Okay…summer is here. Now what? It is time to get out and play, and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville (less than an hour from Tacoma) has some fun things for the whole family to do. If you have visitors in from out of town, the park offers a great way to show them the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, all the way down to the slimy slugs that are so misunderstood, even by the locals.

SLIME IS SUBLIME

One of Northwest Trek’s most anticipated events is coming June 27-28 - Slugfest 2009. This is the 26th year Northwest Trek has held the two-day extravaganza and it is one of the most enjoyed weekends of the year. In addition to the ever-popular human slug race, activities highlight different types of slugs and show how to protect home gardens from the harmful ones while welcoming the helpful ones.

“Slugs are not the most popular creature in the Northwest,” said Northwest Trek Education Curator Dan Belting. “So we like to celebrate our slimy garden-mates and remind visitors of all the good that slugs do.”

Perhaps the most fascinating is the Pacific banana slug. Growing up to a foot long, these are the world’s second largest slugs. With their bright yellow, green and black coloring, banana slugs breathe through their moist skin and through a lung, the opening of which is also used to expel waste. Its slime protects the slug from predators, makes it easier to crawl over sticks and rocks, and comes in handy during mating season when a chemical is produced that helps attract other slugs. Even though slugs have both male and female reproductive organs, they still follow nature’s special way of making babies, which includes a form of mating.

Although slugs can be a thorn in the side of Northwest gardeners, these slow-moving creatures help keep the forest floor clean of leaves, animal droppings and rotting vegetation, and they especially enjoy mushrooms. Thus even the lowly, mucous-coated slug has claimed an important place in the ecosystem.

ALL ABOARD!

For those with a taste for less earthy delights than the slug, hop aboard the Train to Trek and see Mother Nature’s handiwork in style. Again this summer, Northwest Trek and Tacoma Rail have come together to offer Train to Trek, a one-of-a-kind experience for train enthusiasts, wildlife aficionados and families seeking local fun.

Train to Trek mixes wildlife and history with presentations by expert naturalists and area historians in a relaxing ride that ends with a day at Northwest Trek. “Train to Trek allows us to showcase our historical trains while providing people a unique opportunity to ride the rails from Tacoma to Eatonville for a great day of fun and learning,” said Dale King, Tacoma Rail superintendent.

Passengers board the vintage railcars at Freighthouse Square at 8:30 a.m. for the ride to Eatonville. Then it is a short bus trip to Northwest Trek for four hours of fun in the 723-acre park. Children (and the young at heart) will have a lot of fun seeing the spring babies, including bison and bighorn sheep, along with the bears, moose, wolves and cougars. Afterward, passengers return to the train for the ride back to Tacoma, arriving at 5:30 p.m.

The next Train to Trek leaves the depot July 18, followed by departures on Aug. 15, Sept. 12 and Oct. 3. Reservations are required. Prices range from $40 to $65 and include the train ride, bus ride and park admission. For tickets and more information, visit www.nwtrek.org