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If you’ve been wanting to impress all of your friends with your knowledge about plants, this series is the right place for you! Across three separate sessions, we’ll cover plant anatomy and botany basics, an introduction to ethnobotany, and an introduction to foraging. By the end of the series, you’ll leave with a strong foundation in plant studies, a deeper connection to the flora around you, and the resources to keep learning!
Session 1 - Plants and Botany Overview
Darlin Creek Preserve
Sunday, July 12, 2026
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Learn foundational concepts that help us understand the world of plants and how to identify them
Discuss ecology, conditions, and range maps to understand which habitats support different types plants
Start with identifying essential PNW flora that will be prevalent throughout the region
Get to know your cohort that will participate alongside you in this summer series through mixers, activities, and group lessons
Review resources covering Plant ID, Foraging, and Ethnobotany
Session 2 - Ethnobotany and Human Relationships with Plants
Woodard Bay Conservation Area (Northeast of Olympia)
Sunday, July 26, 2026
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Introduce the subject of ethnobotany and define human relationships with plants throughout human history
Walk the trails and coastline at Woodard Bay to discuss plants of this habitat, and how people can use them or learn how people have historically used them
Learn how to create lengths of cordage from foraged plants at the picnic shelter using the reverse wrap technique
Review / study examples of plants used as tools, food, medicine, and culture
Continue to reinforce and practice learned plants while incorporating new ones into your repertoire
Session 3 - Foraging, Plant Safety, Sustainable Harvest, Continuing Skills
Sunday, August 9th, 2026
Burfoot Park (North Olympia)
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Focus your plant studies on common plant species we can safely forage for
Discuss and learn about the foundations of sustainable and ethical harvesting
Continue to reinforce and practice learned plants while incorporating new ones into your repertoire
Hike the trails and beaches of Burfoot Park and continue to identify and study plants of the area
Forage summer plants for a simple snack at the shelter
Recap and conclude the summer plant series
Accessibility
Each session will be a blend of interactive activities, short lectures in the field, and hiking the trails. We’ll likely hike between 1.5 and 2.5 miles each session.
Additional information about where to park and meetup will be sent to registered participants in the week leading up to the first session of the series.
If you’ve been wanting to impress all of your friends with your knowledge about plants, this series is the right place for you! Across three separate sessions, we’ll cover plant anatomy and botany basics, an introduction to ethnobotany, and an introduction to foraging. By the end of the series, you’ll leave with a strong foundation in plant studies, a deeper connection to the flora around you, and the resources to keep learning!
Session 1 - Plants and Botany Overview
Darlin Creek Preserve
Sunday, July 12, 2026
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Learn foundational concepts that help us understand the world of plants and how to identify them
Discuss ecology, conditions, and range maps to understand which habitats support different types plants
Start with identifying essential PNW flora that will be prevalent throughout the region
Get to know your cohort that will participate alongside you in this summer series through mixers, activities, and group lessons
Review resources covering Plant ID, Foraging, and Ethnobotany
Session 2 - Ethnobotany and Human Relationships with Plants
Woodard Bay Conservation Area (Northeast of Olympia)
Sunday, July 26, 2026
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Introduce the subject of ethnobotany and define human relationships with plants throughout human history
Walk the trails and coastline at Woodard Bay to discuss plants of this habitat, and how people can use them or learn how people have historically used them
Learn how to create lengths of cordage from foraged plants at the picnic shelter using the reverse wrap technique
Review / study examples of plants used as tools, food, medicine, and culture
Continue to reinforce and practice learned plants while incorporating new ones into your repertoire
Session 3 - Foraging, Plant Safety, Sustainable Harvest, Continuing Skills
Sunday, August 9th, 2026
Burfoot Park (North Olympia)
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Focus your plant studies on common plant species we can safely forage for
Discuss and learn about the foundations of sustainable and ethical harvesting
Continue to reinforce and practice learned plants while incorporating new ones into your repertoire
Hike the trails and beaches of Burfoot Park and continue to identify and study plants of the area
Forage summer plants for a simple snack at the shelter
Recap and conclude the summer plant series
Accessibility
Each session will be a blend of interactive activities, short lectures in the field, and hiking the trails. We’ll likely hike between 1.5 and 2.5 miles each session.
Additional information about where to park and meetup will be sent to registered participants in the week leading up to the first session of the series.