It's summer, and time to get outside and explore. Lace up your boots and head to TrailsFest this Saturday, at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend. This free event offers a comprehensive and fun introduction to the outdoors, and it will deliver with guided explorations, workshops and interactive exhibits.

TrailsFest promises engaging fun for all ages and is very kid-friendly. But what if you don't have kids... will there be stuff for you to do? You bet.

Are you an avid hiker who is bored with packaged freeze-dried trail food? Learn how to save time, money, weight and cleanup while still having great meals in the backcountry. Check out Outdoor Food Made Simple at 11am, from the authors of Freezer Bag Cooking.

Guidebook author Craig Romano presents an inspiring workshop at noon called Columbia Highlands: Exploring Washington's Last Frontier. East of the craggy Cascades, you'll find the Kettle and Selkirk Mountains-a beautiful but largely undiscovered corner of the American West still home to grizzly bears, wolves, moose, lynx and bighorn sheep.  Craig will shares stories and images of the rugged wilderness and communities of this region and explores the area's importance as a wildlife bridge between the Cascades and the Rockies.

Also at noon, Swedish tent manufacturer Hilleberg the Tentmaker presents  a clinic called Smart Packing. Backpacking is fun, but it can be all too easy to end up toting an overly heavy pack.  And while going light is great, doing so at the expense of safety or comfort doesn't make any sense at all.  The solution?  Smart Packing!  Come learn how to take less, still be comfortable and safe, and have lots more fun

At 1pm, don't miss the talk from Evergreen Safety Council on Surviving Emergencies in the Backcountry. What can you do when 911 isn't readily available or the hospital is 5-hours back down the trail?  Surviving even a simple emergency in the backcountry can be much more complicated that the same one in the city.  Learn through participation how to handle a variety of first aid situations, using items you would likely have on hand in your pack.

Catch a talk at 3pm on Hiking with Poles from the folks at Seattle REI. You'd never guess it, but using hiking poles is more than putting one foot in front of the other. Whether you're new to hiking or an old pro, this class is sure to provide great tips on the correct use of hiking poles to give you better balance, reduce joint impact, and provide a full-body workout.  Bring your own poles or borrow a demo pair.

Click here to see the activity schedule for the whole day at TrailsFest. The fun doesn't stop at activities -- there are over 50 exhibitors, including gear companies, non-profit organizations and outfitters to visit with at TrailsFest.

To get to TrailsFest, take I-90 to exit 32, then turn right on 436th Ave SE.  Follow this road 2.7 miles to Rattlesnake Lake.