Outdoor Families - Events & Activities Calendar
Find outdoor activities and events for kids and families hosted by WTA's non-profit partners.
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National Trails Day at WTA
June 1 - WTA work parties throughout the state
We celebrate trails every day at WTA. But on June 1, as part of National Trails Day, we join thousands of other volunteers across the country to give back to the trails we love to hike. Come celebrate on one of these work parties.
- Ape Cave View Trail - SW Washington
- Beckler Peak - Highway 2
- Liberty Lake - Spokane area
- Pratt River - North Bend area
- West Boundary Trail - Mount Rainier
- South Fork Skokomish - Olympics
> Sign up for these and other work parties
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Fee Free Days on Public Lands
June 1 - National Trails Day (Washington State Parks*)
June 8 - National Get Outdoors Day (Washington State Parks*, US Forest Service**)
June 9 - WDFW Free Fishing weekend (Washington State Parks*)
* No Discover Pass needed on this day.
** No Northwest Forest Pass (or equivalent) needed on this day.
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National Get Outdoors Day
June 8 - All day!
National Get Outdoors Day is a new annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun.
Participating partners will offer opportunities for American families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities. Prime goals of the day are reaching first-time visitors to public lands and reconnecting our youth to the great outdoors.
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Extreme Low Tide Critter Walk at Fay Bainbridge Park
July 21 - 9am - 11am (Bainbridge Island)
Join IslandWood naturalists, Bainbridge Island Beach Naturalists and Kitsap Beach Watchers for a beach combing morning to remember!
Hunt for sea stars, sea cucumbers, urchins and marine worms with friendly beach naturalists as your guides. We'll get a close-up look at critters and hidey holes rarely seen at this extremely low -2.9 tide! Participants will learn to use hand-lenses and colorful marine life field guides to enhance identification. Beach naturalists will model respectful techniques for interacting with beach wildlife as we practice being responsible beach stewards while having fun in the sun! All ages welcome. Free!
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Tiger Mountain Family Nature Walk - Mountains to Sound Greenway
June 9, 9:30-12:30pm (Issaquah)
Families are invited to explore plants and animals as they walk in a beautiful Pacific Northwest forest in the Mountains to Sound Greenway! Greenway educators will lead the hike and tailor activities to the group. The hike will be no longer than 1.5 miles. $5/person or $20/family
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Family Getaways at North Cascades Institute - North Cascades
Weekends July - Sept 
Enjoy the great outdoors with your family in the heart of North Cascades National Park and let North Cascades Institute handle all the details. Situated on the wooded shores of iconic Diablo Lake, the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center offers the comforts of home with its inviting lodges, cozy library, outdoor play spaces and lakeside dining hall. Adult tuition $235, Child tuition $165
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On-going Programs
- Hiking Family photo by Liv Nelson
Seward Park Audubon Center
Come on an adventure of reading and the outdoors! Introduce your child to nature with story time in our upstairs classroom. Explore the trails in Seward Park (Seattle) that are right outside our doors! Walks are easy and less than one mile in length. Tales & Trails-Little Tykes occurs regularly on Wednesdays and alternating Saturdays. Admission: $2/person.
Little Tykes (ages 0-3)
Wednesdays 10am-11am
Saturdays (every-other) 10am-11am
Preschoolers (ages 4-5)
Saturdays (every-other) 11am–12pm
Tacoma Nature Center
Explore this 70-acre wetland habitat in the heart of the city. Tread carefully and you might catch sight of a red fox, raccoon, great blue heron or other wildlife. Pick up a self-guiding booklet in the Visitor Center to help you learn about the natural and human history of the area while you explore along the two-mile path. Join in exciting nature programs for youth, adults or families.
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve
Explore and learn about the amazing wildlife in an Estuary with a public program offered by the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve. Monthly programs are offered to all ages: Mini-explorers, ages 3-5; Junior ecologists, ages 6-9; family programs and adult workshops.
Cedar River Watershed Institute
Plan to spend a couple hours or all day participating in a variety of programs for families. Join a workshop, field trip or festival to learn about native plants, birds, bats and so much more. Events costs range from free - $50. There is something interesting for every age.
Get Outside and Explore With Your Family with Washington Trails Association
Hiking is a fun, healthy way to explore Washington's wildlands. Plan your next family hike using the hiking guide or Hike Finder map features. To find Kid-Friendly hikes use the advance search in the hiking guide or select Kid-Friendly on the hike finder map.
Volunteer as a Family
Share with your children the benefits of volunteering. When you volunteer as a family you are fostering the sense of giving back. Join WTA on a trail maintenance work party to see what a passionate group of people can accomplish with a little Safety, Fun and Work.
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