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News and Events
August 2024
The Dungeness River Nature Center's mission is to inspire understanding, respect,
and stewardship of our natural and cultural resources.
1943 West Hendrickson Road, Sequim, WA
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Powell Jones Farewell Celebration
Thank you to everyone who attended our July 1 celebration! Community members, volunteers, Board Members, family and friends gathered to thank former Executive Director Powell Jones for his 22 years of service at the Dungeness River Nature Center. His impact on the community will be appreciated for generations.
The Board presented Powell with a Seattle Mariners gift certificate and one of his favorite ceramic fish which had previously adorned the original River Center building.
We wish Powell great success in his new venture as Land Stewardship Manager for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe!
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More Nature Art for Kids!
Saturday, August 3
Friday, August 9
Thursday, August 22
Cedar Hat Classroom
1 – 2:30 p.m.
FREE
Thank you everyone who has attended our Nature Art for Kids programs this season! It's been a great success with lots of smiles, messy fingers and crafts to take home.
This August, we continue with even more programs! We invite kiddos ages 4 -11 (suggested ages) to join us for our Nature Art for Kids programs! With each session we teach a nature-themed lesson followed by a related craft activity. Supplies are provided and kids get to take home their beautiful creations. See you there!
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Win an eBike!
Now through August 23
Purchase Raffle Tickets
At River Center
$20 per ticket
Do you want to support the Dungeness River Nature Center and win an eBike? Come get your raffle tickets now!
This eBike prize is valued at $1,200! Tickets are $20 each and are available for purchase at the River Center front desk now through August 23rd.
The drawing for the eBike winner will be held during the Dungeness River Charity Golf Tournament on August 24 but you do not need to be present to win! All proceeds benefit River Center operations and educational programs.
For more information regarding the eBike and the Charity Golf Tournament, click the button below.
We really appreciate your support!
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Kids in Science:
Owl Pellet Exploration
Full
Friday, August 2
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Ages 7-12
$5 Registration Required
Do you know any owl lovers, curious minds and/or future scientists? Invite them to our Owl Pellet Exploration program!
What are owl pellets? Join us to find out! This fun new program will have a science focus as kids first learn about owls and then dissect their own owl pellet. Each participant will receive one owl pellet (siblings/friends can opt to share) and use tools to look for bones! We will recreate skeletons and hypothesize what prey animal the owl had eaten.
Disclaimer: These are real pellets, filled with real bones and hair!
They have been sanitized.
See you owl there!
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Forest Immersion
Friday, August 23
10 – 11:30 a.m.
$10 DRNC Members
$15 Non-members
Join instructor Connie for a guided forest bathing session to experience the natural world in new health-enhancing ways!
Studies have shown that slow, calming walks in the forest can produce amazing health benefits. Using all of your senses to experience a walk in the woods can result in a boost for the immune system, lower blood pressure and improvements in mood for those with depression.
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Eco-Brick Drop Off!
Anytime Before
Wednesday, August 7
Thank you to everyone who attended our eco-brick events! We were very impressed with how much plastic got transformed into bricks.
We will continue to collect finished eco-bricks at the River Center until Wednesday, August 7th! AmeriCorps Educator, Eden Voebel, will then donate the bricks to Bainbridge Island to be used in building projects.
This may be the last day to drop off at the Center, but building bricks can be a family fun project all year! We hope you feel inspired to continue this sustainable activity and create your own eco-brick projects at home.
Thank you so much for participating!
Eden and the eco-bricks were featured in the Sequim Gazette!
To check out the article CLICK HERE
To learn more about eco-bricks, click the button below.
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Wildflower Walks in the
Upper Dungeness: Deer Park
FINAL WALKS OF THE SUMMER!
Choose one of these days:
Wednesday or Thursday, August 21 or 22
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
$30 DRNC Members
$40 per non-member
For this final month of summer, wildflower experts John Bridge and Montana Napier are offering two hikes where you’ll learn to identify different species, look closely into nature, and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of our incredible backyard.
Exploring Deer Park in the Olympic National Park, participants will witness how plant communities have transformed from earlier in the season.
You must register to attend.
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6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament!
Saturday, August 24
9:15 a.m. Shotgun Start
The Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course
$100 Per Person
Includes green fees, cart,
range balls, lunch and prizes!
Join us for the 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 24 at the Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course! All proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit the Dungeness River Nature Center and go towards our operation expenses and growing education programs.
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Western Sandpiper juvenile (left) and Least Sandpiper juvenile (right) by Bob Boekelheide. | |
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OPAS Dungeness Bay: Shorebirds, Gulls, and Water Birds Field Trip
Tuesday, August 27
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meet at Three Crabs WDFW Parking Lot
FREE (Registration Required)
Join OPAS field trip leader, Bob Boekelheide at 3 Crabs and Dungeness Landing Park to look for shorebirds, water birds, and gulls that use the mudflats and estuary near the mouth of the Dungeness River.
We ask field trip participants to sign a liability release form on or before the day of the trip. This signed form will be good for future field trips. You can review, download, and print the form in advance by visiting the Field Trips page on the OPAS website or clicking here. You can also eSign the liability release form by clicking here.
Note: If you register for a field trip, please plan to attend. If you cannot attend, please notify the field trip leader ASAP when you know you will not be there. There are people on the wait list who want to take your place.
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Volunteer Training Days!
"Volunteering in the Exhibit Hall is my favorite thing!
I get to work with kids and the public
and share our beautiful area with them!"
- Connie Warner
Volunteer 101 Workshop
Monday, August 26
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Volunteer 102/103 Workshop
Tuesday, August 27
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
FREE
You don't need to be a nature expert to
volunteer in the Exhibit Hall!
As long as you love talking about nature and enjoy supporting your community, we'd love for you to join our team and become a River Center volunteer!
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Dungeness Bay shorebirds with Mt Baker by Bob Boekelheide. | |
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Birdwatching Tips
By Bob Boekelheide
August is shorebird month in Dungeness Bay, so head down to the bay with your binoculars and spotting scopes.
The best shorebird viewing spots in Dungeness Bay are Three Crabs, Dungeness Landing County Park, and walking out Dungeness Spit. The best tides at Three Crabs and Dungeness Landing are either incoming or outgoing tides between 1 to 5 feet, ideally with shorebirds feeding as close as possible. You want to be at Three Crabs first thing in the morning, when the rising sun lights up shorebirds on the mudflats. At Dungeness Landing the best light is often in the afternoon. Walk Dungeness Spit on calm, overcast days, looking for feeding shorebirds at low tide and roosting shorebirds at high tide.
Shorebird viewing is very different from songbird viewing. Shorebirding usually requires a spotting scope to search birds from long distances, particularly in Dungeness Bay. It requires patience, waiting for birds to come into view as they work the edges of mudflats and ponds. Their identification requires close viewing of subtle field marks, a skill that improves your ability to identify all birds.
By August, most shorebirds visiting Dungeness Bay are juveniles, recently fledged from Arctic or inland nesting areas. Possible species range from tiny Least Sandpipers to big Long-billed Curlews. Even though some are only a couple months old, they may have flown one to two thousand miles to get here. Their feathers are brand-spanking new, perfectly aligned with beautiful shades of browns, grays, blacks, whites, and reds.
See you at the Bay!
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Hurricane Coffee at the River
August Hours
Now Open on Mondays!
(Starting August 5)
Open 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday – Saturday
Cookies, pastries, coffee cake
Check out our refreshing summer drinks:
Sparkling Lavender Lemonade and Blackberry Arnold Palmer
Espresso drinks with or without flavors, Macha and Chai tea lattes,
London Fogs, hot tea, cold drinks
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The River Center is open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays noon - 5 p.m.
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Questions? Call the River Center at 360-681-4076
https://dungenessrivercenter.org
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