Eco-Net Meet-up: Downtown Butt Pick Up with Surfrider
Eco-Net Meet-up: Downtown Butt Pick Up with Surfrider
September 9, 202610:00 am - 12:00 pm WET Science Center
Join Eco-net and Surfrider for a downtown Olympia cigarette butt pickup. Spend an hour picking up toxic cigarette butts before they get washed into the beautiful Puget Sound!
We will start at the WET science center where we will hear from Surfrider about the importance of this pick up along with other Eco-net updates!
We will pick up cigarette butts for an hour with a counter, picker, and bucket. Then we count and weigh what you collected and take a group picture.
Give back to one of our community’s special natural spaces! Join Thurston County Stream Team on Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Palermo Wetlands for our monthly Second Saturday Restoration event. Volunteers will work together to remove invasive plants, giving native species more room to thrive and supporting healthy habitat for birds, beavers, river otters, and other local wildlife. Bring your helping hands and enjoy some fresh air while making a meaningful difference for this beautiful wetland!
Take a walk through Olympia’s past while learning about the future of our local estuary! Join the Puget Sound Estuarium and Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) on Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. in downtown Olympia for a guided loop exploring the historic changes to Olympia’s shoreline. Along the way, learn about the geologic events that shaped the estuary, the Native tribes who have stewarded these lands, and how the shoreline evolved into the city we know today. You’ll also hear about plans to restore the Deschutes Estuary and discover why healthy estuaries are so important to our local ecosystem.
Don't miss the last restoration work party of the 2026 season at McLane Creek Nature Trail! Join Thurston County Stream Team and the Washington State University Extension Native Plant Salvage on Friday, September 18, from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Manage trailside vegetation while learning about our region’s native plants and the wildlife they support. Connect with fellow nature lovers and help care for one of Thurston County’s most beloved trails. This event is presented in partnership with the WA Department of Natural Resources.
See what comes to life beneath the pier after dark! Join the Puget Sound Estuarium on Saturday, September 19, from 7–9 p.m. for Pier Peer, an evening exploration of the fascinating creatures living below the surface. Underwater lights attract an array of estuary wildlife for safe observation, while trained biologists and volunteer Beach Naturalists help you identify and learn about what you discover. From octopuses and anemones to sea stars and sea slugs, you never know what might make an appearance!
Join Sarah Jaquette Ray, PhD, professor and chair of the Environmental Studies Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, author of "A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety," at TESC Olympia Campus on September 25th, from 6-7:30 PM in COM Recital Hall. Ray joins the college as the featured speaker for this year's Cal Anderson Lecture Event. Distilling wisdom from across many fields and traditions, from indigenous knowledge to neuroscience, Dr. Ray will offer an "existential toolkit" for the climate generation and anybody who worries about what the future holds.
- Friday, September 25: Cal Anderson Public Lecture at Evergreen State College - Event Location: COM 107 Recital Hall - Event Time: 6 – 7:30 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM) - Registration Required: Click here
The Nisqually Watershed community is excited to announce the 37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival taking place this fall at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, September 26th @ 10AM - 4PM!
