The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Spring Fundraising Breakfast is a great way to support and learn about an environmental nonprofit that’s working to care for the beautiful natural areas that surround us. Join us before or after the main event (which runs from 9-11 a.m.) for a fun opportunity to connect with our mission in action and get to know some of our incredible staff members who carry out this important work each day. We are also offering a hands-on educational experience for youth during the main event.
Please be sure to RSVP for the main event (here) AND for your desired activity (below).
A (Bird) Walk in the Park
8-9 a.m.
Join Executive Director Jon Hoekstra for a pre-breakfast walk through some of the park’s best birding spots, where you’ll learn about life on the wing by observing birds’ plumage, behavior, and songs. Geared for experienced and first-time birdwatchers alike, this activity is a great opportunity to appreciate our animal neighbors and enjoy the music that makes mornings in nature so special. Binoculars are nice to have, but not required!
Outdoor Classroom Experience
10-11 a.m.
Designed for children of guests during the main program
While you enjoy learning about the Greenway Trust’s impact from our speakers, your child(ren) can explore Lake Sammamish State Park with the help of Greenway Educators. We’ll go for a short hike (1/2 mile or less) and learn about the natural world through a game about predator/prey relationships and adaptations, a plant ID scavenger hunt, and an art project. Activities will be adjusted to match the group’s size and age range. (Please note: Children 7 years and younger will need to be accompanied by a parent.)
This is a fantastic way to share the love of the Greenway with your children and to celebrate Kids to Parks Day — a national day of outdoor play that promotes discovery and exploration in the great outdoors.
Native Plant Nursery Experience
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Great for families!
Get your (gloved) hands dirty in our plant nursery and take part in growing the healthy, climate-resilient forests that support people and wildlife in our region. You’ll help us care for young trees and shrubs as they await their final homes in urban forests, parks, and open spaces throughout the Greenway NHA landscape. Spring in the nursery brings tasks like potting yearling trees and protecting plants by removing weeds from inside their pots. This is a great opportunity for kids to see the role – and fun! – they can have in caring for nature. (Please note: Youth 13 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.)
Lake Sammamish Kayak Tour
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Join Greenway staff out on the water to learn about the ecology of Lake Sammamish and how the Greenway Trust has improved wetlands surrounding the lake and riparian habitat in nearby Issaquah Creek, which empties into the lake and provides shelter for multiple species of salmon.
This will be a ticketed activity. If you’re interested in joining, please contact Robyn Hall at robyn.hall@mtsgreenway.org to receive registration info as soon as it becomes available.
Issaquah Creek Restoration Tour
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Join Dan Hintz, Urban Forest Supervisor for the City of Issaquah, to hear how the Greenway Trust and Washington State Parks have worked together to improve salmon habitat within Lake Sammamish State Park. You’ll see the results of over 15 years of restoration efforts during a 2-mile walk along Issaquah Creek, and learn why native trees and vegetation are so critical to improving water quality and wildlife habitat. We will also share more about our upcoming plans to restore instream habitat with large woody material.
Teneriffe Falls Trail Hike
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hike through past and present Greenway trail-building history with Mike Stenger, Recreation Projects Manager and Katy Yeh, Field Programs Administrator as your guides. You’ll be rewarded with a deeper understanding of sustainable trail design and spectacular waterfall views!
In 2017, the Greenway Trust and Department of Natural Resources built this trail to replace a popular boot path that was damaging the fish-bearing creek below. You’ll learn how the new design and construction has made the route safer for people and wildlife alike, and see the progress of additional improvements we’re making to the trail in 2023.
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 5.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1,585 ft
Middle Fork Valley Conservation Tour
12-4 p.m.
Explore the Greenway Trust’s conservation success stories in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley and learn how we’re balancing the valley’s healthy natural ecosystems with opportunities to safely explore this incredible wilderness.