Forterra Nature Discovery™
An ongoing series of free nature experiences on
Forterra properties through 2025
Forterra Nature Discovery™ is an ongoing series of free events designed to build awareness of the special landscapes we care for, while cultivating a sense of well-being for our supporters through nature experiences.
Champion Sponsor
Photographs from Forterra Nature Discovery™ events in 2024
Currently, we steward over 300 properties (275,000 acres) in forests, wetlands and coastal areas in our beautiful Pacific NW. Many of these properties are tucked away in hard to reach areas but others are publicly accessible, are popular wildlife viewing areas and have maintained trail systems.
Forterra Nature Discovery™ program is built on a promise that experiencing nature in our region connects us to our land, strengthens our resolve to protect habitats and is good for our wellness. As we begin our second year of this program, we are thrilled to rally our supporters and explore this special place we call home.
2025
Schedule
Forterra nature Discovery™
March
Springtime Awakening
Location: Morse Wildlife Preserve
Time: March 30, Sunday • 10:30am to 12:30pm
Guided by: Licia Sahagun and Ryan Johnson
- Witness the preserve waking up from winter.
- Explore prairie, wetland and upland forest trails.
- Identify migrating birds and look for animal tracks.
April
Spring Birding – Stirring the Senses
Location: Morse Wildlife Preserve
Time: April 12, Saturday • 11 am to 1pm
Guided by: Eileen Labert
- Experience the Preserve buzzing with migratory birds, returning here to feast on the wetland insects and nest among the 300-year-old Garry oaks .
- Learn from educator, naturalist and skilled birder Eileen Lambert how to engage all your senses and better understand bird behavior and habitats.
May
Name that Flower! Plant and Flower Identification
Location: Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve
Time: May 3, Saturday • 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Guided by: Ryan Johnson
- Amble through wetland and upland forest while flowers are blooming everywhere.
- Learn identification clues from Ryan Johnson, a naturalist whose specialty is plant ID and wildlife tracking.
- Explore the differences between wetland plants and upland forest species, and the animals that eat them.
June
Salmon & Mature Forest – Watershed Stories
Location: Lund’s Gulch
Time: June 7, Saturday • 11 am to 1 pm
Guided by: Gary Mozel
- Follow a winding trail of towering firs and cedars along Lund’s Creek, down to a remarkable estuary with an amazing history.
- Gary Mozel, naturalist and interpreter, will share its tale of pristine biodiversity, sad decline, and ambitious rehabilitation.
- Witness an intact watershed and get inspired by this success story.
July
Forest Meditation with Clear Mountain Monastery
Location: Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve
Time: July 19, Saturday • 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Guided by: Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho
- Experience a calm and quiet walk to an open area where the monks will guide us in sitting meditation and a talk.
- See how native forests and wilderness preserves played a vital part in nurturing the spiritual lives of Buddhists intent on understanding the truth of “the way things are”.
- Explore one of the highest-quality wetlands in the Greater Seattle area, a wonderland of ponds, marshes and forests stewarded and protected by Forterra.
August
Nature Journaling
Location: Morse Wildlife Preserve
Time: August 16, Saturday • 11 am to 1 pm
Guided by: Nora Prindle
- Learn the joys of nature journaling, a creative way to capture the essence of any experience in a way that is uniquely yours.
- Explore new techniques and ‘imagery shorthand’ to amplify what you are witnessing around you.
- Discover a new way of experiencing nature with words, sketches and doodles – no prior art skills required!.
September
Hidden Inhabitants
Location: Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve
Time: September 6th, Saturday • 11 am to 1 pm
Guided by: Gary Mozel
- Meet wetland creatures small and large as you walk beneath a forest canopy and along marshy shores.
- Gain new insights from Gary Mozel, a lifelong naturalist and interpreter with a knack for explaining what we see and engaging our imaginations on what we can’t see.
- Last year’s lessons from this landscape included: how bats stay warm on alder trees, a sound you probably didn’t know was coming from a hummingbird, and more!
October
Fungi Fun – The Mushroom Primer
Location: Patterson Creek
Time: October 18, Saturday • 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Guided by: Licia Sahagun and Ryan Johnson
- Learn the key tree species in the PNW and why they are important for identifying and finding fungi.
- Discover the roles fungi play in the ecosystem, how to distinguish different mushrooms with field guides and spore prints, and identify species we find as we meander through the woods.
- The perfect class for beginners hoping to dive into the world of fungi and foraging along with plant identification.
November
Birding with Eileen Lambert
Location: To be announced
Time: November 1, Saturday • 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Guided by: Eileen Lambert
- Additional details to be announced soon.
December
Wild Women Walk – Frost Moon
Location: Information coming soon.
Time: Saturday, December 6
Guided by: Licia Sahagun
- Explore the forest and its inhabitants in winter at this all-woman event.
- Experience how the frost moon – the ‘long night moon’ – historically marks a time of reflection and renewal.
- If we find an appropriate location, we may gather around a fire. Bring warm drinks and some stories to share!.
Want to Get involved?
Sponsor
Sponsorships are a highly visible way for corporate partners to support Forterra’s work.
By supporting Forterra Nature Discovery™ you are building relationships with thousands of caring community members in the greater Puget Sound area to promote healthy habitats, beautiful landscapes and a home where nature and people thrive together.
SUPPORT WITH A DONATION
Forterra NW, like cedar and salmon, is a homegrown organization that counts on all of us caring for each other and the land.
Please support our efforts in continuing the good work protecting our natural places, fostering healthy forests, creating better habitats and all the while, holding back the effect of climate change. Any donation is gratefully received.
contact
Dan Murdoch
Senior Director Operations
dmurdoch@forterra.org
