Camp Long Offers Exciting Outdoors Programs

Camp Long, located at 5200 35th Avenue SW, offers many opportunities to discover what you can do to help the planet.
Located in West Seattle, this 68-acre forested park and environmental learning center offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy nature, hike, camp overnight in rustic cabins, rock climb, and learn about nature. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

MAY
Solar Hot Water Workshop - FREE
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 May 2 Sat 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Owls and Bats Camp Long
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 May 9 Sat 8:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6

Mucking at Me-Kwa-Mooks
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 May 24 Sun 10 a.m. - Noon
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6
Echo Mountain Day Trip
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 May 9 Sat 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Activity Fee: $15

Leave it to Beavers!
All Ages
Have you ever wondered why Native Americans refer to the Beaver as the "Sacred Center" 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 Ave. SW and SW Brandon St.
Course 39649 May 23 Sat 10 a.m. - Noon
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6

Life and Times of Polliwog Pond
Co-sponsored with CoolMom
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 May 30 Sat 10 a.m. - Noon
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6
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 - 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 May 2 Sat 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Schmitz Park - 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 Alki Community Center on the corner of Stevens and 58th.  Please register by calling 206-684-7434.
Location: Schmitz Preserve, 5551 SW Admiral Way 
Course 39641 May 2 Sat 2 - 5 p.m.

Tot Treks and Tyke Hikes
Tot Treks
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.
Activity Fee: $7 per adult/child pair. $3.50 for each additional person

Playful Pond Exploration
Course 39660 May 5 Tue 10 - 11 a.m.

Wings and Things
Course 39662 May 19 Tue 10 - 11 a.m.

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
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
May 2     Sat          10 a.m.-1 p.m.


JUNE
Bug Exploration!
All Ages
Let's explore the bugs and slugs of Camp Long! Will we find a Satyr Anglewing, Spring Azure, Hover fly mimic, "Gold Bug," or Spotted Leopard slug? Join us in carefully collecting, observing, and learning more about the lives of these sluggers and 6-leggeds that account for four out of every five animals!  Please register by June 12. Instructor: Stewart Wechsler
Course 40561 June 13 Sat 2 - 4 p.m.
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6

Father's Day Mucking at Me-Kwa-Mooks
Ages 5 and older
Dads, you know your family loves seeing sea creatures when the tidal blankets are removed. Sea stars, moon snails, mossy chitons, oh my! We might see naked nudibranchs, clothed crabs, and armored chitons, and if we're lucky, maybe a little giant octopus. It is a -3.4 low tide; come early and have lunch at the beach. Participants must be able to walk on slippery rocks. Be sure to wear waterproof boots. Please register by June 19. Instructor: Gretchen Graber
Course 39639 June 21 Sun 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6


Camp Long Night Hike
Ages 5 and older
Come explore our trails at night! Owls and bats and moths, oh my! We will run a black light to attract nocturnal moths and other insects. This is a night adventure not to miss! Please register by June 12. Instructor: Stewart Wechsler
Course 40562 June 13 Sat 6 - 8 p.m.
Adult Fee $8, Child Fee $6

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 and 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.

Frink Park - FREE
All Ages
A small stretch of the Lake Washington Boulevard, Frink Park is one of the best living examples of how one individual's commitment can change a community and create a common bond. Ten years ago, a group of neighbors founded the Friends of Frink Park, and they have been influencing what this restoration looks like. Please register by calling 206-684-7434.
Location: Frink Park, 398 Lake Washington Blvd.
Course 41410 June 6 Sat 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Herring's House Park - FREE
All Ages
The former Seaboard Lumber site has morphed into an intertidal habitat at the oldest known Duwamish village site. Join us with binoculars to spot the osprey and eagle nests in the neighborhood. Then we will venture to the Duwamish longhouse to tour Where History Comes Alive. Meet at West Marginal Way SW and SW Alaska.  Please register by calling 206-684-7434.
Location: Herring's House Park
Course 39642 June 6 Sat 2 - 5 p.m.

Tot Treks and Tyke Hikes
Tot Treks
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.
Activity Fee: $7 per adult/child pair. $3.50 for each additional person

Dashing Dragonflies
Course 39664 June 9 Tue 10 - 11 a.m.

Barnacles, Sea Stars, Crabs, Oh My!
Course 39621 June 23 Tue 10 - 11 a.m.

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
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
June 6    Sat          10 a.m.-1 p.m.

To register, please call 206-684-7434.