Olympia Parks & Recreation Fall 2025
Tranquil Old Growth Forest Walks in Squaxin Park
Explore 2 miles of trails at a comfortable pace under the canopy of a living forest that is a thriving ecosystem, a network of soil fungi, called the "Wood Wide Web." Marvel at the discovery that trees are social, they communicate and nurture each other. Listen to a tree sing using my device that converts the tree's electric signals into notes.
Sun Nov 2nd Registration
Practicing Eco-Consciousness: Inspiration from Artists, Musicians and Dancers Collaborating with Nature
Join a hopeful and inspiring introduction looking through a lens where our glorious planet takes center stage. Artists, musicians, and dancers have integrated the natural world and their deep gratitude for all living beings, including trees, in their creations. Living eco-consciously is about reframing what it means to connect with nature by asking questions like "Why don't rivers and forests have legal rights?"
Wed Jan 14th 6 pm - 7:30 pm at Olympia Center $15 Registration link coming soon!
Olympia Parks & Recreation Winter 2026
Can you Hear the Trees Talking? Listening to the Wisdom of Old Growth Forests
Walk surrounded by legacy and old growth trees in Squaxin Park only 2 minutes north of downtown Olympia, WA. After a welcome to the land and guided meditation, we'll stroll in silence, and tune into the sights and sounds of towering 100 to 500 year-old trees. Explore 2 miles of trails at a comfortable pace under the canopy of a living forest that is a thriving ecosystem, a network of soil fungi, called the "Wood Wide Web."
Awaken to the practice of healing in nature, Shinrin-yoku or "Forest Bathing." Feel revitalized, connected, and centered after a short meditation. Marvel at the discovery that trees are social, they communicate and nurture each other. Listen to a tree sing using my device that converts the tree's electric signals into notes.
FOUR DATES: Thurs Jan 1st, Sat Jan 24th, Sat Feb 14th, Thurs March 19th
10-11:30 pm at Squaxin Park $20 Registration link coming soon!
PAST TREE
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Indigeous Peoples' Day Celebration
Monday, Oct 13, 2025
In Squaxin Park Shelter #4 11:30-1:10
Join the Squaxin Island Tribe and the City of Olympia to celebrate Indigenous culture, history, and communities. The event will be held at Squaxin Park Shelter #4, 2600 East Bay Drive NE. Attendees can look forward to cultural performances, speakers, educational activities, and food. Families are welcome.
THANK YOU TREE HUGGERS FOR A JOYOUS HUG TOGETHER
Olympia Tree Hugging Fest 2025
Sat Oct 4th 12-2 pm Sylvester Park downtown Olympia
Come celebrate our magical PNW trees at the 2025 Tree Hugging Fest! Listen to trees communicate through song--and change their tune when you hug them! Connect with yogis, storytellers, poets, and dancers as we come together in our tree-loving community! (Bring your yoga mat or blanket).
12-2 Bird-nest building: Come see childrens' multimedia nest art and build a nest yourself!… Ancient Futures Pre-school.
12-1 Vibrational Yoga to Songs of Trees, Kevin Mattison (Bring your yoga mat or blanket).
1-1:30 Tree stories: Listen to the words of poets & storytellers sharing heartfelt stories about trees and nature (Debe Edden, Beth Lembach, Tobey Ishii Anderson, Sandra Niman, Bowen Lee).
1:30-2 Dancing to the Music of Trees: Flow to the movement of inspirational dancers as they improvise to the music of the trees (Barefoot Collective, RADCO, Lauren Thompson, Community Dance and Tree Hug)
Poster
Talk on Eco-Consciousness: Healing in Nature
Slow down and reconnect with your inner being as you experience the concept of ’tree time' while being indoors together.
Wed Sept 24th 6 pm - 7:30 pm at Olympia Center
Mother Trees Singing in Squaxin Park
April 16 5:30 - 7 pm $19 Register with Parks & Rec
April 4th 5:30-7 pm $19 Register with Parks and Rec
Walk in a rare undisturbed old growth forest. Land welcoming, guided meditation and a special way to hear the trees sing! You will learn about how trees communicate and nurture each other, how they are protecting us from carbon pollution, what tree activists around the world are doing for them, and why they are at risk right now. Feel revitalized, connected and centered as you leave.
Heartsparkle Players For the Love of Trees Fundraiser
Saturday, Feb 8th 7-8:30 pm at Traditions in downtown Olympia
Come to an evening of creativity and laughter with Olympia's own Playback Theatre Ensemble, Heartsparkle Players. We welcome stories on the theme "For the Love of Trees". Fundraiser for the next Dance to the Music of the Forest hosted by Thurston Friends of Trees, an action group of REConnect working to protect trees in Thurston County.
Successsul Fundraiser! Thank you to our tree loveing community!
"Practicing Eco-Consciousness: Inspiration From Nature"
To be rescheduled in 2025
Living eco-consciously is about re-framing what it means to connect with nature by flipping the dialog and asking questions like, "Why don’t rivers and forests have rights? and How can we look at nature from a plant’s view?" We'll explore together what Michael Pollan refers to as a cure for our self-importance in the realization that consciousness doesn’t set us apart. $10 donation
Dupont Walk & Talk
Sunday Dec 29th 11-12:30
Meet at Dupont's City Hall Parking Lot Walk the Sequaoitchew Trail - and easy unpaved trail for all ages. We'll listen to trees and learn about the historical and environmental significance along the trail with Michelle Ryder.
HUGE SUCCESS!
1st Olympia Tree Hugging Competition Sept 29, 2024
KING5 TV Evening segment highlighted the festivities. Aired October 7, 2024
In 2025 we hope to expand to become the N American Tree Hugging Competition and dovetail with Fall Arts or Procession of the Species. Stay tuned for details.
Dance to the Music of the Forest Aug 2024
Community Thank You
Our 1st outdoor Dance in Squaxin Park was a huge success. The Maple and Cedar trees sang while the dancers and the community celebrated together. The rain and lightening even held off until minutes before the show ended.
My hope is we take this event around W WA to raise awareness to protect our precious PNW forests with outdoor entertainment. Contact me if you'd like to invite me and the dancers to your community!
Take Action in Community & Thrive Together
Join Thurston Friends of Trees in Olympia by emailing Lynn@fitz-hugh.com
January 10 2024 The Olympian Letter to the Editor that I wrote entitled, "THERE IS NO PLANET B"