As part of the Explora Budd event series—funded through the Inspire Olympia grant for Science, Culture, and the Arts—the Pacific Education Institute (PEI) invited families to gather at Shelter 4
in Squaxin Park on October 4.
This second installment featured an interpretive bird and marine life walk led by the South Sound Bird Alliance (SSBA). Participants followed the trail from the park down to Budd Inlet beach, where experts from the Pacific Shellfish Institute and SSBA shared insights into local bird species and marine creatures.
Nearly 40 participants, many of them first-time attendees, joined the activities. Families learned how to properly use binoculars and enjoyed spotting birds both in the forest and along the shoreline. After the walk, children and adults took part in a colorful scavenger hunt on their way to additional learning stations. Those who completed the challenge earned a fun prize provided by PEI!
Back at Shelter 4, participants explored a variety of hands-on science and art activities. At PEI’s learning stations, families observed tree leaves under battery-free microscopes and created beautiful leaf art. Cameron Coronado from the City of Olympia demonstrated how pollutants travel through our environment using an “Enviroscope” watershed model—sparking curiosity and conversation about local water systems.
At the watershed map station, families located their neighborhoods and identified their watersheds, deepening their connection to local ecosystems. Nearby, creative educators Siri Nelson and Farra Hayes from LOTT led a fun art activity where children designed Budd Inlet creature bandanas and learned fascinating facts about the species they represented.
Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch of Colombian empanadas with savory sauce, fresh fruit, and cookies—perfect fuel for an active day of exploration and learning.
Volunteers and participants alike shared positive feedback. One SSBA volunteer noted, “Families were very involved in completing the activities with their children.” Another, who led the bird walk in Spanish, shared a laugh with the language interpreter as they discussed the unique local birds and even invented new names in Spanish for them!
Many families expressed interest in future events and signed up to stay informed. PEI looks forward to connecting with all who joined us and to continuing our partnership with Inspire Olympia to bring more opportunities for science, culture, and art to our community.
