Community Programs
Upcoming Events
We help adults and families enrich their forest experience by learning about plants and animals and their relationships with each other and the land. These hikes & programs are fun to do with friends or by yourself—you will usually meet some new people on each trek!
We offer regular hikes on weekdays, weekends, mornings, and evenings so that we can accommodate a wide range of schedules. Our community hikes are conducted in all seasons and are suitable for all ages. Additionally, we offer tailored forest excursions for seniors and for families each month. All hikes are led by either our Community Programs or Youth Education Coordinator, who crafts each hike with a carefully researched thematic focus in mind.
We also offer a variety of programs in our Forest Discovery Center, where we bring the outdoors in with a variety of talks, drop-in programs, and exhibits.
Naturalist Club
JOIN US FOR A FIVE-WEEK IMMERSIVE LEARNING SERIES ABOUT THE ANACORTES COMMUNITY FOREST LANDS!
When: April 8 - May 9, 2026
Where: Forest Discovery Center (404 Commercial Ave) and the ACFL
Priority Registation: Jan 15 | General Registration: Feb 15
Connect with fellow life-long learners, and complete projects that will deepen your connection to and curiosity about the natural world. All learners of any experience are welcome!
During the spring series:
Every Wednesday, Naturalist Club members will attend a skills-based class at the Forest Discovery Center (404 Commercial Ave), each focusing on a different aspect of Fidalgo Island and ACFL ecology. On Saturdays, we'll meet out in the ACFL itself and put those classroom skills to practice. Participants will explore their basic naturalist skills, learn to identify the common plants and animals of the ACFL, and investigate how the components of the ACFL are connected - to each other and to us!
Each class will spark curiosity about the incredible diversity and complexity of the ACFL ecosystems while aiming to inspire participants to become better observers of the outdoors. By the end of this course, participants will have added to their understanding of and deepened their connection to their world.
And beyond!
Once you've completed the spring series, you will join our Naturalist Club community! Although there is no pressure to continue to be involved, we host special Naturalist Club excursions and guest lectures throughout the year for both current and past participants of this program.
Although this program can accommodate learners of all ages, it is best suited for those 13 and older.
Session 1: Introduction to the ACFL:
Wednesday, April 8th,
6 pm - 8 pm @ the Forest Discovery Center
Session 2: Abiotic ACFL:
Wednesday, April 15th,
6 pm - 8 pm @ the Forest Discovery Center
Session 3: Plants, Fungi, and Lichens!:
Wednesday, April 22nd,
6 pm - 8 pm @ the Forest Discovery Center
Session 4: Charismatic Critters:
Wednesday, April 29th,
6 pm - 8 pm @ the Forest Discovery Center
Session 5: Stewarding our Future:
Wednesday, May 6th,
6 pm - 8 pm @ the Forest Discovery Center
2026 Naturalist Club Dates & Times
Field Trip 1: Naturalist Skills in the ACFL:
Saturday, April 11th,
10am - 1pm @ Heart Lake
Field Trip 2: Landscapes of Fidalgo Island:
Saturday, April 18th,
10am - 1pm @ Mt Erie
Field Trip 3: Trailside Botany:
Saturday, April 25th,
10am - 1pm @ Whistle Lake
Field Trip 4: Creepers, Crawlers, and Callers:
Saturday, May 2nd,
10am - 1pm @ Little Cranberry Lake
Field Trip 5: Community Science Practicum:
Saturday, May 9th,
10am - 1pm @ Little Cranberry Lake
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While we hope that you will make as many classes and field trips in the series as possible, we understand that 5 weeks is a big commitment. If you already anticipate missing 2 or more dates, please let us know so we can discuss alternatives.
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Friends of the ACFL members receive priority registration for this popular program. If you are not a member, join us!
Registration for the general public will open on Feb 15, 2026.
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This program, like all Friends of the ACFL programming, remains free and open to the public. However, if you would like to help us cover the cost of this program (or sponsor another classmate), please consider donating during checkout. Suggested donation: $70 per participant.
Community Presentations
We are happy to provide a short (30 - 60 minutes) presentation to your group. To inquire about an educator from Friends of the ACFL visiting your group, please reach out to our Community Programs Coordinator at ellie@friendsoftheacfl.org.
