Learning about the wonder of the watershed at River Fest

Community members and more than 600 schoolchildren traveled to the annual Dungeness River Festival on Sept. 26 to learn about the Dungeness Watershed.

Organizers with the Dungeness River Nature Center said 23 educational booths from community agencies and groups shared educational activities and information focused on water conservation, life in the watershed, and more.

Students from Helen Haller Elementary School, Five Acre School, and other home-school and private school students made the event a field trip. The center had more than 25 volunteers, and the booths and schools had countless volunteers turn out for the event.

Railroad Bridge Park, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road in Sequim, is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, and the Dungeness River Nature Center is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit dungenessrivercenter.org.

Cathy Lear, a volunteer with the Clallam County League of Women Voters, speaks with third graders, from left, Romina Gonzalez-Tapia, Allison Washburn, and Maci Dailey about ways they can conserve water during the Dungeness River Festival.

Fifth graders Chloe Corral and Marley Dockery greet Snickers the miniature horse during a visit with the Back Country Horsemen of Washington Peninsula Chapter.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Vera Eksteen and Jane Woolf, third graders at Helen Haller Elementary School, pet an albino skunk at the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s booth on Sept. 26 at the Dungeness River Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Gunner Giddings and Jillian Merrigan and fellow fifth graders climb inside Fin the Migrating Salmon courtesy of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition. The salmon model with a watershed-themed mural inside was a popular attraction at the Dungeness River Festival.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Students do a search for various animals, including an elk, on a Tim Quinn mural on the side of the Dungeness River Nature Center with help from Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society volunteer Bob Boekelheide.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Ella Holland greets Jazzy the dog and owners Liz and Norm Bernahl on the Dungeness River Railroad Bridge.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Parent-volunteer Sam Touchie, on left, with Helen Haller Elementary students Sadie Touchie, Lucas Stout, and Peyton Winter greet Sarah Bones, director of Five Acre School, at the school’s booth during the Dungeness River Festival to learn about composting, the watershed, and more.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pam Foss and Donna Criscione visit various booths at the Dungeness River Festival, including the Clallam County Noxious Weed Board’s booth. It was their first time visiting the festival, they said. “It’s good to see all these kids here,” Foss said.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Five Acre School’s Soundwaves Marimba Band plays during the Dungeness River Festival. The students will play various events through the school year, including a winter concert.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Third graders Sierra Simonsen, Cindy Li, and Emma Muck make salmon hats courtesy of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Fifth graders Olivia Wright and Aurora Pace pet Jack the horse with the Back Country Horsemen of Washington Peninsula Chapter.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Third graders Jazzy Haabala and Ezekiel Hicks inspect some animal horns brought by the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s staff and volunteers.