Fin to Feather: Naturalist Training Course
A Naturalist Series exploring Vashon Island from subtidal to treetop canopy.
Teachers, Islanders, and Off-Islanders welcome! Explore Vashon Island from the surrounding underwater kelp forests and nearshore ecosystems to the forest canopies, and strengthen your connection to the natural history of central Puget Sound. Throughout this seven month course, you will learn about geology, weather and climate patterns, plants, animals, habitats, and our role as responsible stewards of nature.
Course Information:
The course will blend in-person experiential field trips with readings and actions that can be completed on your own time.
Teachers can get STEM clock hours.
Course leaders will include Vashon Nature Center staff and expert naturalists and scientists from our community and the surrounding region.
Most classes are 2-3 hours except for a six-hour forest driving tour in June.
Class limit: 15
Children 10 and over may register with a participating adult.
Course Schedule
Class 1 : Intertidal Biodiversity
Wednesday, January 29th, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: North End Beach
Class 2 : Salish Sea Geology
Saturday, February 22nd, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: KVI
Class 3 : Healthy Shorelines & Forage Fish
Saturday, March 22nd, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Tahlequah Beach
Class 4 : Streams, Salmonids & Macroinvertebrates
Saturday, April 26th, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Shinglemill Creek
Class 5 : Puget Sound Lowland Forests
Saturday, May 17th, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Driving Tour
Class 6 : Lowland Ponds
Saturday, June 14th, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Chautauqua Ponds
Class 7 : Kelp Forest Kayak
Saturday, July 26th, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: North End Beach
Registration Information:
Choose a single session, or the entire series of seven classes once a month from January – July.
Program tuition:
By Class: $60.00/class + $10.00 materials fee ($100.00 for the June class)
By Series: $395.00 +$50.00 materials fee
Register for entire series here
To register for individual sessions, click the link of each course and fill out individual forms.