Celebrate Trees! Earth Month Bainbridge Island

The goal of Celebrate Trees! Earth Month Bainbridge Island is to raise awareness of and encourage involvement in Arbor Day and Earth Day events and to inspire everyone to protect our trees, our environment, and our planet all month and throughout the year. Check back for an evolving list of 2023 Earth Month events and activities.

Click here for the 2023 Earth Month Calendar

and

Click here for Earth Month Bingo

to help you make Earth Day every day, all of April and beyond!

Note: For Parks’ work parties, RSVPs are recommended but not required. (Check-in goes easier with them.) And you are welcome to bring your own tools, but they are also provided.
For Land Trust work parties, RSVPs are required; tools are provided.

Earth Month Activities

Islandwide Litter Cleanup, April 1-30 – Choose a day to go out and pick up a nearby roadway or trash-strewn area. Kitsap’s Adopt-a-Spot folks and Bainbridge Disposal are making it easy by providing bags and free trash disposal, respectively. Just stop by the front courtyard of the Bainbridge Disposal office at Coppertop and look for the bin containing bags and a guidelines sheet. Then follow the directions for a successful clean-up.  You can even email Zero Waste to arrange to borrow a grabber. Go here for more details.
Sock Recycling, April 1-30, at Bay Hay and Feed – Bring any kind of clean socks, singles or pairs, to Bay Hay and Feed during the month of April. Sponsored by Denver-based SmartWool, the socks will be sent off to Material Return to be deconstructed and turned into new goods, all within a 75-mile radius of in North Carolina.
Amorphous Amphibian Night Hike, Saturday, April 1, 6;30-8:30 pm, at IslandWood – Participants will learn about native frogs, their calls and habits in an engaging presentation and then head into our frog-filled wetlands at dusk to hunt for breeding frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and their eggs. This event is best-suited for ages six years and up. After the presentation we’ll divide up into small groups of ten people each for the night hike down to our Cattail Marsh and Pond. Register here.
Afternoon on the Trails, Sunday, April 2, 12-4pm, at IslandWood – IslandWood’s trail systems will be open this day only for your self-guided exploration. Hike leisurely down the Spine Trail and traverse the ravine on a suspension bridge. (How many species of ferns can you spot from the bridge?) Register for this free event here.
Weed Removal Work Party, Wednesday, April 5, 9-11am, at Quitslund Preserve – The Land Trust hosts a work party to remove Himalayan blackberry and maintain the areas cleared as part of the 2022 volunteer work parties. Please RSVP here.
Welcome Wednesday, April 5, 10am-4pm, at Bloedel Reserve – Come on the first Wednesday of each month for a pay-what-you-wish community day at Bloedel Reserve. All are welcome to explore our trails and gardens and experience the transformative power of nature. No matter the season (or the weather), there’s always something new just around the corner. Timed tickets must be reserved in advance of your visit.
Weed Pull, Friday, April 7, 2-4 pm, at Strawberry Plant Park – Weed Warriors will host a weed pull at Strawberry Plant Park, the Eagle Harbor road end of Weaver Road NW. Park on Shepherd Way NW. This delightful and popular park is being overrun by the usual bullies: ivy, Scotch broom, and holly—not to mention Himalayan blackberries. Work as hard and long or as easy and short as you like, but please join us. Bring your plant and tool questions as well. Please let Jeannette Franks know if you are coming.
Conservation Work Party, Saturday, April 8, 10am-noon, at Battle Point Park – Join BI Parks and BI Parks and Trails Foundation for a morning removing invasive weeds at the Battle Point Park duck pond (north end). Volunteers will use hand tools to remove ivy, Scotchbroom, and more. This event is well suited for children ages 6+ who are comfortable using small hand tools and walking on uneven surfaces. Please RSVP here.
Book Release by Local Author, April 11 – Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest, by Nora Nickum. Nora grew up on Bainbridge. Her book is geared toward 8-12 year-olds but is informative for everyone older. Superpod introduces readers to the experts who are training scat-sniffing dogs, inventing ways to treat sick orcas, quieting the waters, and studying whales from the air. To learn more about Nora and the book, read an in-depth article by Margaret Millmore posted on the Island Wanderer. Available at Eagle Harbor Books.
Red Pine Park Work Party, Tuesday, April 11, 10am-noon, at Red Pine Park – Work with the Park District’s horticulture staff to maintain garden beds, a historic fruit orchard, edible perennials, and other historic plantings in this former homestead in the heart of downtown, 418 Wood Av. RSVP here.
COBI’s Climate Smart in the Kitchen: Easy Plant-Based Swaps, Wednesday, April 12, 6:00-7:30 PM, at BARN – Interested in reducing your kitchen’s carbon footprint? Looking for easy plant-based swaps that the whole family will love? Join the City of Bainbridge Island and islander Nancy Travis, vegan consultant, at COBI’s Climate Smart in the Kitchen cooking demonstration! It will be a night of learning with tasty samples to try.  Learn how you can make small shifts in your diet, lower your kitchen carbon footprint, and add healthier plant-based ingredients to meals, all while earning points in the City’s Climate Smart Challenge. Nancy will do a live cooking demonstration and talk about simple food swaps, followed by a short question and answer session with food sampling. Everyone who attends will get a handout on food swaps and recipes. Space is limited for this free event, so please sign up in advance!
Spring Skills of a Naturalist: Wildflowers and Other Wonders, Thursday, April 13, 9:30-11:30am, at IslandWood – Learn how to confidently identify wild spring plants that are edible and medicinal. You’ll meet some old favorites (like stinging nettle), and discover some lesser-known species as well. We’ll forage and nibble on plants we find, and explore botanical language on identification and plant anatomy. You’ll walk away with a new appreciation for native plants, their nutritive and ecological value, and even learn a few “weeds” that you can add to your salads! Register here.
Book Reading and Talk by Jori Lewis, Thursday, April 13, 6:30-7:30pm, at the Bainbridge Public Library – Bloedel Reserve Creative Resident Jori Lewis will be speaking about and reading from her book, Slaves for Peanuts.  Ms. Lewis writes narrative nonfiction about the environment and agriculture, mostly in the Global South. Her reports and essays explore how people interact with their environments, focusing on the intersections between nature, history, and culture.
Trails Work Party, Saturday, April 15, 10am-noon, at Battle Point Park – Join BI Parks and other community park-user groups at the north end of Battle Point Park on the horse trail, a lesser-known route around the park.  Help the trails team do trail surface repairs like widening the trail to set standards, raking trail surfaces, spreading chips, and more. These work parties are well suited for children ages 8+ who are comfortable using some small hand tools and walking a mile or so throughout the two-hour work party.  Park in the north parking lot. RSVP here.
Styrofoam and Mattress Recycling Collection, Saturday, April 15, 11am-3pm, at Kitsap County Fairgrounds – In conjunction with DTG Recycle, Kitsap Solid Waste hosts a Styrofoam and mattress recycling collection event for Kitsap County households. Styro must be clean, dry, and free of tape and stickers. Mattresses and box springs are charged $10. Find the details here on what exactly you can bring.
Plein Air Painting for Beginners, Saturday, April 15, 11am-4pm, at Bloedel Reserve – All levels welcome. Facilitated by Nora Masters ans assisted by Tannis Moore. Participants in the program arrive between 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM and meet at the Arrival Garden. At 10:45 AM, the facilitator will explain where you may (or may not) set up and when to meet back at the Arrival Garden to walk up to a designated off-trail lunch spot (bring your own picnic lunch). The facilitator will also let you know the general area(s) they plan to paint in so that if you have questions, you can find them. The group painting day ends at 4 PM. Participants need to have their own supplies and equipment. This can be as simple as a sketchbook and pencils, or as much as a full paintbox, folding chair and easel, or anywhere in between. Register here.
Spring Skills of a Naturalist: Beginner’s Birding by Ear, Thursday, April 20, 9:30-11:30am, at IslandWood – Birders focus primarily on identifying birds by plumage, colors and field markings during our outdoor explorations. However, tuning your ear to bird’s songs and vocalizations is a next-level way to land your ID, even when visibility for birds is poor. The trouble is it can be tricky to learn as birds make many vocalizations, and many are similar.  IslandWood naturalist and docent, Mark Salvadalena, will teach you how to listen for key features in bird chatter and song to arrive at a proper ID – even without seeing the bird. Register here.
Moritani Preserve Work Party, Thursday, April 20, 10am-noon, at Moritani Preserve – Join the Park District’s Natural Resources team and the BI Parks and Trails Foundation in caring for the woods and meadows of Moritani Preserve by managing invasive species, maintaining garden beds, and planting natives when the weather is right. RSVP here. Parking is a challenge. It is recommended to look on side streets in Winslow for 2-3 hour parking spots or use other forms of transportation (bikes, walking, etc.).
Focus Walk, Thursday, April 20, 10:45am, at Bloedel Reserve – This month’s walk will be a tour of the Japanese Garden with Bloedel Reserve Japanese Garden Specialist, Bob Braid. Meet at the Arrival Garden Plaza. Register here.
Halls Hill Lookout & Labyrinth Spring Work Party, Friday, April 21, 11am-1pm  – Help keep Halls Hill Lookout & Labyrinth beautiful and inviting at our annual Spring Work Party this Earth Week! We’ll be refreshing the gravel paths and pulling weeds. Be sure to bring your water bottle, and gloves. Please register here.
Earth Day Expo, Saturday, April 22, 10am-2pm, at Battle Point Park – The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District is excited to host the 2023 Earth Day Expo. Gather with our community for all things green! We invite community members to take part in any of the dozens of nature-focused activities, learn to identify and pull invasive weeds, and visit with local businesses and organizations to learn what earth-friendly offerings each has. Our goal is to provide the Bainbridge Island community with positive things they can do right now for the earth while enjoying some live music or grabbing a bite to eat from one of the food trucks on site. Admission is free, and parking is available on-site.
Earth Day Invasive Species Removal Project, Saturday, April 22, 10am-2pm, at Battle Point Park – Join BI Parks’ Natural Resources Team during our Earth Day Expo caring for the many trees at Battle Point Park.  We’ll be spreading a huge pile of wood chip mulch under dozens of trees to build soil nutrients, retain moisture, create habitat for creepy crawlies, and more! All tools are provided, including wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and gloves.  This is a great project for all ages.
Earth Day Trails Project, Saturday, April 22, 10am-2pm, at Battle Point Park – Join our Trails Team during our Earth Day Expo completing maintenance to the nearby Fairy Dell Trail.  We’ll be using hand tools to resurface the trail and widen it to class 3 trail standards. All tools are provided, including wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, clippers, and gloves. This project is great for ages 6+ with parent supervision.
Focus Walk, Thursday, April 22, 10:45am, at Bloedel Reserve – This month’s walk will be a tour of the Japanese Garden with with Horticultural Expert John van den Meerendonk. Meet at the Arrival Garden Plaza. Register here.
Free Invasive Weed Disposal, Sunday, April 23, 10am-4pm, at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Please do not mix in non-invasive yard waste. Invasive plant targets are Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on King County’s “Noxious Weed” list.  For questions about whether or not something will be accepted, email Andrew Fraser, Land Trust Stewardship Manager, or call (206) 842-1216. Bainbridge Island Land Trust will cover the cost of disposal. If you are interested in volunteering for the invasive disposal effort, please email Thea.
KiDiMu Garden Tour, Wednesday, April 26 at 3pm, at Bloedel Reserve – Join KiDiMu staff for a special tour of the gardens. Register here.
Spring Skills of a Naturalist: Intermediate Birding by Ear, Thursday, April 27, 9:30-11:30, at IslandWood – If you identify as an intermediate birder, then you’ve been birding more than once or twice, and know the common birds to expect in our area in spring. We’ll review who’s who and engage in some deep listening to hone your skills even further. Bring your sense of wonder, questions, and knowledge to share with others. IslandWood naturalist and docent, Mark Salvadalena, has over a decade of experience and will teach you how to listen for key features in bird chatter and song to arrive at a proper ID – even without seeing the bird. Register here.
Student Conservation Corps (SCoCo) Application Work Party, April 28, 4-6pm – Attend only if you are trying out for Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District’s paid summer employment opportunity enhanced with conservation education for local high school-aged students. Go here for more details.
Free Invasive Weed Disposal, Sunday, April 30, 10am-4pm, at the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – Please do not mix in non-invasive yard waste. Invasive plant targets are Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on King County’s “Noxious Weed” list.  For questions about whether or not something will be accepted, email Andrew Fraser, Land Trust Stewardship Manager, or call (206) 842-1216. Bainbridge Island Land Trust will cover the cost of disposal. If you are interested in volunteering for the invasive disposal effort, please email Thea.

Anytime Activities

Drink Like You Live Here – Take your reusable cup when you drink out. Click on the video above.

Earth Month Bingo – Easy actions you can take that add up when you make them a habit. Play by yourself or as a family. Print your own board here.

Tree tour – Take a self-guided tour of remarkable tree specimens mostly in downtown Winslow. Go to the Bainbridge Island Tree Tour page to find out how to locate the trees and learn about them.

Nominate a tree – The city has a Heritage Tree Register. If you know of a tree that is especially interesting or exceptional, be it on public or private land, consider nominating it for the register. (If on private property, the owner must consent to the nomination.) Criteria for qualifying trees and the nomination form are found here.

At-home science activities for the outdoors – IslandWood has created a number of activities, songs, and exercises adaptable to any age to help inspire students to explore their own neighborhoods and communities while strengthening observation and investigation skills and deepening ecological knowledge. Check them out here.

Invasive species reporting – Get the invasives species app to help alert state officials to the next sighting of the murder hornet sighting or sprouting of daphne laureola and build their database of invasive flora and fauna.

Citizen Science: Carnivores! – Contribute your sightings to the Woodland Park Zoo’s urban carnivore spotter project, which aims to support communities in facilitating solutions to achieve positive coexistence with carnivores.

Global Amphibian Bioblitz – Seen a salamander lately? How about a spring peeper? Here’s another citizen science opportunity to record your sightings by using iNaturalist. Adding your observations will help researchers, conservationists and concerned global citizens to share information and move forward actions that conserve these incredible creatures for everyone.

Litter pick-up – A year-round activity! If you would like to borrow grabbers for an indeterminate amount of time, please email Zero Waste. If you want to get serious about regular pick-ups, consider joining the County’s Adopt-a-Spot program.

Children’s Earth Day Books – Check out this blog page for suggestions.

Earth Day Network – Check out this page for how to take civic, community and individual actions. The Earth Day Network makes it easier for students who want to advocate for change (e.g., getting a pollinator garden, setting up a compost system, making sports sustainable) by offering advocacy packets.