Welcome to Vashon Nature Center
Come outside with us!
Vashon Nature Center is a nonprofit organization based on Vashon Island in Washington State. We foster healthy human connections with the land, waters, and wildlife of the international Salish Sea region. We do this through community-based science, education, and research.
Vashon Nature Center offers people the opportunity to connect with nature and one another, while experiencing the wonders of being in the natural world.
Our roots are deep and our wings are wide. Locally, our projects benefit our islands and weave nature into our community’s daily life. We also plug into region-wide issues and partnerships to help create large-scale positive cultural and environmental change throughout the region.
FEATURED PROJECT
Mary Singer Swims ‘Round the Rock!
Show your support for islander Mary Singer as she attempts a record-breaking swim around Vashon Island!
Mary Singer grew up here learning to swim at the public pool near the high school. She has since completed the Triple Crown of open water swimming including: crossing Catalina Channel, the English Channel, and circumnavigating Manhattan Island in the 20 Bridges swim, amongst other notable swims. While there are many challenging swims across the globe, there is a striking one right here: circumnavigating Vashon. She views this as her most challenging swim yet; the water is colder and the distance further. And, she would be the first. This will be done under channel rules- without assistance from wetsuit or buoy and without touching support boats.
Mary is partnering with Vashon Nature Center on this swim to give thanks to the natural environment that she enjoys regularly – and tries not to take for granted – and to highlight the work that VNC does for our marine environment
In addition, she’s bringing this home to celebrate the community for which she is so grateful: her local open water swim community (both on Vashon and over town), other islanders, her husband, and her family.
Mary’s swim will happen sometime during the tidal window of August 11 – 15, depending on the weather.
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“Vashon Nature Center is focused on building community support systems to help us collectively repair our relationship with the natural world. Our work helps move us beyond environmental guilt and despair into action and connection sparked by wonder.”
— Bianca Perla, founder and science director, Vashon Nature Center
Resources
Most of Vashon Nature Center’s work happens outside—listening, learning, and recording these islands’ natural history. In our resource pages, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions, interact with natural history data, and view peer-reviewed and community-oriented publications about nature on Vashon and the Salish Sea.
Wildlife FAQs
Wondering what to do about that dead deer in your yard? Did you find a baby seal alone on the beach? Want to know how to live safely with coyotes? Consult our Wildlife FAQs.
Vashon Science Archive
Scientific Publications
Our publications page offers links to peer-reviewed community-oriented publications drawn from data collected by our community. View our Scientific Publications.
Our Partners
Our work would not be possible without our amazing partners. Together, we build strong communities through observing, studying, caring for, and being in nature.
Bonnell Cove Foundation
Salish sea guillemot network
Salish Sea Biodiversity Project