| | | | Hi Friend, I've been watching the sky a lot lately. After a dry February that had me a little worried, the forecast is finally showing some real rain — and I'm here for it. The huckleberry in my yard is starting to sprout, buds are forming on the trees, and the peninsula feels like it's waking up. Spring is doing its thing. Still, the lack of rainfall has been on my mind, and on GPC's. A changing climate means we can't just plant trees and hope for the best — we have to think ahead, planting species adapted to hotter, drier conditions and managing our forests to be resilient no matter what the weather brings. Take a look at how we're approaching that work. This month, we have a lot going on. We're celebrating our reaccreditation by the Land Trust Alliance — a rigorous process that affirms GPC is operating at the highest conservation standards. Kitsap Great Give is underway, with early giving open now and a $42,000 match ready to double your impact through March 10th. And we have a full slate of spring events, from trail work parties to nature journaling to iNaturalist training — plenty of ways to get outside and connect with the places we're working so hard to protect. Here's to getting outside, | | | | | | | | Ticket Sales Are Live: 2026 Conservation Celebration Rooted in Conservation, Connected in Community Presented by Puget Sound to Pacific Collaborative | |  | GPC’s signature fundraising event, the Conservation Celebration, will return on Thursday, June 4, 2026. We sold out last year (turns out you really love a good party for a good cause!), so this year we’re moving to the beautiful event space overlooking Agate Pass at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort—to welcome even more friends, fun, and fundraising for the lands we love. Don’t miss it! Hosted by KEXP DJ Morgan Chosnyk and honoring award winners Don & Judy Willott and Tim Bell, join us for this evening of conservation, community, and celebration! | | | | Early Bird Tickets by April 6 RSVP by May 26 | | | | | | GPC Is Reaccredited by the Land Trust Alliance | |  | Did you know Great Peninsula Conservancy goes through a rigorous process to ensure we are operating at the highest possible conservation standards? We're thrilled to share that the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, the national accrediting body for land trusts, has renewed our accredited status! GPC was initially accredited in 2015, and this is our second successful reaccreditation process. The reaccreditation process takes almost a full year and includes a review of GPC's work over the past five years to ensure that we are following best practices across the organization. This includes reviewing policies, procedures, projects, and many other pieces of our work. Our newly awarded term of accreditation runs through December 2030. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission's renewed accreditation, signifies its confidence that GPC's lands will be protected forever. We are one of 1,281 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance's most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org. | | | | | | | | Do You Have a Vehicle to Donate? Great Peninsula Conservancy’s work is growing — and so is our need for reliable transportation. | |  | We are currently seeking a donated 7–8 passenger van or large SUV in good working condition with under 100K miles to safely transport staff, volunteers, and equipment to project sites and community events. If you or someone you know has a vehicle that fits this description — or connections at a dealership or business that might consider a donation — we would be deeply grateful for an introduction. If you have a vehicle to donate that does not meet our passenger needs, we can still gladly accept it through our vehicle donation partner at careasy.org. Vehicles donated through our Careasy page are sold on our behalf, and the proceeds will be directed toward the purchase of the passenger vehicle our programs require. You can learn more or initiate a donation here:
https://careasy.org/nonprofit/great-peninsula-conservancy A vehicle donation — in any form — directly supports our conservation and education programs and helps us connect more people with nature across the region. We are happy to provide acknowledgment and recognition for in-kind support. If you would like to start a conversation or explore possibilities, please reach out to GPC’s Operations Manager, Paige Morris: paige@greatpeninsula.org or 360-373-3500 x113. | | | | | | Kitsap Great Give is Underway 🚀 | | | |  | What does conservation education look like in action? Ask Skadi Green, a high school science teacher at Chief Kitsap Academy: 💬 "Students were able to learn about different forest restoration practices, use tools in the field to estimate salmon stream health, and enhance their understanding of managing for biodiversity. These experiences were well organized and seamlessly executed. Classroom teachers would be challenged to pull off this type of hands-on experience without the assistance of GPC." Through our Land Labs program, GPC brings students into the field for real, hands-on science — the kind that sticks with them for life. Your gift to Kitsap Great Give helps make these experiences possible. Now, your gift will go twice as far during the Great Give thanks to a $42,000 match from generous local supporters. Make your donation today at https://www.kitsapgreatgive.org/organization/gpc | | | | | | | | | | | | Have you thought about including a gift to GPC in your will? You don't need a large estate to make a lasting difference. Leaving a gift to GPC, even a small percentage of your estate, can help protect the lands and waters of the Great Peninsula for generations to come. It requires no gift today, just a decision about tomorrow. And right now, every new Legacy Society pledge unlocks a $1,000 donation to GPC, thanks to board director Mike Hall and his wife Becky. If it's something you've been meaning to look into, we'd love to talk. Reach out to Development Manager Katherine Tacke at katherine@greatpeninsula.org or 360-373-3500 x 107 or learn more at greatpeninsula.org/donate/planned-giving/. | | | | | | | | Become a Creekside Guide at Clear Creek | | | | Creekside Guides is a new, hands-on volunteer opportunity with GPC that invites you to connect people with nature right where they are. Working along the Clear Creek Trail in the heart of Silverdale, Creekside Guides engage families and passersby in fun, informal conversations about local native ecology—pointing out plants, wildlife, and the vital role this creek plays in our community. As a Creekside Guide, you’ll use a “Creekside Crate”—a kit filled with hands-on environmental education activities designed for both kids and adults. You will set up along the trail and engage trail users in fun activities. The schedule is very flexible—you can either check out a box and lead activities whenever it suits you, or join during our regular time on Saturdays from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Current crate themes include: - Native Plants
- Beavers
- Wetlands
- Wildlife (Birds & Mammals)
It’s a meaningful way to spend time outdoors, share your curiosity and love of nature, and help inspire a sense of conservation in youth and families. If you enjoy being outside, meeting people, and making learning feel accessible and welcoming, this is a wonderful way to get involved with GPC. Contact: Reach out to GPC’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Corryn Zylstra, with any questions (corryn@greatpeninsula.org). | | | | | | | | Big Thanks to Our Volunteers! | |  | Everyone at GPC wants to give a big hearty thanks to our amazing volunteers. Whether you get out to plant trees, help pick up trash, monitor properties, or maintain trails—we appreciate you! We want to give a special shout-out to everyone who helped us at Gass Preserve last week. Over 50 volunteers joined us on a breezy Saturday and planted 2,400 trees and shrubs. Throughout the day, we joked, made friends, and ensured the new plants were fully protected from the elements with protected tree tubes and mulch. Visit our Facebook page to see more photos from the day. | | | | | | | | Stillwaters Online Book Sales | | Want to expand your library in an environmentally friendly way? Shop Stillwaters’ online used book sale at AbeBooks. Stillwaters Environmental Center's long-running online book sale has continued, thanks to dedicated volunteers, through the transition to GPC. You can shop for our books online, all year round at AbeBooks! Click HERE to browse our online books for sale. If you are interested in donating books, we accept them all year long. Contact us at info@greatpeninsula.org for more information. | | | | | | | | | | March Clear Creek Trail Work Party Join us for our monthly work party at the Clear Creek Trail this March! We’ll tackle essential trail maintenance tasks, including removing invasive plants, repairing boardwalks, picking up litter, and more. Celebrate the arrival of spring by getting outside and helping maintain this treasured pathway that winds through salmon-bearing streams, wetlands, and forests! When: March 14th, 9:00am – 12:00pm Where: Silverdale, WA | | | | | | | | Nature Journaling at Banner Forest Heritage Park Connect with the natural spaces around you by tapping into the power of nature journaling at Banner Forest Heritage Park! Led by GPC Stewardship Manager Micaela Petrini, participants will travel through the quiet grandeur of Banner Forest and explore their thoughts and observations in written and illustrated form. Prepare to slow down, relax your busy mind, and engage more deeply with the natural world through journaling exercises and artistic prompts. Bring your notebook, mobile art supplies, and your best journaling questions! When: March 21st, 10:00am – 12:00pm Where: Port Orchard, WA | | | | | | | | iNaturalist Training Join us for a hands-on training session to prepare for the 2026 City Nature Challenge! Learn how to use iNaturalist, the mobile app that turns nature observations into valuable scientific data. The City Nature Challenge is a global event where cities compete to make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people. Your observations contribute to real scientific databases used by researchers and conservation efforts. During this time together, we will gather at the Clear Creek Interpretive Center to learn about the app, how to participate during Bioblitz events, and how to be successful the day of. Everyone is welcome! No prior experience or scientific background needed. Perfect for families, nature enthusiasts, students, educators, and anyone curious about local wildlife. This training is co-hosted by Great Peninsula Conservancy and Bainbridge Parks. When: March 23rd, 5:00pm – 6:00pm Where: Silverdale, WA | | | | | | | | Building Wildlife Habitat Structures at Newberry Woods Community Forest Be a part of building habitat for wildlife at Newberry Woods Community Forest in Silverdale! We will be building habitat piles and constructed logs which provide habitat for a huge number of species by replicating the type of vegetation structures you would see in an old growth forest. The Newberry Woods Community Forest 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. Come be a part of this important conservation effort and help us preserve the beauty and health of Newberry Woods! Learn more about how we manage our community forests here. When: March 28th, 10:00am - 12:30pm Where: Silverdale, WA | | | | | | | | Spring Land Labs Training Join GPC for Spring Land Labs Volunteer Training to lead activities and explore salmon streams alongside students. 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 volunteer during Spring Land Labs this season, making a direct impact on students’ environmental education. During our Spring Land Lab, students visit some of the most important places on our peninsula – the streams that support vital salmon runs every year. They learn about riparian zones, salmon ecology, and the importance of these ecosystems in supporting both wildlife and the community. The Curley Creek Tyner Preserve stands as a beautiful 28-acre forest, safeguarding nearly one-half mile of Curley Creek not far from Port Orchard. Curley Creek is an important salmon stream home to coho, both fall and summer runs of chum, chinook, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout. When: April 9th, 1:00pm - 4:00pm Where: Port Orchard, WA | | | | | | | | Friends of Miller Bay Upcoming Work Parties | | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | |
