Community Calendar

Experience the beauty of North Central Washington at the 24th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest from May 14–17, 2026. This year’s festival features over 30 expert-led field trips tailored for all skill levels—from canyon hikes to riparian walks—alongside a fascinating keynote presentation by raptor ecologist Dr. Neil Paprocki on the GPS-tracked movements of Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Attendees can explore the nature-inspired work of Spotlight Artist Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman at the River Haus gallery, join the vibrant Community Fair on Saturday for live music and hands-on activities, and wrap up the day with the festive Birders’ BBQ on the Wenatchee River Institute lawn. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, Bird Fest offers a unique opportunity to celebrate wildlife, conservation, and the peak of wildflower season in the heart of the Cascades.

Experience the beauty of North Central Washington at the 24th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest from May 14–17, 2026. This year’s festival features over 30 expert-led field trips tailored for all skill levels—from canyon hikes to riparian walks—alongside a fascinating keynote presentation by raptor ecologist Dr. Neil Paprocki on the GPS-tracked movements of Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Attendees can explore the nature-inspired work of Spotlight Artist Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman at the River Haus gallery, join the vibrant Community Fair on Saturday for live music and hands-on activities, and wrap up the day with the festive Birders’ BBQ on the Wenatchee River Institute lawn. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, Bird Fest offers a unique opportunity to celebrate wildlife, conservation, and the peak of wildflower season in the heart of the Cascades.

Experience the beauty of North Central Washington at the 24th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest from May 14–17, 2026. This year’s festival features over 30 expert-led field trips tailored for all skill levels—from canyon hikes to riparian walks—alongside a fascinating keynote presentation by raptor ecologist Dr. Neil Paprocki on the GPS-tracked movements of Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Attendees can explore the nature-inspired work of Spotlight Artist Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman at the River Haus gallery, join the vibrant Community Fair on Saturday for live music and hands-on activities, and wrap up the day with the festive Birders’ BBQ on the Wenatchee River Institute lawn. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, Bird Fest offers a unique opportunity to celebrate wildlife, conservation, and the peak of wildflower season in the heart of the Cascades.

There are fresh leaves and blooming flowers all around us during another iconic PNW spring. As you stop to admire the beauty of nature, have you wondered what the plants you’re seeing actually are?

Come to this workshop to learn about native plants and how to identify them! You will also learn about why they are important for salmon, go on a scavenger hunt to find your own plant, and share what you’ve learned. Meet us at NSEA’s campus (3057 E Bakerview Rd, Bellingham) on Thursday, May 21st from 3:30 – 4:30 PM to discover local plant species and how healthy riparian zones support healthy salmon populations.

Free event! This workshop is geared towards kids & families, but all ages are invited to join us. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend.

This event will be hosted outside and includes walking around NSEA's campus in areas such as our native plant nursery, gardens, and forest. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate walking shoes.

Go to www.n-sea.org/upcoming-events to register.

Healthy rivers and salmon are vital to our way of life in the Pacific Northwest, but Columbia Basin salmon, steelhead, and other native fish are in crisis. Most wild salmon and steelhead runs persist at a fraction of their historic abundance and geographic distribution, and some (including three of five in the Snake River) persist at less than one percent of their historic abundance. Our region’s future is at stake, and our advocacy is more important now than ever.
Join Save Our wild Salmon Coalition on Zoom in taking collective action to protect salmon and defend the historic progress made towards salmon recovery by attending a virtual salmon advocacy action hour, occurring on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 12:30-1:30pm AND 5:30-6:30pm PT (afternoon and evening sessions are identical).
Join to hear updates from experts on issues impacting salmon recovery and the health of the Columbia/Snake Rivers, ask questions, and, most importantly, get resources and information about how you can take action NOW. We will provide resources and support for all levels of salmon advocates, whether you want to take quick online action, like contacting your representative or submitting a public comment, or spend more time on your advocacy by writing a letter to the editor or hosting a postcard-writing party.
RSVP at wildsalmon.org/salmon-action-hours

CIVIL2026 will serve as a dynamic platform to explore the latest breakthroughs, emerging technologies, and future directions,bringing together experts, innovators, and thought leaders from academia, industry, and research to share insights, foster collaboration, and explore the latest trends and innovations across civil, structural, and environmental engineering.

The Walla Walla Subchapter of the Washington Native Plant Society will be hosting their annual free, self-guided "Go Natives!" native plant garden tour on Saturday, June 6. Participants should register between 8:30 am and noon at the Whitman Street picnic shelter on the south side of Pioneer Park (adjacent to the lake and bathroom, near the softball field) to receive a list of participating garden locations with a map. A gardener will be present at each site until 1:00 pm to answer questions about how they have developed and maintain their native plantings. Six gardens are new to the tour this year, including one in College Place. Several special events are also planned for the day, including talks on pesticide use and pollinator impacts by the Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council. A plant sale featuring many local natives will be held both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 3:00pm at 108 Green Street in Walla Walla.