Events
Nature Writing Workshop
Join us for a creative Nature Writing Class at Lake Sammamish State Park on January 25, 2025! In this immersive experience, you’ll unlock the secrets of vivid imagery and sensory exploration as you wander through the park's enchanting landscapes. Feel the crisp winter air and listen to the whispers of the trees, while observing the delicate patterns of frost that cloak the earth. Through creative prompts and guided exercises, you’ll learn to craft evocative descriptions that draw readers into nature’s mysteries. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just beginning your journey, this class will inspire you to express your unique perspective and deepen your connection with the natural world.
Lakeside Lectures: The History of Our Place
A Discussion of Issaquah's and the surrounding communities history and the development of Lake Sammamish State Park.
Join FLSSP and UWRP as we launch the 2025 Lakeside Lecture Series. This Feb 5th at Formula Brewing we will be hosting several wonderful speakers to explore the history of the surrounding community in a fun and engaging format. The speakers will be talking about a wide range of topics, including the growth and development of this community, as well as the concepts that led to the creation of Lake Sammamish State Parks and the open spaces of our community.
Speakers will include
-Rich Benson, the longest serving park manager for LSSP and keeper of the oral history of the park;
-Cristy Lake of Snoqualmie Valley History Museum;
-Isabel Smith, Senior Researcher of Racially Restrictive Covenants Program at the University of Washington;
-Paul Winterstein, Executive Director of Issaquah History Museum
Please join us at Formula Brewing on February 5th, 2025!
Learn more about our partner, Formula Brewing!
Restoration Event
FLSSP will be returning to our Tibbetts Creek site this February!
Join us as we plant more native species, grub out invasive blackberries, and sweat a little to care for our salmon-bearing streams!
Mermaid Lunalee Storytime
Something fishy is swimming our way and it's not salmon! Mermaid Lunalee is splashing her way to Lake Sammamish State Park to read her favorite books about some very important friends and share her adventures around our freshwater watershed! Join Mermaid Lunalee at the Meadow Shelter at Lake Sammamish State Park at 10am on March 1, 2025 for a mystical morning!
Lunalee is a mermaid taking up residence in our freshwater lakes, often found exploring different watersheds of Washington State and sharing her findings with friends in her community! Although she originated from the sea she is fascinated with the connections between land and sea, after all, all water is connected!
Restoration Event
FLSSP will be returning to our Tibbetts Creek site this February!
Join us as we plant more native species, grub out invasive blackberries, and sweat a little to care for our salmon-bearing streams!
Lakeside Lectures: Lake Sammamish State Park Restoration Open House
Join Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park, UWRP, State Parks, Mountain to Sounds Greenway, and other partners to learn more about the restoration work that is ongoing at Lake Sammamish State Park and nearby.
Partners will be tabling and available to answer questions before we launch into a discussion about the Issaquah Creek Project being led by Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust the summer of 2025 at Lake Sammamish State Park. After the presentation please join us for tours of the Issaquah Creek Project. More details to come.
We are looking forward to having you join us for a discussion of restoration at Lake Sammamish State Park!
Find Art While Walking
Join Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park as we learn how to find art while walking…even if you don’t think you’re an artist!
Led by local fiber artist and author Janice King, this easy walk will explore both natural and man-made elements for art images. You will see familiar things in new ways and make new discoveries that will increase your enjoyment of any nature walk.
Suitable for adults and children age 10 and older. No experience required; just bring your curiosity. Capture interesting visuals with your phone camera or a quick sketch (limited sketching supplies available). We won’t have time to finish any art, but a group show and share of inspirations at the walk’s end will help everyone see the range of artistic possibilities.
Walk leader Janice King is a fiber artist whose work focuses on the natural elements of the Pacific Northwest, especially our native trees. She is also author of the local guidebook Eastside Seattle Walks, which covers easy walking routes in each Eastside community that feature nature, history and public art.
Space is limited; reserve your spot now!
Painting in the Park
FLSSP is excited to welcome back local artist, Brandy Jahn, to lead a community springtime Paint in the Park event on May 17th from 10 - noon. Please join Brandy for a delightful morning of creativity, relaxation and good company at the Meadow Shelter at Lake Sammamish State Park. Brandy will be walking us through painting a gorgeous Lake Sammamish inspired scene.
Brandy started teaching PNW inspired paintings over 5 years ago. She has an easygoing personality to make everyone feel at ease, she cracks jokes and helps you fix anything you might not love about your painting.
No prior painting experience is required; just bring your enthusiasm and a desire to have some fun. We will provide all the necessary art supplies, including canvases, brushes and paints.
We can’t wait to see what you paint in the park this May!
Registration for this event opening soon.
Storm Relief Work Party
Help Lake Sammamish State Park recover from the recent wind storm. Vital infrastructure and trails suffered damage during the storm and we need your help to move storm debris from trails and other surfaces.
Please join FLSSP for a work party to assist park staff who are currently focused on safety issues throughout the park by removing storm debris from trails and other surfaces. We will be focusing our efforts on removing smaller debris and thin branches from trails and stacking any larger branches for park staff to remove at a later time. We will not be focused on removal of large trees or debris so no special skills will be required. A specific meetup location will be determined by need and we will email out all the details several days prior to the event.
Polar Plunge 2025
Make a splash at the Polar Plunge at Lake Sammamish State Park !
Polar Plunge returns on New Year’s Day 2025. Festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with registration, music, and merriment brought to you by Clown Garage on the shores of Sunset Beach. The crowd will “plunge” at noon.
The first 300 registered participants will receive a Polar Plunge SWAG bag, including a commemorative pin from local company Pins by Design..
Spectators are welcome to come out to cheer on the athletes as they take a dunk in the chilly waters of Lake Sammamish.
Schedule for the Plunge:
Registration and Plunge HQ opens 10:30
Costume Contest judging: 11:30
Plunge at 12:00
Please dress for the weather and bring water shoes and/or socks.
Visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at Lake Sammamish State Park.
Online registration is now closed. Please join us on January 1 and register onsite!
Glimpse of 2024 Polar Plunge Fun at Lake Sammamish State park
Storm Relief Work Party
Help Lake Sammamish State Park recover from the recent wind storm. Vital infrastructure and trails suffered damage during the storm and we need your help to move storm debris from trails and other surfaces.
Please join FLSSP for a work party to assist park staff who are currently focused on safety issues throughout the park by removing storm debris from trails and other surfaces. We will be focusing our efforts on removing smaller debris and thin branches from trails and stacking any larger branches for park staff to remove at a later time. We will not be focused on removal of large trees or debris so no special skills will be required. A specific meetup location will be determined by need and we will email out all the details several days prior to the event date of December 15th.
A Bid for Nature Online Auction
Celebrate the beauty of Lake Sammamish State Park by helping to care for it!
A decade ago, FLSSP emerged as a catalyst for positive change, aligning with the vision of State Parks to enhance visitors’ park experience. Through direct financial support of park improvement projects and conservation efforts, hosting community events, and fostering environmental education, we’ve made a collective tremendous impact on our community.
Join the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park (FLSSP) to celebrate and protect the stunning beauty of our park!
FLSSP has partnered with Washington State Parks for over a decade to enhance visitor experiences through community support. Your donations fuel vital conservation initiatives, park improvement projects, and engaging events that transform Lake Sammamish into a thriving haven for all.
Make a Difference! Your contribution directly impacts the preservation of this beloved space. Join us in our mission to safeguard its natural wonders for future generations!
November 2024 Restoration Event
FLSSP will be returning to our Tibbetts Creek site this October!
Join us as we plant more native species, grub out invasive blackberries, and sweat a little to care for our salmon-bearing streams!
Salmon Sleuths
Dust off your sleuthing skills because salmon watching season may not be over! While you may be watching the larger population of salmon entering Issaquah creek right now, a smaller population of Kokanee salmon migrate up Laughing Jacob Creek through Lake Sammamish State Park.
Queer Ghoulish Gathering
For LGBTQIA+ youth ages 16 to 22
Includes a hike/walk
Treasure hunt
Games
Creative costume contest
Fabooo..lous food and prizes
October 2024 Restoration Event
FLSSP will be returning to our Tibbetts Creek site this October!
Join us as we plant more native species, grub out invasive blackberries, and sweat a little to care for our salmon-bearing streams!
Salmon Days
It’s that time of year again!!
Come visit FLSSP at Salmon Days this weekend, October 5th and 6th. FLSSP will be hosting a table in the non-profit area near the Issaquah Fish Hatchery. Come by our booth to get your free native plant seeds for fall planting and say hi to our Board Members and staff who will be on hand to answer your questions and share updates about what we are doing at the park. Washington State Parks staff will be at the booth next to us. We would love to see you there!
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
FLSSP wants to thank all the volunteers who have contributed to one of our most successful years yet! Whether you are joining us in the morning to volunteer, you helped us put on a community event, you picked up litter with us, or you were one of the first volunteers to remove blackberry at our Tibbetts Creek Restoration site last year, we hope you will join us for lunch!
To say thank you, we invite all our volunteers to a Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on September 28th. After you enjoy a lovely lunch, FLSSP board members will be on hand to lead salmon and restoration tours to appreciate all the amazing volunteer work that has happened and the impact it has on our park and wildlife.
September 2024 Restoration Event
To celebrate National Public Lands Day and kick off our fall volunteer restoration events, FLSSP is planning a day full of fun for our volunteers! Join us in the morning to work on one of a few projects, old and new, at the park, and then stay for a Volunteer Appreciation Lunch and activities. Prizes for our
#keepyoureyeontherootball contest will be awarded!
Join us for volunteering, lunch and activities, or one or the other!
Volunteers will have the opportunity to help us with invasive species removal, landscaping improvements, and litter pickup. Our two work sites include:
Tibbetts Creek Restoration Area: help us continue to remove invasive species and protect our young native plants by installing protective caging. Participants who take part in grubbing out blackberry rootballs will have a chance to win a "day-of" prize in our #keepyoureyeontherootball contest!
Front Entrance Landscaping Improvements: help us replant the garden at the front entrance to the park, transforming it into a year-round sight to behold!
After volunteering, head over to the Meadow Shelter for lunch, courtesy of FLSSP and our partner, Tasty Z's! We will award prizes in our #keepyoureyeontherootball contest and offer short salmon and restoration tours afterwards. Learn more about the picnic and activities here
Camp S'more
We are excited to invite our community to Camp S’more, a Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park signature event. Camp S’more offers kids and their families a first-time camping experience under the stars at our local state park and showcases what our public lands have to offer.
Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park is thrilled to partner with our 2024 sponsors: Wolf Camp, Lakemont Town and Country Market, and Lake Sammamish State Park staff for this year’s incredible evening. Camp S’more will be a wonderful experience as we introduce first-time and inexperienced campers to what it is like to camp at a state park. This year’s event will take place at the Hans Jensen Group Camp, celebrating a traditional camping experience with a fire ring, camp stories and a chance to earn your Junior Ranger badge! Our campers will get to choose from activities like the Junior Ranger program offered by our park interpretative staff, an introduction to local wildlife with Woodland Park Zoo, and more.
To join us for this fun family night you simply need a tent and bedding. Leave the rest up to us as dinner options will be available for purchase and breakfast will be provided with registration. Hans Jensen Group Camp is not directly adjacent to the lake and is located across East Lake Sammamish Pkwy. It is a more rustic traditional camp location with a small kitchen shelter, camp fire ring and benches, and pit toilets.
Come outside for an evening of s’mores, camp stories and making memories with your family at Camp S’more 2024!
Plant ID Walk
Alright, let’s try this again!
Saturday, July 13th, 2024
Join City of Issaquah Urban Forest Supervisor and FLSSP board member Dan Hintz to learn about the native species used in restoration efforts at Lake Sammamish State Park. Participants will tour multiple FLSSP restoration sites along Tibbetts Creek and learn to identify the common native trees and shrubs used to restore riparian habitat. The hike will start at Tibbetts Beach and will follow established trails on level ground for approximately 1 mile round trip.
Acoustic Panel Art Installation Reception
Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park (FLSSP) invites you to join us in celebrating the installation of six custom art acoustic panels in the Meadow Shelter! Join us Monday, July 8th at 6pm at the Meadow Shelter for a reception to view these captivating and functional art pieces; light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP by Friday, July 5th.
Thanks to generous funding from the City of Issaquah Arts Commission, and in partnership with Washington State Parks, FLSSP sought artists to create custom artwork for functional panels that could address acoustic issues within the renovated Meadow Shelter. Bethany Fackrell and Austin Picinich, two celebrated local artists from East King County, were selected to create six pieces of art for this space. The artwork represents iconic wildlife that resides in the park, the heritage of Lake Sammamish, and the ability for our diverse communities to coexist with each other and with our natural environment. Bethany, a Snoqualmie Tribe member and Navy veteran, creates art in the Coast Salish Indigenous style; Austin, a local student and founder of the Save Our Salmon (SOS) Mural Series initiative, uses vibrant colors to spark joy. Both artists, inspired by the natural world around them, actively work to restore the threatened native Kokanee salmon population in Lake Sammamish.
Learn more about the Meadow Shelter, the artists, and this project here
Plant ID Walk
Saturday, June 15th, 2024
Join City of Issaquah Urban Forest Supervisor and FLSSP board member Dan Hintz to learn about the native species used in restoration efforts at Lake Sammamish State Park. Participants will tour multiple FLSSP restoration sites along Tibbetts Creek and learn to identify the common native trees and shrubs used to restore riparian habitat. The hike will start at Tibbetts Beach and will follow established trails on level ground for approximately 1 mile round trip.
Outdoors for All Grand Opening!
Please join us in welcoming our partner group Outdoors for All to Lake Sammamish State Park!
Join us for the Outdoors for All Lake Sammamish Grand Opening Party on June 15th, 12-3pm at Lake Sammamish State Park – Sunset Beach. Come and witness the inauguration of our newest location dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility on the Eastside. The afternoon will include a cycling parade, ribbon cutting ceremony, kayaking, live music, light refreshments, and a chance for us to connect with our new neighbors. In addition to hosting an exciting cycling parade, we will be attempting to set a new world record for the longest chain of 24 connected trikes! Help us celebrate this milestone and support our mission by working to make adaptive recreation accessible to all.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
June 2024 Restoration Event
FLSSP will be hosting our next restoration event on June 15th from 10 am – noon. We will continue work on the Tibbetts Creek site grubbing out blackberry, mulching, and weeding. You might even dig up an entry for our #KeepYourEyeOnTheRootBall contest! (Learn more here: Blackberry at Lake Sammamish State Park: Show Us Your “Heart” — Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park Website | Support, Enhance and Promote Lake Sammamish State Park (lakesammamishfriends.org))
Also, don’t forget to #KeepYourEyeOnTheRootBall when at a FLSSP event or working in the garden!
UWRP Presents: Watershed Talks: Coexisting with Carnivores
Delve into the realm of Urban Wildlife conservation efforts with a captivating presentation by Woodland
Park Zoo. Discover how their community science volunteer programs, such as the Seattle Urban
Carnivore Project and the Bat Activity Trends (BAT) program, are making a significant impact on
coexistence with our wildlife neighbors. Explore how you as a local resident can get involved and help
with Urban Wildlife protection.
Find Art While Walking
Join Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park as we learn how to find art while walking…even if you don’t think you’re an artist!
Led by local fiber artist and author Janice King, this easy walk will explore both natural and man-made elements for art images. You will see familiar things in new ways and make new discoveries that will increase your enjoyment of any nature walk.
Suitable for adults and children age 10 and older. No experience required; just bring your curiosity. Capture interesting visuals with your phone camera or a quick sketch (limited sketching supplies available). We won’t have time to finish any art, but a group show and share of inspirations at the walk’s end will help everyone see the range of artistic possibilities.
Walk leader Janice King is a fiber artist whose work focuses on the natural elements of the Pacific Northwest, especially our native trees. She is also author of the local guidebook Eastside Seattle Walks, which covers easy walking routes in each Eastside community that feature nature, history and public art.
Space is limited; reserve your spot now!
To be added to the waitlist, please email operations@flssp.org
Sense-ational Nature Adventure: Awaken Your Senses Family Workshop
Embark on an extraordinary journey as you unlock the secrets of the natural world at this hands-on, 2-hour family workshop at Lake Sammamish State Park. Prepare to awaken your senses and discover the hidden wonders within the ordinary.
Join FLSSP for an interactive experience that will transform a simple walk into an epic adventure. Learn practical skills to heighten your senses and deepen your connection with nature, from deciphering the subtle clues that reveal the secret world of weather to immersing yourself in the symphony of sounds in the trees.
Gain valuable insights to become more attuned to your surroundings and find the extraordinary in the ordinary. This sensational nature adventure is an experience you won't want to miss!
May 2024 Restoration Event
FLSSP will be hosting our next restoration event on May 18th from 10 am – noon. We will continue work on the Tibbetts Creek site grubbing out blackberry, mulching, and weeding. You might even dig up an entry for our #KeepYourEyeOnTheRootBall contest! (Learn more here: Blackberry at Lake Sammamish State Park: Show Us Your “Heart” — Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park Website | Support, Enhance and Promote Lake Sammamish State Park (lakesammamishfriends.org))
Want to adopt one of our recently planted trees at this site? For each $25 (or more!) donation made during GiveBIG, we will put your name on a tree here and welcome you to come find your tree between May 18th and June 15th! Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park | Washington Gives (wagives.org)
Also, don’t forget to #KeepYourEyeOnTheRootBall when at a FLSSP event or working in the garden!
Walk n Wag
FLSSP is excited to host our 8th annual Walk n Wag event – the largest dog party on the Eastside! This year will be a fun event for the whole family with a 3K walk, Doggie Village with vendors and activities, performances by Seattle Fly Dogs and Rainier Agility, the Banner Bank pet show, food trucks, music from Warm 106.9 and more. We can't wait to see all the wonderful dogs and their friends and families at Walk ‘n’ Wag!
EVENT SCHEDULE
10:00-2:00 Registration and Doggie Village open
10:30-11:00 3k Walk in the Park
11:00-2:00 Beer Garden / Food Vendors open
11:00-11:30 Seattle Fly Dogs
12:00-12:30 Banner Bank Pet Show (5 Categories: Best Personality (AKA Ugliest Dog), Waggiest “Tail”, Dog/Owner Look Alike, Best Trick, Best Costume)
12:30-1:15 Rainier Agility
1:30-2:00 Seattle Fly Dogs
Thank you to our sponsors, Alpine Animal Hospital, Michael’s Subaru of Bellevue, and Pet Pros by Earthwise Pet; our Pet Show sponsor, Banner Bank; our media sponsor, Warm 106.9; and our Prize sponsors, All the Best and Pickles Playland, for their support of this event!
PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION: Got the zoomies and can't wait to register? Registration is open now through May 3rd! Each $20 “Bark Pass” includes 3K walk entry for 1 dog and 2 humans (additional humans $5 extra), an entry to the pet show, and your choice of swag item: bandana, Frisbee or collapsible water bowl, as well as giveaways from our partners. All proceeds from Walk n Wag support our work to enhance Lake Sammamish State Park.
All proceeds from this tail-wagging event go toward the FLSSP general fund to support programming, projects and amenities at Lake Sammamish State Park. Over the course of last year, proceeds from our FLSSP hosted events helped restore 2.5 acres of the park, planting of over 150 trees, replacement of 8 shade trees, and much more. We welcome additional donations at time of registration that will be directed to our Park Improvement Fund specifically allocating monies toward trail maintenance, improving accessibility, and working on restoring Lake Sammamish State Park lands. We are so grateful for our community’s support for FLSSP events through registration.
City Nature Challenge
Participate in the world-wide 2024 City Nature Challenge by joining City of Issaquah Urban Forest Supervisor Dan Hintz for a walk along Sunset Beach to learn about and identify as many unique species of plants and animals as possible.
The Challenge runs from April 26 to 29, 2024 and your observations will count towards those made from within the wider Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area. This is a friendly competition among cities to see who can identify the most unique species, while helping citizens and scientists alike better understand local biodiversity.
Even if you are not an expert, you can still participate. Dan will be there to help, but by using the iNaturalist app on your smart phone, you can capture and upload images of plants and animals that you maybe can’t identify, but the iNaturalist community can. Every legit observation counts regardless if whether the observer identifies the plant or animal themselves or not.
Prior to arriving for the hike:
Download the iNaturalist app from the Apple App Store or Google Play on your smart phone. Once that is setup, go into the Projects area in the app and search for and join the “City Nature Challenge 2024: Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area”.
Click on the Download button to access the list of plants found within the Issaquah Alps as recorded by the Washington Native Plant Society.
Event is full, please join again next year!