Camp Long is offering many opportunities to help participants discover what they can do to help the planet.

Camp Long is a 68-acre forested park and environmental learning center located at 5200 35th Ave. S.W.

Visitors can enjoy nature, hike, camp overnight in rustic cabins, rock climb, and learn about nature. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Free Class
May 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ages 12 and older
Come learn how to incorporate solar hot water into your home or workplace. This course is presented by NW Sustainable Energy for Economic Development.
Location: Lodge
Course 40557

Owls and Bats Camp Long
May 9, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6
Ages 5 and older
Will Barred Owl young be hissing or will they be missing? Parents might be ripping up rats into choice chunks for their baby birds. We’ll poke around for pellets to pull apart and hear how to hoot. Though not as numerous as they once were, we may find bats with our bat detector. Please register by May 8. Instructor: Stewart Wechsler
Course 39661

Mucking at Me-Kwa-Mooks
May 24, 10 a.m. to Noon
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6
Ages 5 and older
Both adults and kids love to find sea creatures when the tidal blankets are removed. Discover sea stars and maybe their cucumber cousins. We might find naked nudibranchs, clothed crabs, and armored chitons, and if we’re lucky, maybe a little giant octopus. Participants must be able to walk on slippery rocks. Be sure to wear waterproof boots. Please register by May 22.
Course 39659

Echo Mountain Day Trip
May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Activity Fee: $15
Ages 8 and older
This rocky mountain is one of the best remaining flower refuges in King County. Echo Mountain is a relatively easy hike, though it does require some uphill walking. We’ll bring nets and binoculars to examine such birds as the Echo Blue butterfly, and to hunt for bugs. We’ll picnic on the naked mountaintop - clothes are required! Please bring a picnic lunch; we’ll provide the morning snack. Please register by May 8. Instructor: Stewart Weschler
Course 39633

Leave it to Beavers!
May 23, 10 a.m. to Noon
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6
All Ages
Have you ever wondered why Native Americans refer to the Beaver as the “SacredCenter” of the land? Join us in exploring the life and times of this furry flat-tailed master builder of Longfellow Creek. Learn more about beaver lodges and the behavior and physical adaptations that make these industrious animals second only to humans in their ability to manipulate their environment. Instructor: Sue Johnson Register by: Friday, May 22.
Location: Greg Davis Park, 26th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Brandon Street.
Course 39649

Life and Times of Polliwog Pond, Co-sponsored with Cool Mom
May 30, 10 a.m. to Noon
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6
All Ages
Come explore the life within Camp Long’s changing polliwog pond. Fresh water, collecting nets, buckets, microscopes... what’s not to love?! What does the pond tell us about the water quality of our local watershed? Immature salamanders, damselflies, and phantom midges are just a few of the aquatic friends you might find. We provide a snack. Please register by May 29. Instructor: Dana Catts.
Course 39650

First Saturday Free Walks
Explore Your Backyard. Seattle’s Park system boasts more than 6,000 acres of park property. With more than 400 parks, you could visit a new property every day of the year and still have 35 parks left over! Share these incredible spaces with a naturalist while we learn about the natural history and habitat these spaces provide in our backyards. This session is family oriented and community members of all ages are welcome! Please register by calling 206-684-7434. Leader: Christina Gallegos.

Beavers at Lakewood
May 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Free
All Ages
Beavers are known for their engineering finesse. They also create habitat for others. Although Lakewood exists on the edge of our neighborhood, it is home to some of the best restoration ecologists on the planet! Location: Please register by calling 206-684-7434.
Location: Lakewood Moorage, 4400 Lake Washington Blvd. S
Course 41409

Schmitz Park
May 2, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
All Ages
How do big, old trees reduce climate change? Why are they important to human health as well as to wildlife? Explore the old growth forest at Schmitz Park. Tucked between the Admiral and Alki neighborhoods, this park offers the best perspective on restoration habitat and carbon sequestration. Find out why. Meet at AlkiCommunity Centeron the corner of Stevens and 58th. Please register by calling 206-684-7434.
Location: Schmitz Preserve, 5551 SW Admiral Way
Course 39641

Tot Treks and Tyke Hikes
$7 per adult/child pair. $3.50 for each additional person
Ages 2 – 3
Adults - share nature with your children! In a local park where the grass and ferns grow, beneath the tall, old trees, is a special place for you and a child to explore. Learn effective and fun outdoor activities and ideas for other times and places. Please arrive 10 minutes before class time and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Up to two children can be registered with each adult. Sorry, no strollers.

Volunteer
Thank the Earth for Your Birth FREE
All Ages
Celebrate someone’s birthday at Camp Long and give Mother Earth a present, too! Spend some time with your human, plant, and animal friends. Bring your party to the park. Gather your friends, do restoration work for an hour or two, then come inside to celebrate a birthday and your day’s accomplishments. You can have your cake and weed it, too! Please call 206-684-7479 for more information.

Camp Long First Saturdays Work Party
May 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free
All ages, families
Leave your family legacy at Camp Long by helping restore a patch of native habitat in the park. Make friends while you help preserve a future for ourselves and our native plants and animals. Please register by calling 206-423-0762.
Location: Forest