Cover photo courtesy of Bower Climbing Coalition
Free Outdoor Entertainment
- Upcoming fee-free days for Washington State Parks include March 9 (Billy Frank Junior’s birthday), March 19 (celebrate the 111th birthday of Washington State Parks!) and April 22 (Earth Day). A Discover Pass is not required for park entry on these dates.
- National Park Week will be held April 20-28, with April 20 additionally being a fee-free day at National Parks.
- Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will host Hiking 101 for beginners on March 23, followed by a strenuous full moon snowshoe trek to Star Peak on March 24.
Fundraisers & Events
- Spokane Nordic will close out the ski season with a long distance Loppet on March 3 followed by the popular BarkerBeiner skijor race on March 10. The Loppet includes distances of 20, 30 and 50k. The skijor race pairs skier and best friend(s), with one- and two-dog events and multiple distance options. The skijor races can also be a great spectator activity!
- Bower Climbing Coalition will be hosting the Reel Rock 17 film at the Washington Cracker Company Building in Spokane on March 5. The nonprofit will also host an Earth Day crag clean-up at Minnehaha on April 22. ( https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reel-rock-18-annual-fundraiser-for-the-bower-climbing-coalition-tickets-841483177837?aff=oddtdtcreator )
- Okanogan Highlands Alliance will be offering three Friday evening programs in their Highland Wonders series. Each event features a fundraiser dinner starting at 5:15 p.m. followed by a free presentation at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Cultural Center in Tonasket. Topics include Partnering with Beavers on March 8, Native Bees and Other Pollinators on March 29, and Common Loons on April 26.
- Screenings of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be held at the historic Panida Theatre in Sandpoint on March 22, with proceeds to benefit Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, and on April 25 at Spokane’s Garland Theater, presented by Spokane Riverkeeper.
Conservation, Stewardship & Volunteer Opportunities
- The American Hiking Society offers Volunteer Vacation stewardship opportunities across the country. Join a local crew at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, April 14-20, or at Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge, April 21-27.
- Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative will be hosting an Earth Day weekend volunteer trail maintenance project in Hells Canyon, April 19-22. HCRC projects are typically jetboat-supported and may work on either the Idaho or Oregon side of the Snake River. Additional trips will be offered throughout the season, so be sure to sign up for the email list if interested in helping trails within the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
- Washington Trails Association will be transitioning from snowshoe projects in early March to annual maintenance projects in Spokane County Parks in April. The first Backcountry Response Team trip is scheduled at Indian Creek Community Forest, April 26-28. As a front-country location, this is an excellent introduction to multi-day trail work trips!
- Several other stewardship organizations have spring schedules that will go live in early March, with projects that will fill quickly! Be sure to check websites for Idaho Trail Association, Wild Montana, Pacific Northwest Trail Association, Wallowa Mountains-Hells Canyon Trails Association, and the Blues Crew for additional spring stewardship opportunities. //
