NOTE - this series is only for returning Nature & Survival Series students
Welcome back to the Nature and Survival Series, Season 2.5!
In this 4 month series, we’ll combine the two cohorts from the Fall 2025 Nature & Survival Series [hence the 2.5] to embark on the next set of 4 sessions. We’ll build on your skills from 2025, discover new locations, and form new memories. Scroll down this event page to read more about the plans for this series. Some details will be subject to change, based on site availability, permit availability, and group needs.
Session 1 - February 28 | 9:30am-3:30pm
Woodard Bay Conservation Area, NE Olympia
During this outing, we’ll explore the marine shoreline and mature second growth forest of Woodard Bay Conservation Area to learn about coastline plants, winter foraging, and wintertime birds. We’ll do an owl pellet dissection, make tea and a cold infusion from foraged plants, and learn new knife and notch techniques.
Session 2 - March 28 | 9:30am-4:00pm
Inspiring Kids Preserve [Capitol Land Trust Parcel] - Johnson Road (Northeast of Olympia)
Thanks to a partnership with Capitol Land Trust, in March we’ll visit a conservation site not yet open to the public. This space features estuarine brackish wetlands and upland forest where you’ll complete a series of challenges to test your naturalist knowledge, knot tying memory, and primitive fire skills. We’ll wrap the day with a plant-based cooking craft depending on seasonal availability (e.g. spruce tip syrup, hawthorne jam, dandelion fritters).
Session 3 - May 2nd | 9:30am-4:00pm
Morse Heritage Preserve [Forterra NW Parcel] - Graham, WA
In early May we’ll join the blooming wildflowers and migrating birds of the now-rare Garry Oak prairie at Morse Heritage Preserve thanks to our partners at Forterra. This location also features fresh water wetland ecology and borders old growth Douglas Fir forest providing a diverse landscape to learn new plants, identify track and sign from larger fauna, and revisit fungi studies with conks and polypores. We’ll also learn new navigation skills, learn a key survival lashing technique, and create a field-based carving project.
Session 4 - May 30th & 31st | 9:30-4:30 on the 30th, optional overnight stay until 31st
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Ravensdale, WA
For our final outing and campout, we’ll head to the unique Green River Gorge, known for its glacial-carved rugged cliffsides and waterfalls, to test your wildlife identification skills and practice in-field water purification. At the Kanasket Palmer State Park campground, we’ll continue developing your fire skills with space to try new techniques, build up to larger fires and troubleshoot hang ups. Before wrapping the season, we’ll reverse-wrap some cordage from natural fibers and take some time to reflect on our time together. Plus, for those who want to stay overnight, we’ll do dinner and potluck dessert, stories by the fire, and a morning naturalist walk.
Can’t attend all 4 sessions, but still interested? Email ryan@firecraftnw.com and he can create a pro-rated invoice based on which sessions you can attend.
NOTE - this series is only for returning Nature & Survival Series students
Welcome back to the Nature and Survival Series, Season 2.5!
In this 4 month series, we’ll combine the two cohorts from the Fall 2025 Nature & Survival Series [hence the 2.5] to embark on the next set of 4 sessions. We’ll build on your skills from 2025, discover new locations, and form new memories. Scroll down this event page to read more about the plans for this series. Some details will be subject to change, based on site availability, permit availability, and group needs.
Session 1 - February 28 | 9:30am-3:30pm
Woodard Bay Conservation Area, NE Olympia
During this outing, we’ll explore the marine shoreline and mature second growth forest of Woodard Bay Conservation Area to learn about coastline plants, winter foraging, and wintertime birds. We’ll do an owl pellet dissection, make tea and a cold infusion from foraged plants, and learn new knife and notch techniques.
Session 2 - March 28 | 9:30am-4:00pm
Inspiring Kids Preserve [Capitol Land Trust Parcel] - Johnson Road (Northeast of Olympia)
Thanks to a partnership with Capitol Land Trust, in March we’ll visit a conservation site not yet open to the public. This space features estuarine brackish wetlands and upland forest where you’ll complete a series of challenges to test your naturalist knowledge, knot tying memory, and primitive fire skills. We’ll wrap the day with a plant-based cooking craft depending on seasonal availability (e.g. spruce tip syrup, hawthorne jam, dandelion fritters).
Session 3 - May 2nd | 9:30am-4:00pm
Morse Heritage Preserve [Forterra NW Parcel] - Graham, WA
In early May we’ll join the blooming wildflowers and migrating birds of the now-rare Garry Oak prairie at Morse Heritage Preserve thanks to our partners at Forterra. This location also features fresh water wetland ecology and borders old growth Douglas Fir forest providing a diverse landscape to learn new plants, identify track and sign from larger fauna, and revisit fungi studies with conks and polypores. We’ll also learn new navigation skills, learn a key survival lashing technique, and create a field-based carving project.
Session 4 - May 30th & 31st | 9:30-4:30 on the 30th, optional overnight stay until 31st
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Ravensdale, WA
For our final outing and campout, we’ll head to the unique Green River Gorge, known for its glacial-carved rugged cliffsides and waterfalls, to test your wildlife identification skills and practice in-field water purification. At the Kanasket Palmer State Park campground, we’ll continue developing your fire skills with space to try new techniques, build up to larger fires and troubleshoot hang ups. Before wrapping the season, we’ll reverse-wrap some cordage from natural fibers and take some time to reflect on our time together. Plus, for those who want to stay overnight, we’ll do dinner and potluck dessert, stories by the fire, and a morning naturalist walk.
Can’t attend all 4 sessions, but still interested? Email ryan@firecraftnw.com and he can create a pro-rated invoice based on which sessions you can attend.
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