| | | | | | Hi Friend, May has arrived in full bloom - lilacs perfume my garden, goldfinches sing at my backyard feeders, and delicate fringecup pokes up along the forested paths of our preserves. These seasonal rhythms remind me why our conservation work matters so deeply. This month brings wonderful opportunities to connect with our community and support local conservation. Today marks the kickoff of GiveBIG, where your generous contribution helps protect the natural heritage of the West Sound region as we celebrate 25 years of conservation success. I'm particularly thrilled about our upcoming Ribbon Cutting at The Divide Community Forest on May 17th - a chance to celebrate this remarkable 467-acre forest and explore its trails together. And don't forget to secure your tickets for our Conservation Celebration on June 5th at Kiana Lodge! This annual fundraiser features oysters and drinks on the lawn, inspiring stories of our shared successes, and a vision for the next 25 years of preservation work in our beautiful region. Whether you join us for a volunteer work party along Clear Creek Trail, attend a planning meeting for The Divide, or simply enjoy time in your garden watching spring unfold, I hope you find joy in this season of renewal. Here's to getting outside, | | | | | | | | | |  | GiveBIG is HERE! Support 25 Years of Local Conservation! Today is the official GiveBIG campaign kickoff with Washington Gives, and we need your help to protect our precious local landscapes! For 25 years, Great Peninsula Conservancy has been safeguarding the natural heritage of the West Sound region - from the rocky shores of McDermott Point to Grovers Creek Preserve's towering old-growth trees. Every acre we protect together creates habitat for wildlife, clean water for our communities, and outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy. Your donation today helps us continue this vital work across Kitsap, north Mason, and west Pierce counties. Make your impact during GiveBIGWA and be part of our next 25 years of conservation success! | | | | | | | | Last Call: Get your 2025 Conservation Celebration Tickets | |  | Presented by Puget Sound to Pacific, join us for this year's Conservation Celebration event. We’re excited to celebrate 25 years of conservation in West Puget Sound at our annual fundraiser on June 5th, 5:30pm - 9:00pm! Join us at the beautiful Kiana Lodge for oysters and drinks on the lawn, dinner in the lodge, and stories of GPC’s recent shared successes. We’ll have a slate of speakers and a live auction and paddle raise to support our work for the next 25 years and beyond! Your ticket purchase ($180) will include dinner, a drink ticket, and entry to the event. Become a Table Captain ($1,600) and reserve a table, dinner, and wine for eight guests. Learn more about this year's program on our website, or click here to get your ticket now! Be sure to RSVP by May 15! | | | | | | | | Incredible BioBlitz Results: 3,768 Species Identified Across Kitsap! | | | | The results are in! With the help of nearly 200 dedicated volunteers, GPC joined forces with Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Kitsap County Parks, Poulsbo Parks, Bloedel Reserve, IslandWood, Kitsap Audubon Society, and WSU Extension to document an astounding 3,768 organisms throughout Kitsap County during this year's City Nature Challenge. This worldwide citizen science initiative, powered by the iNaturalist app, brought together nature enthusiasts across the globe to collect vital data on plants, animals, and fungi. While technically a friendly competition between regions, the true value lies in cataloging biodiversity and tracking species population trends over time. GPC led volunteer teams throughout the Carpenter Creek Watershed on Saturday, followed by engaging Poulsbo Middle School and North Kitsap High School students on Monday. Their sharp eyes and enthusiasm contributed significantly to our impressive results.
Check out the City Nature Challenge Overview to explore all the fascinating observations made during this community science event! | | | | | | | | Building a Shared Vision for the Divide Community Forest through our Community Meeting Series | |  | Our second planning meeting for the Divide Community Forest built on the strong foundation established during our first gathering. Community members and GPC staff met at the Village Green Community Center in Kingston, WA to take the next steps in shaping our shared vision for this special place. During Planning Meeting #2, community members reviewed the comprehensive list of objectives and community benefits that were brainstormed during our initial meeting. Together, we worked to prioritize these objectives, first organizing them within GPC’s three core pillars: Conservation, Stewardship, and Public Engagement. Visit our blog to learn more. | | | | | | | | Join GPC's Clear Creek Trail Team Help care for this vital community resource | |  | We're so thankful for the many wonderful Clear Creek Trail Team volunteers! The March wind storm damaged the boardwalk at Clear Creek Trail, but our amazing team quickly restored it to tip-top shape. Volunteering with the Clear Creek Trail Team is a lovely way to get some fresh air and meet new two-legged (and four-legged) friends. It's also a rewarding way to improve the quality of life for the thousands of people who use the trail. If you're interested in taking part in volunteer efforts with Clear Creek Trail, send an email to volunteer@greatpeninsula.org. | | | | | | | | Divide Community Forest Planning Meeting #3 Join us to shape the future of the Divide Community Forest! This three-part meeting series will focus on the recently established Divide Community Forest and the ways in which the community (you!) can engage with the forest. Join us to determine how this new community forest can best benefit the people and wildlife of our region. When: Tuesday, May 6th, 4:30pm - 6:30pm Where: Village Green Community Center, Kingston | | | | | | | | Divide Community Forest Ribbon Cutting Join Great Peninsula Conservancy for a combo Walk & Talk, tour, and ribbon cutting of the newly created Divide Community Forest! We invite the community to come celebrate this new acquisition. After the ribbon cutting, we’ll tour the 467-acre forest, learn about the history of land use, and discuss the current forest health. When: Saturday, May 17th, 9:00am – 11:00am Where: Poulsbo | | | | | | | | May Clear Creek Trail Work Party Join Great Peninsula Conservancy for a Clear Creek Trail Work Party! We will be planting over 100 native plants throughout the south section of the trail, from Clear Creek Interpretive Center to Ridgetop Pavillion. We would love for you to bring your friends, families, and neighbors to this community centered work party. When: Sunday, May 18th, from 11:00am - 1:30pm Where: Clear Creek Interpretive Center | | | | | | | | Planting Maintenance at Hansville Highlands Our May work party will be at Hansville Greenway! We’ll be revisiting the new trees from our winter planting effort to remove invasive species, maintain cages and markers, and clear growing room around the trees. Help us give these plantings the best chance to thrive and be a part of this exciting restoration project! Throughout January and February, Hansville Greenway Association and the Washington Conservation Corps planted hundreds of trees on this property to strengthen the forest ecosystem. Hansville Greenway is home to a diverse array of wildlife, featuring two beaver ponds, wetlands, and Buck Lake. This preserve represents decades of community-led conservation to protect these critical habitats while maintaining public access to this remarkable space. When: Saturday, May 31st, 10:00am – 12:30pm Where: Hansville, WA | | | | | | | | Thanks to our Conservation Sponsor, Ueland Foundation, for their ongoing support. | |  | | |  | | | Like what we're up to? Our work is made possible by generous donors like you. | | | |  | | | | | If this email was forwarded to you, you can join our e-news to receive your own copy in the future. | | | | | | | |
