Spring is a time of renewal and participants in the Dungeness River Audubon Center’s activity-based month-long fundraiser, formerly called ‘Dungeness Spring Fling,’ are gearing up to put their increased energy to good use.
“Changing the name from ‘Dungeness Spring Fling’ to ‘River Center Rally’ doesn’t change our objective,” board member Julie Jackson said.
Since 2009, participants have raised more than $108,000 to support the center’s educational programs and maintain Railroad Bridge Park at 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.
The essence is to have fun while raising funds, Jackson said, and participants do that by getting sponsors for their favorite hobbies. In 2013, they hiked, biked, birded, sanded driftwood, gardened, swam, pulled Scotch broom and danced their way through May while raising over $28,000 for the center and park.
The Outdoor Fanatics start the fun this year at 7 p.m., April 23, at the river center, where river center Executive Director Powell Jones demonstrates the heights and depths of his passion for biking.
“I bike for my heart, soul and sanity,” Jones said as he described the extreme measures he takes to keep his hobby in balance with his busy life.Columbia Bank of Sequim is sponsoring these “shows” by obsessed hobbyists, who characterize themselves as “outdoor fanatics.”
The four-part series also includes birding (with Denny Van Horn, April 30), hiking (with John Bridge, May 7), and driftwood sculpting (with Tuttie Peetz, May 14). Each of the Wednesday evening presentations will start at 7 p.m. at the river center. Admission is by donation to support the center and park through the River Center Rally.
“Our goal is to raise at least $30,000 and we’re pleased that the River Center’s participation in GiveBIG, The Seattle Foundation’s one-day, online charitable giving event, will give our donors an opportunity to stretch their support,” Jackson said.
Each donation made between midnight and midnight on May 6, will receive a prorated portion of the matching funds (or “stretch” pool) from The Seattle Foundation. (The Seattle Foundation will “stretch” all donations up to $5,000 per donor, per organization.)
To donate on May 6, go to www.seattlefoundation.org, find Dungeness River Audubon Center, and donate.
Have a ‘Walk’ and ‘Romp’
River Center supporters are invited to celebrate the accomplishments of the River Center Rally by taking part in the Rally Fun Walk from Blyn to Railroad Bridge Park and the River Center Romp on Saturday, June 14.
The 10.1-mile walk on the Olympic Discovery Trail starts from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center at 10:30 a.m. and ends at the River Center. Participants may walk, bike or run a segment of the route or do the entire length. Following the walk, awards are presented and root beer floats are served from 3-5 p.m.
The Dungeness River Audubon Center in Railroad Bridge Park operates in partnership with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and it is a leader in outdoor classroom learning focused on nature. Its mission is to inspire understanding, enjoyment and stewardship of the Olympic Peninsula’s unique natural and cultural resources with emphasis on birds, rivers, fish and people.
Learn more about the Dungeness River Audubon Center programs and the River Center Rally at www.dungenessrivercenter.org and Facebook or visit the center and park at 2051 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim.
The center is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. Call 681-4076.
