Celebrate Trees! Earth Month Bainbridge Island

The goal of Celebrate Trees! Earth Month Bainbridge Island is to raise awareness of and encourage involvement in these April 2025 events and to inspire everyone to protect our trees, our environment, and our planet throughout the year.

2025 Earth Month Activities

Here’s a chance to win an Eagle Harbor Books gift card!

Play Earth Month Bingo in April, send a photo of your bingo,
and you’ll be entered in a drawing for the gift card.

Check back — this list is being updated frequently!

Live Podcast on Earth Month, Wednesday, March 26, 1:30 – Reed Price interviews representatives from various organizations to find out what fun and educational activities are in store for the community during this year’s Earth Month. The recording is here.

Sock recycling, April 1-30, at Bay Hay and Feed – Clean, singles or pairs. Keep separate: Do not bag, roll, clip, or band together. Look for the Smartwool dropbox inside the store.

Your Soil Is Leading a Secret Life, Tuesday, April 1, 6:30-8pm, Zoom Link – A healthy soil ecosystem makes the difference between a meager garden and a thriving one. At Veg Club, learn how to support soil life to make your garden bountiful and resilient. Veg Club covers everything from beginner basics to specialized local resources and techniques for experienced growers. Everyone, everywhere is welcome, and it’s always FREE. Click here for reminders and details of future sessions.

Red Pine Park Work Party, Tuesday, April 8, 10am-noon, at Red Pine Park – Work with the Parks Department’s horticulture staff to maintain garden beds, a historic fruit orchard, edible perennials, and other historic plantings in this former homestead at 418 Wood Ave SW in the heart of downtown. Parking is limited. Please register here. Contact Sierra Kross with any questions or concerns.

Kids Walk: What’s the Buzz, Wednesday, April 9, 10:30am-noon, at Bloedel Reserve – Spring Break is the perfect time for a fun exploration of the wonders of pollinators and how they do it on the Reserve. Led by Certified Teacher and Bloedel Reserve Horticulturist Ann Mackey, parents and caregivers may accompany their child or enjoy a walk on their own. Get tickets here.

Zero Waste Open House, Thursday, April 10, 5-7pm, at the BI Senior/Community Center – Hosted by the City of Bainbridge Island, this event will feature local, regional and national vendors and organizations with tips and products for ways your household or business can work toward a zero waste lifestyle. More information on the vendors will become available soon. Those who attend will be eligible for the FREE giveaway of a FoodCycler Eco 3!

Metal Fabrication: Fix-it Saturday, April 12, 10am-12:30pm, at BARN – Bring items in for our free Fix-It Saturday, the second Saturday of each month, hosted by monitors in the welding, sheet metal, and machine shops.

Scrap Metal Recycling Collection, Saturday, April 12, 11am-3pm, at the BI Senior/Community Center (BISCC) – Small scrap metal is continually collected whenever the BISCC is open, usually 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Here’s your chance to bring over small and medium-sized pieces, 25# max per item (examples here) on a weekend. If you’re not sure if your item is too large, email Barbara Ochota. Do not bring what can be put in your recycling cart.

Conservation Work Party, Saturday, April 12, 10am-noon, Battle Point Park, 11299 Arrow Point Dr – Join the Park District for three Saturdays of volunteering at Battle Point Park. We will be removing invasives such as English Ivy, Himalayan Blackberry, and Scotch Broom. This activity is more suitable for children ages six and up who are comfortable using some tools, walking off trail on uneven surfaces, and potentially getting pricked by blackberry thorns. We will have leather gloves and water to refill your reusable water bottles. Please register here. Contact Sierra Kross with any questions or concerns.

Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference, Sunday, April 13, 1-4pm, at IslandWood – The conference will include 1) an overview of community science, including many local efforts to quantify the biodiversity and natural systems of our own Island, 2) presentation of the Environmentalist of the Year award, and 3) an opportunity to head out on IslandWood’s trails and speak with naturalists to learn about how to participate in the City Nature Challenge to document local biodiversity. Go here for more details on the conference and to see how to register.

Moritani Preserve Work Party, Thursday, April 17, 10am-noon, 542 Winslow Way W – Join the Parks Department’s Natural Resources team 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. Parking is limited. Please register here. Contact Sierra Kross with any questions or concerns.

A Botanical Banquet & the Wicked World of Plants, Thursday, April 17, 6-8 pm, at IslandWood – Gather for a seasonally inspired vegetarian feast prepared by IW’s chef Jim White. Then retreat to the Great Hall for 45 minutes of bloodcurdling tales of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate, and otherwise offend. Attendees must be 15 years or older. Get tickets here.

Spring Skills of a Naturalist: Breakfast with the Birds, Friday, April 18, 7-9am, IslandWood – Start off with a delicious IslandWood breakfast, followed by a trip along the trails with guide Mark Salvadalena, a top-notch birder who will share his tricks and tips for bird identification, including birding by silhoutte, ear, and ecological connections in our temperate rainforest habitat. Go here for tickets.

Styrofoam^TM Collection Event, Saturday, April 19, 10am-3pm, Kitsap County Fairgrounds – This event is free and the only one this year. Kitsap residents are welcome to bring one vehicle load per household. Drop-off will be at the Sheep Barn or the Van Zee Building, at 1200 NW Fairgrounds Rd., Bremerton. Find what to bring and other details here.

Trails Work Party, Saturday, April 19, 10am-noon, Battle Point Park, 11299 Arrow Point Dr – Join the Park District and our partners this Earth Month improving the trails at Battle Point Park.  Projects could include spreading chips on trail surfacing, improving drainage, or pruning back the spring flush. These work parties are well suited for children ages eight and up who are comfortable using some tools and walking a mile or so throughout the two-hour work party. Please register here. Contact Sierra Kross with any questions or concerns.

Grand Jam for the Grand Forest, Saturday April 19th, 5:30 PM, Treehouse Cafe – Join us for an epic night of live music and community action to save the Grand Forest East! The Bainbridge Island Land Trust, with the support of the Parks & Trails Foundation, is on a mission to save nearly 40 acres of Grand Forest East—a critical part of our island’s forests and trails. With a goal to raise $2.4 million this spring, we can’t do this without your help! Info and registration here.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Saturday, April 19, 7-10pm, BI Museum of Art – Join Friends of the Farms for a special evening featuring a curated selection of films centered on Farming, Food, and Community that highlight the vital connections between agriculture, sustainability, and local well-being. Following, there will be a panel of speakers who will engage our community in meaningful conversations about our role as stewards of the land and amplify awareness of sustainable farming and healthy food systems. Get more details here.

Free Invasive Weed Disposal Day, Sunday April 20th, 10am–4pm, at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – The Land Trust will be hosting free invasive weed disposal days at the transfer station, 7215 Vincent Rd. Bring your Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on Kitsap County’s “Noxious Weed” list. Please do not mix in non-invasive yard waste. For questions about whether or not something will be accepted, email Andrew Fraser, Land Trust Stewardship Manager, or call (206) 842-1216.

Free Woodchips, Tuesday, April 22, 10am-2pm, 7215 NE Vincent Rd, Bainbridge Island (the City’s facility behind the Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station — signs will be posted) – Free wood chips will be available for pickup by residents and businesses on a first come, first serve basis. One load of wood chips per household/business for now.

Book Talk, Tuesday, April 22, 6:30-8pm, at Eagle Harbor Books – Award-winning natural history writer, Thor Hanson, reveals the nature that thrives in our yards, gardens, and parks in his new book, Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just outside Your Door. Thor Hanson is an award-winning author, speaker, and conservation biologist who often focuses on the interface between natural and human systems.

Spring Skills of a Naturalist: Breakfast with the Birds, Friday, April 25, 7-9am, at IslandWood – Start off with a delicious IslandWood breakfast, followed by a trip along the trails with guide Mark Salvadalena, a top-notch birder who will share his tricks and tips for bird identification, including birding by silhoutte, ear, and ecological connections in our temperate rainforest habitat. Go here for tickets.

• 4/26/25, 10 am-12 pm: Walk and Talk Bioblitz at Carpenter Creek Watershed with Great Peninsula Conservancy
• 4/26/25, starting 10:30 am: Poulsbo Arbor Day Bioblitz Collection Event, Centennial Park, Poulsbo
• 4/26/25, 1-4 pm: Bioblitz at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park (Bayview Trailhead, Bluff Trailhead, Stottlemeyer Trailhead).
• 4/27/25, 9 am–12 pm: Bioblitz at Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island
• 4/27/25, 1-4 pm: Afternoon on the Trails at IslandWood, Bainbridge Island

Kiwanis Shredfest, Saturday, April 26, 9am-4pm, at 208 High School Rd NE (formerly Columbia Bank) –  A free event but donations gratefully accepted for Kiwanis’ children-centric causes. No paper limit. Lemay Mobile Shredding does the shredding and recycles the paper. (If you miss this one, there is another one sponsored by Windermere on May 10, 10am-1pm, in their parking lot on Bjune.)

Earth Expo, Saturday, April 26, 10am-2pm, at Battle Point Park – The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District invites you to a free event full of inspiration and positive action for a greener future for the whole family. Head to the north end of the park and discover a multitude of booths of conservation-focused organizations and local businesses offering eco-friendly products. Roll up your sleeves and make a difference by participating in nature-inspired activities or join an on-site work party, guided by our Natural Resources team. Enjoy activities for the kids, live music and delicious bites from local, eco-conscious food vendors. ADA parking and drop-off will be available at the north end of Battle Point Park from NE Frey Road. To volunteer for the event (pre, post and during), go here.

Earth Expo Grounds Project, Saturday, April 26, 10am-noon, at Battle Point Park, 11299 Arrow Point Dr – Join the Parks Department’s Natural Resources Team during our Earth Day Expo on a volunteer activity for all ages.  Activities may include mulching around trees or invasive species removal. Together, let’s make a positive impact this Earth Day at Battle Point Park! You can register here. Contact Sierra Kross with any questions or concerns.

Wildlife Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 26, 11am-1pm, at Wild Bird Mercantile, 11042 Sunrise Dr. NE – Follow the signs to the back of Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church. West Sound Wildlife Shelter will be on site with live educational wildlife. Come learn about these incredible animals and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. Also, Wild Bird Mercantile will host a craft table for kids to make their own Earth Day-themed craft to take home. No furry four-legged friends, please.

City Nature Challenge, Sunday, April 27, 9am-noon, at Bloedel Reserve – This is a free event but in order to participate, pre-registration is required as parking is limited. Register to participate using this form. Participants will meet outside the Hort barn. Please enter using the service road entrance off of NE West Port Madison Road as you will not be parking in our regular lot and the Reserve does not open to the public until 10 am. We will email information to you before the event with instructions on how to create your account in iNaturalist, parking instructions and more.

Free Invasive Weed Disposal Day, Sunday, April 27th, 10am–4pm, at Bainbridge Disposal Transfer Station – The Land Trust will be hosting free invasive weed disposal days at the transfer station, 7215 Vincent Rd. Bring your Scotch broom, English holly, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, tansy ragwort, English laurel, and the noxious weeds on Kitsap County’s “Noxious Weed” list. Please do not mix in non-invasive yard waste. For questions about whether or not something will be accepted, email Andrew Fraser, Land Trust Stewardship Manager, or call (206) 842-1216.

Earth Day Celebration, Sunday, April 27, 10am-2pm, at Bloedel Reserve – Enjoy nature-focused activities for kids, lawn games, kid-focused guided garden walks and pizza from One Two Kai at the Residence. Earth Day Celebration requires timed-entry admission to the Reserve. Reserve your tickets here. Members get in free but still need to reserve tickets to ensure entry. The Nature & the Book: 2025 exhibit will also be available inside the Residence.

Plant Sale, Sunday, April 27, 10am-2pm, at Bloedel Reserve – Find your next blooming beauties at the plant sale, featuring plants from the Reserve nursery, Chimacum Woods, Far Reaches & Salish Trees. Native plants will be given away as well, while supplies last. Plant Sale activities are available as part of your timed-entry admission to the Reserve. Reserve your tickets here! Members get in free but still need to reserve tickets to ensure entry.

Weed Warriors Weed Pull, Sunday, April 27, 1 to 3pm, at Bloedel Reserve – Volunteers may enter Bloedel as early as 10 am and enjoy the grounds, visit the information tables, and participate in the City Nature Challenge, but please register here first. Contact Jeannette Franks jfranks1@comcast.net or text her at 206-755-8461 for more information.

Afternoon on the Trails, Sunday, April 27, 1-5pm at IslandWood – All ages are welcome to wander the trails, traverse the ravine on a suspension bridge, stop at the bird blind and treehouses, and climb the forest canopy tower. Maps will be available for your self-guided exploration. The Ask the Naturalist table will have nice folks to introduce you to the City Nature Challenge event taking place April 25-April 28th 2025 for Kitsap County. Get your free tickets here.

Forage Hike and Tasting, Sunday, April 27, 2-4pm, at Coyote Farm – Join us on a 90-minute gentle hike while we explore the beautiful and forageable bounty that springs in the PNW offers. After the hike, we will enjoy foraged snacks and drinks! The hike will start and end at Coyote Farm, 7439 NE Coyote Farm Lane, and will include a slight incline along a path through the Grand Forest. All ages are welcome. Go here for tickets.

ReFashion Sewdown, Sunday, April 27, 5:30-7:30pm, at the BI Museum of Art – Participants model their creations made that day individually or as a team at the art museum with secondhand material provided by the ReFashion committee. Students who have participated in the Student Challenge will also walk the runway with their upcycled jeans and t-shirt combo. More details are here.

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Take your OWN cup anytime, anywhere…

Anytime Activities

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. When you get a bingo, take a picture of your card and email to bizerowaste@sustainablebainbridge.org. You will be entered into a drawing for an Eagle Harbor Books gift card!

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.

Invasive species reporting – Get the invasives species app, covering both flora and fauna, to help alert state officials of a sighting, such as the green crab (a threat to native species) or daphne laureola (toxic to humans and livestock).

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.

Litter pick-up – A year-round activity! If you would like to borrow grabbers for a group cleanup or your own, please email Zero Waste. We even have one grabber that can reach 50 feet! If you want to get serious about regular pick-ups, consider joining the City’s Adopt-a-Spot program.

Children’s Earth-Appreciation Books – Check out this 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.

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Click here for Earth Month Bingo to help make every day Earth Day !

When you get a bingo, take a picture of your card and email to bizerowaste@sustainablebainbridge.org.
You will be entered into a drawing for an Eagle Harbor Books gift card!

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It is with a very heavy heart that I must share that our dearest Bainbridge Island Lorax and Champion of Trees around the world, Dr. Olaf Ribeiro, passed away on August 4, 2024.  He taught so many of us about the fabulous fungi and trees around us and helped protect and save so many trees, not just on Bainbridge Island but around the world. His incredible intelligence and tenaciousness spared many a tree the chainsaw!  His engaging stories, endearing smile, and infectious laugh will be dearly missed.  For those of you who may not already know, Olaf truly was the inspiration for our annual event Celebrate Trees! Earth Month Bainbridge Island.  He approached the Sustainable Bainbridge Board and asked why we, as a community, did not do anything significant to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day.  Thus, this full month celebration, incorporating activities and events to honor both, was born.  And we have been doing it every year since thanks to your incredible dedication. individually and through your organizations.  For that, I am incredibly thankful. ~Christine Perkins, Earth Month chair

To more deeply understand the impact of  Olaf’s work with and passion for trees, please read these two moving past tributes from islanders Barb Trafton and Christina Woolf.