May/Jun 2026
Recent Event Recaps
Many of you have asked for the content from our April 2 event with Lands Commissioner Upthegrove introducing the UW Bothell student projects. In addition to the videos below, here is also a link to the full presentation and a wonderful article from UW Bothell featuring the partnership with Hooven Forest.
Our inaugural outdoor education field trip on April 28 was a huge success! Wellington Elementary 3rd graders joined us to experience and better understand the differences between structurally complex legacy forests like Hooven Forest and tree farms like Crystal Lake, and why we need both! The students also learned about native and invasive plants and animals, why it matters and what to do about it, as well as how to listen for and understand different kinds of birdsongs and what they mean. The students also helped plant new trees in Crystal Lake’s tree farm. Several parent chaperones noted this third-grade class has never felt this engaged and well-regulated on past field trips, and everyone - adults and children alike - enjoyed getting outside and into the wild!
Thank you to the Crystal Lake community and Tree Farm Advisory Committee for hosting us and guiding the tree planting and Alexia from Hawthorne Farm for opening the students’ eyes and ears and minds to the beauty of birdsong in Hooven Forest (see below for your chance to experience this firsthand!). See more photos here.
Upcoming events
Saturday, May 23 at 10 AM - Public Bird Walk with Alexia
Listen for what the birds are saying, maybe see some fledglings, and contemplate the travels of the migrating birds setting up nests. A rufous hummingbird weighs as much as a dime (remember those?) and flies thousands of miles to drink from our salmonberry bushes! Bring binoculars if you have them, but mostly we will listen in on the sounds of the forest. Join us on Saturday May 23 at 10 am, starting at the north end of 170th Ave (map). For more information please email hawthornhealstheheart@gmail.com.
Sundays at 5pm - Weekly Meditation
Welcome to spring! Meditation sessions in the forest will resume from 5pm to 5:40pm every Sunday. Location: Enter from the South Side entrance at 166th Ave NE / 85th Ave SE (map) and walk a few minutes in and you will see an open tree grove. Contact Ana at ae1031@hotmail.com or 425-236-4383.
May/June - Book Club
The Friends of Hooven Forest Book Club will next be reading Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and meeting at Barnes and Noble. This book delves into how exposure to nature (or lack thereof) shapes not only children but society. Email info@hoovenforest.org if you are interested in joining.
Friends of Hooven Forest Joins CASC
Friends of Hooven Forest has joined the Climate Alliance of Snohomish County as a member organization. The Climate Alliance of Snohomish County (CASC) is a coalition of nonprofits, faith groups, and individuals representing thousands of members, working together to address climate change in our sector of Washington State. The Alliance works collaboratively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and protect our environment. We accomplish this by collectively advocating for policies and laws that fight climate change and which create a climate-safe future for Snohomish County.
