Join us in exploring the amazing flora of a floristically diverse peatland within Grays Harbor County. Our team of eco-instructors will support small learning groups, ensuring that everyone receives instruction and has plenty of time to photograph the amazing flora (including carnivorous plants!) in this unique ecosystem. We will provide a detailed plant list, further reading recommendations, and laminated learning materials.
This class is offered only every other year, and we have limited capacity—claim your ticket before space fills up!
About the site: The site is within the sensitive North Bay Natural Area Preserve and is one of our region’s highest-quality sphagnum/adjacent forest peatland systems. This peatland is a groundwater-fed acidic fen, and as such is a patchwork of spongy sphagnum-based hummocks amongst flowing and ponding water. This class will focus more on identification of the forbs, shrubs, graminoids, and ferns than on the species of sphagnum.
Difficulty & logistics: After an ecosystem and peatland-system overview with the whole group, we will enter the peatland and spread out in impromptu learning groups to explore, study, and photograph (with ongoing support from our instructors). This is a moderately difficult hike, as we may encounter patches of shin-deep to thigh-deep water or spots with tricky footing. (Despite getting wet, we stay warm during this late-June excursion.) Pack a lunch for a break midday, and a change of footwear for your ride home. The site is in Grays Harbor County, about 1.25+ hours from Olympia's west side. Parking is free, along the rural road shoulder.
Date: Sunday, June 21st, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Check-in: Arrive between 9:30 a.m. and 9:55 a.m. so that we can get everyone checked in and ready to begin the group instruction by 10 a.m.
Location: North Bay Natural Area Preserve; specific entry point shared upon registration.
Registered participants should look for an email from us with all the other important details for planning for the class!
Tickets are available by donation, with suggested donation levels provided, so you can select the option that works best for you. Donations offset our significant costs to prepare for and host the class. If you want to help someone who cannot make a donation, please select “Pay-it-Forward Donation” (thank you in advance for your generosity!). To learn about how these funds support the Native Plant Salvage Foundation, visit this page on our website: Impact of your Donation — Native Plant Salvage Foundation.
