By Sarah Brown
NSEA Environmental Stewardship Coordinator

This summer, we are excited to continue partnering with the US Forest Service to provide one of our most popular community outreach programs, the Nooksack River Stewards. What began as a monitoring program in 2005 has evolved into community-focused initiative that educates and engages Whatcom County residents and visitors on the significance of salmon and the impacts that we humans have on their habitat as we play in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.  We have a summer full of fun, free, and educational family-friendly events planned for you to engage in along the North Fork of the Nooksack River between July and September!

If you are looking for a short hike with beautiful scenery and the sounds and sights of the Nooksack River, join our naturalists for a Guided River Walk at Horseshoe Bend Trailhead. This is a one-hour, half-mile interpretive experience including highlights of everything from the salmon lifecycle to key habitat components and ends with a hands-on look at water quality on a picturesque gravel bar.  This is a perfect event for young and old alike. This trail is so attractive and charming your family won’t even realize they are engaging in science.

For those of you that miss the spirit and camaraderie of Community Work Parties once spring planting season ends, don’t worry! We will have two chances to join our restoration efforts before this fall. Do you know what spotted jewelweed looks like? Learn why invasive vegetation pose a problem to our local salmon populations and how to identify this high priority invasive while removing it from forest lands. Due to limited parking, registration will be required at www.n-sea.org/nooksack-river-stewards.

One surefire way to create family memories is sitting by a campfire and roasting marshmallows. NSEA embraces this fun tradition by hosting Campfire Stories! Meet us at Chair 9 Restaurant & Bar or the Douglas Fir Campground Picnic Shelter to join in on the memory making. If you are more of a morning person, there are a few times that we will be at the Wake ‘n Bakery this summer for Salmon Sundays with the same salmon-themed fun. Memories included.

We look forward to every summer in the forest, especially pink years. Odd numbered years, that is. Nooksack River pink salmon, which spawn every two years, will be returning this summer to spawn the next generation. This gives us a unique opportunity to not only talk about salmon but also to show you the magic of salmon that we are working so hard to protect. A full schedule of summer programming is available on our website and you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay updated on where we are each weekend. If you want more information or have questions, contact Sarah at sbrown@n-sea.org or call 360-312-3235.