| | | | Hi Friend, August has arrived with a particular kind of beauty—and complexity. The fireweed silk is floating through the skies like late-season snow, while wildfire smoke adds an orange tint to the horizon. It's a reminder of the fragility of our region and the urgency of the conservation work we do. On days when the air quality keeps us indoors, it's easy to feel the weight of it all. But then something shifts. We gather with neighbors on diverse preserves, we plant trees that will stand for generations, we listen to the stories of the forest and the people who steward it. We remember why this work matters—and we recognize that we're not doing it alone. This month brings important announcements. We're hiring an Associate Director to help shape the future of conservation on the Great Peninsula, and we're celebrating the incredible partnerships that make our work possible—from Fishline's farming efforts at Petersen to the Listen Up Collaborative's groundbreaking work on forest bird conservation. We're also inviting you to think about the legacy you want to leave, especially as August marks National Make-a-Will Month. Whether you're ready to volunteer, to give, to lead, or simply to show up on a trail with us—there's a place for you in this community. August is still a time for beauty and exploration, to witness the lands we're protecting, and to be part of something larger than ourselves. Here's to getting outside, | | | | | | | | We're Hiring an Associate Director!
Help Shape the Future of Conservation in the Great Peninsula. | | | | Big news: our team is growing, and we're seeking a dynamic, community-minded leader to join our team as Associate Director! This newly created role will help us grow stronger as an organization — supporting our development, communications, and community engagement teams, and giving our Executive Director a strategic partner as we plan for what's next. We're looking for a collaborative, inclusive leader who knows how to help teams do their best work. Our ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, relationship builder, and passionate advocate for conservation and stewardship. If that sounds like someone you know (or maybe it's you!), we'd love for them to learn more and apply. Visit our website to read the job description. | | | | | | | | August Is National Make-a-Will Month — Have You Added the Land That Shaped Your Life? | |  | If you don't have a will yet, you're not alone. National Make-a-Will Month is a good nudge to change that, and to think about what you want your will to leave behind. Wills provide for the people and causes closest to your heart. This August, consider adding one more piece: a gift to Great Peninsula Conservancy, even a small percentage of your estate, for the land that shaped your life, from your earliest memories in nature to the trails you still walk today. Some of our longtime, quietest supporters have done exactly this, believing that a clean creek, an open trail, a wild place, is its own kind of inheritance. And right now, board member Mike Hall and his wife Becky are matching every new legacy pledge with a $1,000 gift to GPC, turning your future commitment into immediate conservation action. Reach out to Katherine Tacke, Development Manager, at [email protected] or 360-373-3500 x107, or visit our Planned Giving page on our website to learn more. | | | | Not sure where to start? Kitsap Community Foundation is hosting an estate planning event on Wednesday, August 12. During the two-hour event, you can learn about important estate planning documents, wills, trusts, donor-advised funds and more. For more information and to RSVP visit their event page. | | | | | | Who's Listening? Exploring the Listen Up Collaborative. | |  | A storymap is worth a thousand words — and sometimes that's exactly what a grant report needs. Stewardship Coordinator Eva Blair and AmeriCorps member Katie Jackson have teamed up to create one as a knowledge-sharing deliverable for the Cornell Lab Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, turning the Listen Up Collaborative's on-the-ground work into a compelling visual story for funders, partners, and the public. After the Collaborative was featured on NPR's All Things Considered, "What Do Birds Think of Forest Management?" and in The New York Times series "50 States, 50 Fixes", this felt like the perfect moment to celebrate and share just how far the work has come. Learn more about Bird Monitoring with the Listen Up Collaborative, explore our interactive StoryMap, and meet the partners behind this work. | | | | | | | | Fishline Partners with GPC to Grow Fresh Food for Kitsap Neighbors in Need | | | | We’re excited to share that Fishline, a local human services organization operating a food bank in North Kitsap, has signed a lease to begin farming a 2-acre plot at the historic Petersen Farm in Clear Creek Valley. The project will turn a portion of this recently preserved farmland into a source of fresh, locally grown food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity — and it’s the first tenant since GPC acquired the 142-acre property in January 2025. Visit our blog to learn more about this exciting new partnership. | | | | | | | | New Shirt Design: Ecosystems of Puget Sound | |  | | | | | | | | | Temporary Trail Closure at The Divide | | | | Recently our friends at the North Kitsap Trails Association spent some time cutting new trails out on the Divide! These trails are here to provide more public access for people to enjoy many different outdoor activities. However, as the trail surface is new, it is currently soft and unstable. Until fall, the trail south of Gratitude Private Way is closed to bikers and equestrians. Hikers, please proceed with caution! We look forward to seeing bikers and horseback riders out enjoying this trail when it opens in the fall—maybe for some scenic rides to take in the fall colors—but until then, thank you for respecting this process and the development of a new trail! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest trail updates, news, and upcoming events. | | | | | | GPC's Legacy Society & Conservancy Circle Luncheon Save the Date: Thursday, August 27 at Kopachuck State Park | |  | A legacy pledge is simple: you commit to include GPC in your will or estate plan, at any amount, and your gift ensures conservation on the Great Peninsula continues for generations to come. It costs nothing now, and it's one of the most meaningful things you can do for the places you love. Every new pledge also unlocks a $1,000 gift to GPC today, thanks to a generous legacy match from Mike & Becky Hall, so your commitment starts making an impact right away. Legacy Society members are invited to our annual Legacy Luncheon, a chance to connect with neighbors and fellow conservation advocates who care about the same things you do. Make your pledge now to join us. Learn more on our website or contact Development Manager Katherine Tacke at 360-373-3500 ext.107 or [email protected]. | | | | | | | | | | August Clear Creek Trail Work Party Join the Clear Creek Trail Team for a work party this August! Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help steward the trail. Choose from a variety of tasks, including removing invasive species, picking up litter, repairing boardwalks, or clearing vegetation from the path. We’re excited to see you out on the trail! When: August 8th, 9:00am – 12:00pm Where: Silverdale, WA | | | | | | | | Walk & Talk: Salmon Habitat Restoration at Minter Creek Join us as we walk through the past, present, and future of restoration efforts on Minter Creek. GPC holds a conservation easement over 22 acres of riparian, wetland, and forest habitat along Minter Creek. The property protects nearly 1,300 feet of the main stem of Minter Creek, which is a significant salmon stream that drains the central southern portion of the Kitsap Peninsula into Henderson Bay of northwestern Pierce County.
We’ll meet with neighboring land owners and salmon hatchery managers to discuss the importance of Minter Creek for local salmon, especially for ESA listed winter steelhead and coho salmon. Weather permitting, we will conclude with a short jaunt to the estuary at the mouth of the creek! When: August 15th, 10:00am – 12:00pm Where: Gig Harbor, WA | | | | | | | | Green Crab Molt Search at Misery Point Join Great Peninsula Conservancy for a shoreline molt survey at Misery Point near Seabeck. As a small group, you’ll walk the intertidal zone searching for shed crab shells and collecting any molts found. As a large group, we will sort and report our findings in the MyCoast app for real research data. Our July 3rd molt search was so successful at finding THREE European Green Crab molts, that we’re going right back to Misery Point for more! Join us in this live research and make a direct difference in invasive species monitoring. When: August 21st, 10:00am – 11:30am Where: Seabeck, WA | | | | | | | | Clean Up of Stillwaters Preserve Join Great Peninsula Conservancy to clean up debris and invasive plants at the treehouse and trails of Stillwaters Preserve. You can be a part of the legacy of this long-standing environmental education center as we work together to bring it back to life as a part of GPC’s Land Labs programming! When: August 22nd, 10:00am – 12:30pm Where: Kingston, WA | | | | | | | | Estuary Family Fest Great Peninsula Conservancy, in partnership with local conservation groups, is hosting a family-friendly estuary education event on Saturday, August 29, 10am – 1pm. Join us as we learn together about how healthy estuaries, functioning watersheds, and thriving salmon populations contribute to the environmental health and quality of life in the Gig Harbor community. Registered attendees will participate in games, hands-on activities, and interactive demonstrations designed to deepen our understanding of these vital ecosystems. Be sure to RSVP, as space is limited. When: August 29th, 10:00am – 1:00pm Where: Gig Harbor, WA | | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | |
