Spring Skills of a Naturalist: Fiddlin' with Ferns

Learn to confidently identify the most common ferns of Pacific Northwest forests while uncovering the remarkable survival strategies of one of Earth’s oldest plant lineages.

Before wildflowers steal the spotlight, the forest floor is already alive with unfurling green. Join us for a spring exploration into the ancient world of ferns, plants that flourished long before dinosaurs walked the Earth.

Together, we will practice the step-by-step process naturalists use to distinguish species in the field - by examining frond structure, growth patterns, symmetry, texture, and habitat clues. Having a repeatable cognitive framework allows naturalists to narrow possibilities quickly and identify ferns (or any plant!) with confidence.

Whether you are new to botany or looking to sharpen your field skills, you will leave better equipped to observe carefully, interpret what you see, and read the understory with new understanding.

THINGS TO KNOW

• This class is rain or shine, so please dress in layers and always bring a rain layer, gloves and hat at this time of year.
• If you have a jeweler's loupe, or magnifying hand lens please bring it with you. We have them to lend too.
• Due to the content and pace of this program, we are listing this as a youth & adults only class.
• Please remember our campus policy is 'no dogs unless they are a service animal.'
• We always cap off our hikes with a sweet treat of our homemade cookies too!

Your instructors for this session will be IslandWood's Senior Naturalist, Christina Woolf, and Community Education Coordinator and Naturalist, Shoopie Panholzer.

Christina is a Washington State Master Naturalist (WSU, 2024), Master Birder (Birds Connect Seattle/Seattle Audubon, 2011), WDFW Wetland Monitor (2014), Certified Beach Naturalist (2014), and Certified Interpretive Guide (National Association of Interpretation (2015), and has been joyfully teaching environmental education for over 25 years.

Shoopie has been teaching outdoors since 2017, and recently completed her Masters in Education, with a focus on environmental education. She has taught all ages from 3 to 93. Her expertise is in California Oakwoodlands, however she has enjoyed getting to know the Pacific Northwest through her nature journal and incredible mentors.

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