, Acknowledgements, Refreshments & Wetland Trails! A year ago WWS received a Conservation Futures Fund Grant to secure the 2.8 acre Freeland Wetland Preserve access and parking adjacent to our trails and wetland, protecting access to all 48 acres of wetlands, forest, trails & wildlife in perpetuity!
We hope you will join us as we acknowledge many of those who facilitated preserving the Freeland Wetland Preserve — today & for future generations. Whidbey Island’s water comes from ground water collected by rainfall and held by our wetlands, a critical element for our diverse birds, reptiles, amphibian, mammals and forest. You can expect lively remarks by LEPS’ Don Meehan & Linda Kast whose family once farmed the property and continuing to work with local environmentalists to steward the wetlands. Ray Green, a former Rotary President, took the lead on several of the access improvements at the FWP and he helped build our Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom. Island County Commissioners, local non-profits, and local environmentalist continue to bolster our efforts, and they share their knowledge to make us better stewards! Thank you all, come share refreshments, mingle with friends & take home a Port Orford Cedar, courtesy of Bayview Farm & Garden, to plant as we learn to ‘plant forward’ in a changing climate!
Post Event Report:
On September 15th Whidbey Watershed Stewards hosted an open house event at the Freeland Wetland Preserver. It was the perfect fall day to celebrate receiving the Island County 2023 Conservation Futures Fund (CFF) Grant — used to purchase 2.8 adjoining acres which insures access & parking, in perpetuity, for the 45+ acre Freeland Wetlands Preserve!
The WWS Board & Staff were honored to welcome the many guests that attended, including: IC Commissioner Melanie Bacon, CFF members Linda Kast & Susan Bennett, Don Meehan (Lighthouse Environmental Programs Grants Lead). Linda Kast recounted stories of her family's stewardship of the wetlands over several decades.
Supporter Sievert Rohwer, a forest Steward and ornithologist, spiced up the event with tales of island wood ducks, complimenting input from Wetland Ecologist Dyanne Sheldon, Earth Sanctuary's Chuck Pettis and Wetland Restoration contractor & Board Member Jeremy McKnight!
The chain of ponds and wetlands along Newman Road support wide diversity of birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, gastropods, upland forest, woodlands and fungi! Many locals enjoy the loop trail through the woodlands to the pond and report greeting many bird watchers enjoying rejuvenating nature walks The preserve is an easy Island Transit stop for a nature walk and bird watching!
Whidbey Watershed Stewards expressed their appreciation for the support from the Rotary Club of South Whidbey, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Sound Water Stewards, Steve Ellis, Dyanne Sheldon, David Parent & 10th District Rep. Clyde Shavers, Island County Commissioners Bacon, Johnson & St. Clair and the Conservation Futures Fund members.
The Whidbey Watershed Stewards (WWS) welcomes community members to enjoy all the properties we steward including the Freeland Wetlands Preserve, the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom and Robinson Beach! You are invited to upcoming events there and at our Environmental Learning Center at the South Whidbey Community Center where we host groups & share learning! Volunteer & learning opportunities abound!
Freeland Wetland Preserver
1820 Newman Rd
Freeland, WA 98249
Clinton Beach Park - World Beach Clean-up Event
Saturday September 14, 2024 9:30-11am at Clinton Beach Park, Whidbey Island
Join us to learn about local beach contamination and learn safe ways to protect and clean our beaches.
Parking is available across the road and at the Clinton Park and Ride.
Please RSVP and let us know to expect you. Space will be limited.
Click HERE for more details.
World Otter Day
World Otter Day takes place on the last Wednesday in May each year. The day was established by International Otter Survival Fund to help draw attention to otters, celebrate them, and raise awareness and support for their conservation globally. The aim is to put otters on the map, and at the forefront of people’s mind.
Whidbey Watershed Stewards is very please and excited to share our local otters with our South Whidbey neighbors and visitors. That’s right! We have otters living in the Freeland Wetland Preserve! The Whidbey Watershed Stewards hopes you’ll visit the preserve, and with a little luck, you may see otters living in a natural habitat. Our efforts and your support have helped us to successfully establish and maintain this peaceful and beautiful natural environment in Freeland WA. You can read more about the Freeland Wetland Preserver here and here.
Is Whidbey's Water Sustainable?
What are aquifers and why are they important? How does aquifer recharge occur? How big is the aquifer for Whidbey Island? What can be done to enhance it? How much water are we using from the aquifer? What implications does this have for Whidbey Island?
Last night Whidbey Watershed Stewards hosted a presentation by hall of famer Perry Lovelace. Perry has 25 years experience in groundwater management. He is the Bayview Beach Water District Commissioner and serves as a Langley Public Works Advisory Commissioner. Perry's special interests are rainfall patterns, aquifers, wells and resource management.
At the presentation Perry explained and discussed the issues around the sustainability of our water resources on Whidbey Island. He also provided insights and explanations about what other communities – local to Whidbey and throughout the world – are doing about water resources.
The session was very well attended with 50 people at the session. The presentation lasted just over an hour and there was ample time for questions, answers, and discussion. There was also an active 3D groundwater model operating for the guests. The model shows how water flows (or not) through various soil compounds such as sand, gravel, and clay.
Perry’s presentation began with some important questions about aquifers and then explored each of them as they relate to the local Whidbey Island aquifer. The level of the attendees' attention was very high. The attendees had a number of great questions which created healthy and productive discussion.
Whidbey Watershed Stewards would like to thank Perry for making time to meet with our community and for his ongoing and tireless work and stewardship of our local water resources. We look forward to seeing him again very soon.
Clint Hatton
Executive Director
Whidbey Watershed Stewards
Volunteer Instructor Training
Help us educate the next generation of environmental stewards! Through our fall and spring field trip program Whidbey Watershed Stewards welcomes hundreds of students across Whidbey Island to the Outdoor Classroom for a field trip filled with hands-on, STEAM based lesson activities. This Spring our program explores the Forest Ecosystem.
To sign up please send email to our Education Coordinator, Kelly Shira - kelly.whidbeywatersheds@gmail.com
Volunteer Instructor Training!
Help us educate the next generation of environmental stewards! Through our fall and spring field trip program Whidbey Watershed Stewards welcomes hundreds of students across Whidbey Island to the Outdoor Classroom for a field trip filled with hands-on, STEAM based lesson activities. This Spring our program explores the role and importance of the Forest Ecosystem.
Salmon Enchanted Evening
SEE Tickets: $100.00 per person
Tickets can be purchased online through the Whidbey
Watershed Stewards Website
Link: https://whidbeywatersheds.org/see-2022
or mailed with a check to PO Box 617, Langley, WA 98260
This year, you can look forward to:
-Exceptional Ott & Hunter wines and Double Bluff micro brews
-Hearty and Refreshing Mediterranean Buffet by Creative Cuisine
-Homemade pies, and Pie Auction with Auctioneer Janet Hall
-Special Music by Barbara Dunn, Instrumentalist and Vocalist
Summer Camps at the Outdoor Classroom
Nature Explorers Explore the wonders and beauty of the natural world through art and nature-based crafts at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom. Ages: 4 & 5 years old Dates: July 11-July 14 9:00am-12:00pm Cost: $100.00
Planet Protectors Help improve the world around us by learning about local environmental issues and discovering important solutions! Ages: 6 - 8 years old Session 1 Dates-July 25- July 29 9:00am-3:00pm Session 2 Dates-August 15th- 19th 9:00am-3:00pm Cost: $300.00
Biomimicry Builders Investigate how the natural world inspires the work of scientists & engineers, and create your own biomimicry invention! Ages: 9-11 years old Dates: August 8th- 12th 9:00am-3:00pm Cost: $300.00
Nature Walk and Treasure Hunt at Freeland Wetlands Preserve
Join us for an easy half mile walk around the Freeland Wetland Preserve on Newman Road as a part of Whidbey Island Earth and Ocean Month. Find out what plants and animals make their home here and if you are lucky you might find a painted rock to take home.
More detailed location infomration for the Freeland Wetland Preserve can be found in the book “Hiking Close to Home” by Maribeth Crandell and Jack Hartt.
Volunteer Instructor Training- Spring Program at the Outdoor Classroom
Passionate about ornithology and local bird species? Come share your passion and knowledge with students in grades K-5 as an Volunteer Instructor in our Spring Program: Birds in the Ecosystem!
Join us at the Outdoor Classroom on April 12th from 9:00-2:00 for an Instructor Training for the Spring 2022 season! At this training you will receive all the lesson plans for the season, and build the necessary skills to be an impactful instructor. Lunch is included! Follow this link to RSVP for this training: https://signup.com/go/KAovjht.
Looking for more information? Send those questions to Shelby at shelby.whidbeywatersheds@gmail.com.
Volunteer Instructor Training- Spring Program at the Outdoor Classroom
Passionate about ornithology and local bird species? Come share your passion and knowledge with students in grades K-5 as an Volunteer Instructor in our Spring Program: Birds in the Ecosystem!
Join us at the Outdoor Classroom on April 7th from 9:00-2:00 for an Instructor Training for the Spring 2022 season! At this training you will receive all the lesson plans for the season, and build the necessary skills to be an impactful instructor. Lunch is included! Follow this link to RSVP for this training: https://signup.com/go/KAovjht.
Looking for more information? Send those questions to Shelby at shelby.whidbeywatersheds@gmail.com.
Volunteer Instructor Training
To continue providing environmental education lessons to children in grades K-5 on Whidbey Island and beyond this Fall, we need your help! Volunteer Instructors help set up and take down materials and guide students through one of several fun activities about Water Ecology. Being a volunteer is fun, exciting and flexible. You can decide what days you would like to volunteer and which grade and topic level you would like to instruct.
Our Fall season begins on September 20th and runs 8 consecutive weeks until November 8th. This year we have a variety of volunteer shifts available, with a morning shift running from 9:00am-12:30pm, an afternoon shift running from 12:00pm-3:30pm and a long day shift running from 9:00am-3:00pm. Class visits are currently being scheduled and will occur during weekdays. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors, working in teams of instructors is always encouraged!
Both first year and returning volunteers are asked to attend one Volunteer Instructor Training day at the Outdoor Classroom. This year our training dates are SEPTEMBER 7th, and SEPTEMBER 15th. A training session runs from 9:00am-2:00pm, with beverages, and lunch provided. These sessions are designed to provide you with all the lesson plans, tips and skills needed to be a successful instructor. During a training session members of our Education Committee will run through demonstrations of each lesson, allowing time to answer any questions and give their personal tips from years of instructing experience. Volunteers will leave with a physical copy of the lessons, daily schedules, checklists and WWS policies for reference. These trainings are also a great way to meet new members of the community, and engage with our Education Committee at Whidbey Watershed Stewards.
To sign up for a Training Session please visit the signup.com link (https://signup.com/go/LQHkvyT). Or contact WWS’s Education Coordinator at shelby.whibeywatersheds@gmail.com. Please also reach out if you have any questions, or are interested in becoming a volunteer but may not be available to attend either of the Training Session dates.
COVID-19 POLICY
Due to rising COVID-19 case levels in Island County and beyond, masks are required at each Volunteer Training Session and class day. Each volunteer is required to show proof of completed vaccination status, and be at least two weeks past full vaccination status at the time of our first class visit on September 20th. Masks, gloves and hand washing sites will be provided at the Outdoor Classroom at all times. We thank you for your cooperation in these requests as we work together to protect the health of our community.
2021 Salmon Enchanted Evening Fundraiser
Join us for our 27th Annual Salmon Enchanted Evening fundraiser! Support watershed education, research, and restoration with your ticket purchase and donations. Ticket price includes a catered street taco meal kit for pick up at The Star Store on July 8th, as well as our virtual SEE Program emailed to your inbox to enjoy at your leisure (Keynote presentation, WWS Program Update, and Musical Performance).
RSVP with your ticket purchase by Thursday, June 24 at: www.whidbeywatersheds.org/virtual-see
Learning Station: Salmon Life Cycle Dramatics
Come Visit Our Newest Self-Guided Learning Station!
Act out the dramatic life cycle of a PNW salmon - the sillier the better - as you navigate through “Maxwelton Creek,” “Miller Lake,” the “estuary,” and “ocean!”
Park at the Outdoor Classroom lot (7015 Maxwelton Rd) and walk the trail all the way to the back of the Classroom (past the bathrooms). You’ll see our signage and station set up across from the Big Leaf Maple learning station. Follow the instructions on the posted boards, and learn as you act out each life cycle stage of a salmon!
Tag us when you visit with your family or students #whidbeywatershedstewards
Virtual Salmon Enchanted Evening
A virtual fundraising experience for our WWS donors that is in the spirit of Salmon Enchanted Evening, a la dining and pie auction. Open to the public for the first time in 26 years!
Donors were invited to buy tickets for a catered takeout meal, with additional fundraising items available for purchase such as homemade pies, cookies, and donated experiences and tours. Donors picked up their pre-ordered meals and add-ons on November 12th from The Star Store in Langley, and WWS Board & Staff were on location to provide any other pre-ordered items at the same time. A link to pre-recorded videos, including Keynote Speech, updates from WWS staff, and pre-recorded barn concert were emailed to all attendees that day.
Thank you for continuing to support Whidbey Watershed Stewards!
Fall Family Adventure Walk at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom
Explore Our Self-Guided Educational Stations
Take a break from screens to bring your family on a self-guided field trip at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom trails where nature will be your teacher! Maxwell the Mouse will guide you on your hike as your family learns about the forest ecosystem and watershed health. Stations will be available through Fall 2020.
No fees or materials are needed to participate, though a nature journal is always suggested when exploring outside! Please adhere to COVID-19 safety safety protocols such as group size, social distancing, and face masks.
At the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom Trails: 7015 Maxwelton Road, Clinton.
All In-Person Events Currently Cancelled or Postponed
Due to precautions and efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, we have postponed or cancelled all upcoming events.
This includes: Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Trainings and spring programming, and Earth & Ocean Month work parties and festivities.