Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day, an opportunity to consider our relationship to the planet that sustains us and to find ways to love the land where we live. There is plenty we can each do to celebrate and contribute to a more sustainable planet right here in Jefferson County.
Locally, a range of organizations and community events throughout April are highlighting ways to learn and engage with care for the Earth. You can find a list of some of those events below. In addition, Jefferson Community Foundation is home to two community-advised funds that address local environmental issues: Olympic Climate Fund and the Quimper Parks and Trees Foundation Fund.
The mission of the Olympic Climate Fund (OCF) is to raise and grant money to local organizations that increase our community’s resilience in the face of climate change and reduce our local climate impact. Formerly named Olympic Carbon Fund, all funds donated to OCF will be granted out to support Local Food System Resilience, Forest and Tree Resilience, Energy Conservation, and Renewable Energy. The Climate Fund is in the process of building a fund advisory committee that can help oversee and implement the fundraising and grantmaking strategies and processes. They are specifically looking for people that can help select the projects that best meet the decision criteria, develop and implement fundraising approaches for locals and visitors, and help build long term capacity for the fund. Donate to the OCF here: Donate to a Cause | Jefferson Community Foundation
QUIMPER PARKS & TREES FOUNDATION
More Good Trees in Good Places
The Quimper Parks and Trees Foundation (QPTF) raises and grants money to local organizations that preserve, enhance and restore tree canopy in parks, schools and communities across the Quimper Peninsula. They work in collaboration with city and county parks departments, school districts and other nonprofit organizations focused on trees, urban and community forests and expanding neighborhood tree canopy. QPTF is focused on parks, public spaces and communities where people live and work and where expanding tree canopy is desirable. QPTF also seeks opportunities to collaborate with larger organizations where our missions overlap. Donate here: Donate to a Cause | Jefferson Community Foundation
Here are some local Earth Day events:
- Port Townsend Clean Up: The Port Townsend Main Street Program encourages volunteers to help tidy downtown, plant new shrubs, and clean planters in the historic district.
- Quilcene Nature Walks: Throughout April, the Jefferson Land Trust offers free family-friendly, land-based learning excursions and spring nature walks in Quilcene.
- Earth Day Revival Festival: The Quilcene Lantern hosts a festival weekend, offering an Earth Day celebration in the Tarboo Creek Watershed with opportunities for camping.
- Free Tree Program: The Jefferson County Library partners with Neighborhood Forest to provide free trees for kids. Register by March 15th to pick up a tree during Earth Week (April 22).
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State Park Free Day: Washington State Parks offers a free day on April 22, 2026, meaning no Discover Pass is required for access to local state parks.
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Finnriver Earth Month: In Partnership with Local 20/20, Finnriver invites community on Earth Day and throughout the month to gather in celebration of the Earth: learn from local organizations, listen to inspiring speakers, play games, make art, and more.
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As astronauts circle the moon and we receive, once again, those images of our remarkably living planet from space, we can take inspiration and take action to ensure vibrant, diverse, complex life on Earth continues to flourish!
