Elementary students at Shaw Island School recently decorated and installed a bench at the Graham Preserve overlooking an area they'd planted with Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) trees. The “Graham Grove” project began in the fall of 2021, when each student prepared a site and planted a Garry oak seedling along with several plant species (sourced from the Salish Seeds Nursery) typical of regional oak prairies.

Congratulations to this year's SJPT Climate Leadership Scholarship winners, Justin Krisch-Derr and Roan Ontjes-De Groot. Both have just graduated from Orcas Island High School, and they both plan to attend Western Washington University to concentrate in environmental science.

Meet Justin and Roan in this brief video.

From our partners at the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank: "The Conservation Land Bank will implement temporary trail closures on Turtleback Mountain Preserve during June and July to accommodate the installation of nineteen road culverts. In response to repeated washouts during increasingly heavy winter rain events, Land Bank staff commissioned a professional culvert assessment in 2021. The culverts identified for replacement will help prevent future washouts, reduce maintenance requirements, and bring the forest road/trail network up to Washington forest road standards."

The Preservation Trust’s 44th Annual Meeting took place on May 18, 2023. In case you missed it (or even if you didn’t), you can use these links to watch a recording of the webinar, see the videos we presented, check out our new Strategic Conservation Plan, and contribute to featured projects. (Click "Learn more" to see the links.)

Tours of the Tharald Homestead provide an opportunity to learn more about the cultural legacy we have inherited and ponder the one we will leave behind. No registration necessary.

Join art instructor Sally Vongsathorn in artistic activities that are sure to spark creativity and deepen our engagement with the world around us. For all ages.

Come to Shaw Island and help us spruce up the trail around the Graham Preserve at this volunteer work party.

Join ecologist Ruthie Dougherty for a guided ramble to identify freshwater wetland features, highlighting wetland plants with unique functions, adaptations, and historic uses.