Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference: Rising Tides

Sea level rise is no longer a distant possibility. It is already shaping our shorelines, infrastructure, ecosystems, and daily lives in Puget Sound. The Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference brings together scientists, local governments, Tribal partners, nonprofit organizations, artists, and community members to explore what sea level rise means for our island and how we can respond together.

This year’s conference focuses on the latest science behind sea level rise in Puget Sound, the real impacts already being felt on Bainbridge Island, and the tools, policies, and community actions that can help us adapt. Through plenary talks, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and tabling with local organizations, participants will learn how sea level rise affects natural habitats, parks and recreation access, infrastructure, housing, public health, and long-term community resilience.

The conference emphasizes practical, place-based solutions by highlighting current efforts underway locally and regionally, sharing lessons learned, and creating space for dialogue across sectors. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the challenges ahead, opportunities to reduce personal and collective risk, and ways to support stewardship of our island’s natural and built environments.

Optional field trips on the Saturday prior offer opportunities to see sea level rise impacts and adaptation strategies firsthand at local sites around Bainbridge Island. To select which breakout you wish to attend, please "vote" in your order form when you register for this event. You will see the choices listed.

We are thrilled to welcome these organizations to lead activities, interpretation and guided walks with you and your family! Special thanks to these organizations for your support in providing speakers, interpretive displays, guided walks, event support & more. We couldn't do it without you!

The Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference is a joint project of Sustainable Bainbridge, EcoAdapt, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, IslandWood, and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. This group sets the annual theme and shares the responsibilities of planning and coordinating the conference. We welcome your ideas for topics for future environmental conferences. Please contact us if you have ideas or suggestions!

Breakout Sessions - Choose two of these when you are registering, so we know how many folks to expect in each breakout and can plan accordingly. Thank you!

Join us for a series of interactive breakout sessions exploring sea level rise from multiple perspectives, including:

Art as the Water Rises
Artist Jill Pelto leads a hands-on activity to explore how art can communicate the science, emotion, and urgency of sea level rise, and how creative expression can inspire awareness and action.

Local Government Planning and Action
Hear from City, County, and Tribal representatives about how local governments are planning for sea level rise, including infrastructure, land use, and policy responses at multiple scales.

Shared Ground: Habitat, People & Parks

Using Fay Bainbridge Park as a case study, explore how rising seas impact habitat, recreation, and park infrastructure, and learn about regional approaches to shoreline protection and restoration. Join Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation, Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to consider how Bainbridge Island can strive to balance shoreline access, habitat protection, and long-term resilliance in a changing climate.

Natural Resource Management in a Changing Coastal Landscape
Explore how sea level rise is affecting wildlife and ecosystems. This session highlights responses from parks, land trusts, Tribes, and state agencies addressing coastal squeeze, habitat protection, and stewardship of natural areas.

Beyond Our Shores: Large-scale Adaptation Approaches

We can’t do everything we need to about sea level rise on Bainbridge Island. What can we influence beyond our shores at the regional, state, national and international scales - for people and nature?

This year, we have a special optional lunch + entry ticket just for you! Simply select the choice for Community Lunch & Entry Ticket, versus Entry Ticket, or a combo for your party.

Your lunch will be made in-house by our celebrated culinary team! IslandWood food is famous for a reason.

If choosing the entry ticket by itself, this includes entry to the conference, plenary presentations, interactive breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with local organizations, agencies, and community partners working on sea level rise, climate adaptation, and coastal resilience in Puget Sound. Refreshments during the conference are included.

We work to ensure that all reasonable accommodations are in place so that everyone can fully participate and learn during their time on our campus. All indoor spaces and many of our outdoor spaces and field structures were built and are continually maintained to meet ADA code, adhering to WAC 51-50. Learn more about the physical accessibility of our campus here.

Service animals only, please.

Info: If you purchased the lunch + conference entry ticket, you can join us in the Dining Hall for a community lunch. Please check-in with our staff in the Welcome Center before heading over to the Dining Hall so we can check you in. Thank you!

Info: Check-in with us, and if you arrive on the earlier end, you can visit with our event partners and learn how to get involved.

Info: Let's start this party off right! The Environmentalist of the Year award will be presented by Sustainable Bainbridge's Maradel Gale. The plenary will follow.

Info: This will be our first break, complete with IslandWood refreshments. Visit with local organizations leading the charge on sea level rise, environment and education, and learn how to get involved.

Info: During your registration, you selected two options for breakout sessions. This will be your first breakout session, and we'll have a map of where these are located in the Welcome Center.

Info: This will be our first break, complete with IslandWood refreshments. Visit with local organizations leading the charge on sea level rise, environment and education, and learn how to get involved.

Info: During your registration, you selected two options for breakout sessions. This will be your second breakout session, and we'll have a map of where these are located in the Welcome Center.

Info: We hope you leave empowered to affect local change, and continue to make connections with local and regional organizations.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

IslandWood, 4450 Blakely Avenue Northeast, Bainbridge Island, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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