| | | Hi Friend, There's something about July that makes me feel like a kid again. Maybe it's all of the babies I've seen while out exploring in the last few weeks – from dappled deer fawns to playful black bear cubs and tumbling river otter pups. This month, I've been marveling at how the simplest moments outdoors can fill us with wonder and gratitude for this incredible place we call home. As we continue celebrating 25 years of conservation work, I'm reminded that this sense of wonder is exactly what drives our mission. From our upcoming anniversary celebration at Petersen Farm to volunteer opportunities that let you share your love of nature with the next generation, this month offers so many ways to connect with the lands and waters we're protecting together. Whether you're exploring the brackish shoreline of Filucy Bay, helping to maintain trails at Newberry Woods, or learning about sustainable landscaping, each experience deepens our collective commitment to stewarding these special places. I hope this July finds you discovering new forest groves and tidepools, creating memories and fostering your own moments of joy. Here's to getting outside, |
|  | Samantha Hale
Communications Manager
samantha@greatpeninsula.org
www.greatpeninsula.org P.S. I spent a lot of time on the water this month and saw tufted puffins, sea otters, river otters, and more! What have you seen this month? Hit 'reply' and let me know! |
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| | | | Land Labs Volunteer Training |
|  | Want to get outside and share your love of nature with the next generation? GPC’s Land Labs program is calling all volunteers interested in helping with its summer field trip series. No experience needed! We’ll teach you everything you need to know at our next Land Labs Volunteer Educator Training on Tuesday, July 8th from 12:00pm - 2:00pm. The training will focus on how best to support community youth as they engage in real-world science questions out on GPC preserves. Our upcoming lessons will focus on how each of us can play a role in the stewardship and ecology of our shorelines and estuaries! If you love talking about the Salish Sea and getting your boots a little muddy… then volunteering to help kids with this lesson is for you. Can't attend? No worries! If you've already attended a GPC training and passed our background check, email Gabriel Newton (gabriel@greatpeninsula.org) about getting set up to volunteer at one of our upcoming field trips. |
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| Volunteers Needed for GPC's 25th Anniversary Celebration! |
|  | Help us celebrate a fun day as GPC marks 25 years of protecting the lands and waters of the Great Peninsula! This special event combines our beloved monthly Walk & Talk with an exciting ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly acquired historic Petersen Farm, all as part of the 2025 Kitsap Farm Tour. We need volunteers to help visitors explore this remarkable 142-acre property that represents the heart of our conservation mission—protecting prime agricultural soils, restoring salmon habitat along Clear Creek, and creating affordable opportunities for farmers. Volunteer opportunities include: - Supporting interactive activities for children and families
- Helping at our welcome booth and other GPC tents
Ready to volunteer? Reach out to Gabriel Newton at gabriel@greatpeninsula.org to learn more about how you can help make this celebration a success! |
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| Former GPC Board President Featured in Washington Forest History Project |
|  | Kit Ellis, who previously served as Great Peninsula Conservancy's Board President, recently shared her family's forest stewardship story as part of HistoryLink's Washington Forest History Interview project. In the May 2025 interview, Kit discusses how her mother, Phyllis Todd Ellis, a war widow who moved west from New Jersey in 1956, became a pioneering forest manager on their 195-acre Ellis Family Forest near Gig Harbor. The interview chronicles three generations of careful land management, from Phyllis's early advocacy for ecological forestry practices when clear-cutting was the norm, to Kit's own work as a chemistry teacher who returned to manage the forest after her mother's death in 1995. Kit's story also traces the formation of local land trusts, including how her family helped establish the Peninsula Heritage Land Trust and ultimately placed their forest under a conservation easement that became part of GPC's portfolio when multiple regional land trusts merged in 2000. Now managing the same Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock that surrounded her childhood home on Maloney Lake, Kit continues her family's commitment to sustainable forestry while adapting to climate change by experimenting with tree species from warmer regions. |
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| Clear Creek Trail Work Party Success! |
| | This week, GPC staff, AmeriCorps VISTA, and community volunteers came together for an important work party to prepare Clear Creek Trail for upcoming riders! The team focused on improving trail accessibility by smoothing transitions between boardwalks and the trail surface, and tamping down gravel to create a safer, more comfortable path for wheelchair users. Thanks to everyone who rolled up their sleeves to make the trail more welcoming! This preparation work sets the stage for Kitsap County's Accessible Communities Advisory Committee (ACAC) annual "Ride the Clear Creek Trail" event on Saturday, July 12 — a fun celebration where wheelchair users and community members come together to enjoy the trail in the spirit of accessibility and inclusion. |
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| Planning for The Divide Continues |
| | We're moving towards our first phase of planning documents for The Divide Community Forest! The Divide is adjacent to Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe (SPGST) land and within the PGST usual and accustomed area. GPC is collaborating with PGST to develop a comprehensive forest management, restoration, and monitoring plan for the community forest. With input from tribal members and representatives, and the expertise of Haven Ecology & Research and Northwest Natural Resource Group, the final plan will assess and design opportunities for forest and invasive species management, tribal access to culturally significant resources, and climate resiliency. The management objectives for the future stewardship of The Divide were informed by input from our community meetings, and input and review from the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, the Skokomish Indian Tribe, and the Suquamish Tribe. |
| | Ecological Thinning Scheduled for
Newberry Woods Community Forest |
| GPC will be managing an ecological thinning project at Newberry Woods Community Forest in early fall. Stay tuned for more information, and for an opportunity to visit the community forest to learn about how thinning can benefit both the forest and its protected streams and riparian habitat. Questions? Reach out to Micaela Petrini at micaela@greatpeninsula.org for more info. |
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| | | Summer Land Labs Training Join GPC for Land Labs Volunteer Training and help students explore our local tidelands, saltmarshes, oyster beds, and lagoons. No experience needed—we’ll equip you with all the tools and knowledge to guide students in nature. By attending this training, you’ll have the opportunity to assist at any Summer Land Labs experience this season, making a direct impact on students’ environmental education. When: Tuesday, July 8th, 12:00pm - 2:00pm Where: Kingston, WA |
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| Community Nature Walk at Clear Creek Trail You're invited to join the Kitsap County Accessible Communities Advisory Committee (ACAC) and GPC for a Community Nature Walk at the Clear Creek Trail! You'll have the option to choose between two guided routes: one that is paved and very wheelchair-friendly, and another that is still wheelchair accessible but offers a more adventurous experience through the marsh on boardwalks. GPC helped prepare the trail for this event and will be there to share how you can get involved with the trail year-round. Come enjoy the natural beauty of Clear Creek Trail and connect with your community! When: Saturday, July 12th, 12:00pm - 2:00pm Where: Clear Creek Trail, Silverdale, WA (9641 Levin Rd NW) |
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| Walk & Talk: Shoreline Exploration at Filucy Bay Preserve Gear up with mud boots for an adventure through Filucy Bay Preserve! Join GPC as we head down into the estuary and up into the trees, exploring brackish shores and upland forests. While there, you can learn about the various efforts that GPC employs to maximize fire suppression in hot summer months. If you’re lucky, you might even see some bear tracks down on the mud flats, as we learn about the many species of wildlife that call this preserve home. When: Saturday, July 19th, 10:00am - 12:00pm Where: South of Lakebay, WA |
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| Conservation & Cocktails: Blacklotus Landscaping Join GPC staff and volunteers from the Gig Harbor & Key Peninsula Land Fund for our upcoming Conservation and Cocktails focused on what YOU can do, on your tiny piece of planet Earth, to help the environment.
Our guest speakers are Jon and Tessa from Blacklotus Landscaping. They are excited to give us tips on environmental yard design and care! Bring your questions! Everyone is welcome – this is a great event to bring your neighbors to! When: Sunday, July 20th, 4:00pm - 5:30pm Where: Fox Island, WA |
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| Discovery Play Days: Intertidal Investigations Dive into Intertidal Investigations on Wednesday, July 23rd, 10am-12pm at Silverdale Waterfront Park! Marine biologists of all ages will explore tide pools, meet live sea creatures, and discover shoreline secrets during a guided beach walk. From touch tables to animal identification, kids will uncover the amazing world where land meets sea. Stories, hands-on activities, and beach exploration await! In partnership with Kitsap Regional Library & WSU Kitsap Extension. When: Wednesday, July 23rd, 10:00am – 12:00pm Where: Silverdale, WA |
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| Stewardship Work Party: Summer Trail Maintenance at Newberry Woods Community Forest Join us for our next work party at Newberry Woods Community Forest! We’ll be maintaining the network of trails through this community forest to keep this land accessible. Get outside and enjoy this summer day with us in a beautiful natural space! Newberry Woods spans 202-acres and contains 1.5 miles of the salmon-bearing Little Anderson Creek. This incredible forest, just north of the Newberry Hill Heritage Park, is home to trees that are over 100 years old and serves as a vital wildlife corridor to Hood Canal. It provides essential habitat for many birds, mammals, and other native wildlife. Newberry is one of our community forests, a natural space where conservation meets community need. Learn more about how we manage our community forests here. When: Saturday, July 26th, 10:00am – 12:30pm Where: Silverdale, WA |
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| Discovery Play Days: Beneficial Bugs Bug out with us for Beneficial Bugs on Friday, August 8th, 9:00-11:00am at Clear Creek Trail Sa’qad Interpretive Center! Young entomologists 10 and under will discover how insects help our streams and forests thrive. Pond dipping for stream bugs, microscope viewing, bug identification games, and build-your-own-bug activities make learning buzzing with fun! Explore how these tiny helpers support our local ecosystems. In partnership with Kitsap Regional Library & WSU Kitsap Extension. When: Friday, August 8th, 9:00am – 11:00pm Where: Clear Creek Trail Sa’qad Interpretive Center, Silverdale, WA |
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| Camp Conservation Gig Harbor & Key Peninsula Land Fund and Great Peninsula Conservancy invite you to step away from your daily routine and into the carefree spirit of summer! Join us for a “Camp-tastic” Fundraiser filled with fun, fresh air, and a touch of nostalgia. Whether you’re reliving old memories or making new ones, this is your chance to enjoy a playful afternoon outdoors while supporting a lasting cause – protecting local forests, salmon streams, wildlife corridors, and open space in Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula. When: Saturday, August 9th, 12:00pm – 3:30pm Where: Gig Harbor, WA |
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| Kitsap Farm Tour at Petersen Farm Join us for a fun day of celebration as GPC marks 25 years of protecting the lands and waters of the Great Peninsula! This special event combines our beloved monthly Walk & Talk with an exciting ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly acquired historic Petersen Farm, all as part of the 2025 Kitsap Farm Tour. The celebration features three guided walking tours of the property, interactive activities for children and families, local partner booths, anniversary displays showcasing our 25-year journey, and a beer garden featuring Clear Creek Pale Ale from Silver City Brewery. We’ll officially cut the ribbon at noon to celebrate this significant addition to our conservation portfolio, followed by live music, local food, and community connections that make conservation possible. When: Sunday, August 10th, 10:00am – 4:00pm Where: Petersen Farm, Silverdale, WA |
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| | Former GPC Executive Director Pens Memoir of Lobsterman Father Sandra Staples-Bortner, who led Great Peninsula Conservancy through 11 years of remarkable growth from 2008 to 2019, has published "Finest Kind: Tales of a Brant Rock Lobsterman," a heartfelt memoir about her father, Donal Staples. The book, recently featured in National Fisherman magazine, chronicles her father's journey from starting lobstering at age 11 to serving at the Battle of Okinawa and becoming a respected leader in the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association. Drawing on a lifetime of hearing her father's stories, Sandra captured this generational record of South Shore fishing heritage—a way of life rooted in family, independence, and coastal resilience that connects deeply to her own conservation work. Now retired from GPC, Sandra continues her dedication to protecting the waters and communities that sustain us by volunteering to help restore threatened Columbia River salmon. |
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