Winter Skills of a Naturalist: Barking Up the Right Tree

Superbowl? What Superbowl? Our favorite game is learning about the forest,... and still getting you home before the big game! Come on over to IslandWood, get some fresh air, and stretch your legs before all the football fun.
The leaves have fallen and the trees are showing off their beautiful bark and winter features. Some trees and shrubs produce their flowers before we even see the young leaves!

We will explore the most common tree species across campus and look closely at their bark to see what makes them each unique. When you develop these skills, you can start to identify species from far afield, and that gives you insight into population density of each species, no matter where you wander in the Puget Sound lowlands.

Didn't attend the other Skills of a Naturalist sessions? No worries! You're welcome to explore with us, and remember that anyone is a naturalist if they are a student of the natural world. This is a great overall skill-building session for newbies too. Bring your sense of wonder, questions, and knowledge to share with others. We'll see you there!

THINGS TO KNOW

• This class is rain or shine, so please dress in layers and always bring a rain layer, gloves and hat at this time of year. If we cancel due to weather, which is extremely rare, we will send a message in email and by phone as well (windstorm, snowstorm, etc.).
• Due to the content and pace of this program, we are listing the suggested age of participation as 10 years and up. The content will be scientific and botanical terminology will be utilized. If you have an older child or youth that would like to enrich their botany knowledge, they are welcome to attend with you. The ticket price is the same. Infants (under one year) worn in a baby backpack, sling, or baby-wearing device by the caregiver are also welcome with you, no ticket needed for an infant.
• Please remember our campus policy is 'no dogs unless they are a service animal.'
• We always cap off our hikes with a sweet treat of our homemade cookies too!

Your instructor for this session will be IslandWood's Senior Naturalist, and "moss boss" Christina Woolf. Christina is a Washington State Master Naturalist (WSU, 2024), Master Birder (Birds Connect Seattle/Seattle Audubon, 2011), WDFW Wetland Monitor (2014), Certified Beach Naturalist (2014), and Certified Interpretive Guide (National Association of Interpretation (2015), and has been joyfully teaching environmental education for over 20 years. She is particularly fond of old growth big-leaf maples and would like to tell you all about them.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

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

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

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