WSU Island County Beach Watchers are proud to present ...
The Earth

A.3 Bluffs & Beaches: The Highs & Lows
Learn about coastal geologic processes on Whidbey and Camano Islands. We will talk about shoreline erosion, beach formation, and how our coastline changes over time. Hugh Shipman [see article]

A.20 Using Garden Chemicals Wisely
To spray or not to spray? What constitutes a pesticide? Are organics always safer than synthetics? How do I use a backpack sprayer? And the most important question, "What ever shall I wear"? All these questions will be answered in this entertaining but informative talk on pesticide safety. Olivia Forte-Gardner
Please note: Sharon Collman, Snohomish County Extension Educator for Ag and Integrated Pest Management, will be teaching this session for Olivia Forte-Gardner.

B.9 Hope, Humanity, and Climate Change
Taking an holistic look at climate change and ways to mitigate it offers us hope. Looking at it from a philosophical, social, medical and spiritual perspective takes into account factors larger than science and can give us the opportunity to transform our current "way of life" into one that offers health, happiness and hope. Sarah Martin

B.16 Saving Natural Habitats: the Long-Term
Whidbey Camano Land Trust is a local nonprofit nature conservancy that has permanently protected over 5,300 acres of critical wildlife habitat on Whidbey and Camano Islands. Learn how it protects and stewards these lands and where the lands are located. Find out what the Trust is currently working on and how its' efforts are helping to ensure the health and connectivity of our islands' natural systems. Patricia Powell [see article]

C.3 Care and Feeding of Septic Systems
Learn how to keep your septic system from menacing your property, your pocketbook and the environment. Joe Laxson

C.10 Protecting Puget Sound Using LID
Most of the runoff from our roads, roofs, driveways and parking lots dumps directly into Puget Sound untreated. Come and learn about Low Impact Development (LID) techniques such as rain gardens and permeable pavements, and resources to help treat and infiltrate storm water runoff at your home or business! Stacy Smith

C.14 Storm & Waste Water: Coupeville's Plan
Coupeville is exploring ways to use waste and storm water for irrigation on Ebey's Prairie. Come and hear about their plan. Nancy Conard, Rex Porter, Joe Hillers

C.16 Stream Mapping for Puget Sound
The State's regulatory (water type) maps that identify critical areas are demonstrably inaccurate; thus many streams are not receiving the protection they should under existing laws. Water type inventories correct mapping errors and enable existing laws to better protect the streams that sustain the nearshore environments. Come learn about regulatory stream maps, why they're broken, and what can be done to fix them. Jamie Glasgow

C.18 Wetland Ecology
Ever wonder why there is such an interest in regulating wetlands (and not quite as much focus on regulating "uplands"?). Come join our lively discussion and find out why. Dyanne Shelton

C.19 Whose Beach Is It?
Discuss the history of shoreline development in Island County and the challenges faced in balancing the appropriate use of shorelines and protection of the marine environment. Matt Kukuk
Island History

A.4 Estuaries and Human History
Estuaries were the cradle of human culture. Explore how they and climate are changing and how those changes will affect our civilization. David Henry

A.12 People of the Coast Salish Sea
The Coast Salish Sea has been inhabited since time immemorial by the Coast Salish peoples. This presentation will include the Coast Salish perspective on the life of the people and wildlife of the Coast Salish Sea. Larry will share his insights on topics of spirituality, ways of life, thinking and lifestyles of the native peoples. Larry Campbell

B.1 Ebey's Reserve: A Cultural Landscape
Watch an award winning video by CHS students and discover the cultural landscape of Ebey's Reserve. Learn why it's more than just a pretty place: two state parks, a lighthouse, 18 working farms, more than 350 historic structures, hiking trails, Puget Sound, and new development. A mix of old and new: Ebey's Reserve at 30, and charting our course for the next 30 years. Mark Preiss, Jordan Lamb, Connor Tasoff

B.10 Native American Adaptation to Whidbey
Learn about resources, and their historical use by Native Americans, on Whidbey Island. Learn techniques for foraging in our "mega optimum zone" and about Native American lifestyles, tools and artifacts. Lou LaBombard [see article]

C.1 "Water Spirits" of Puget Sound
This wonderful historian and storyteller will share her cultural heritage in a riveting presentation. Learn about the Samish tribal relationship to the water spirits and their respect for the sea life of Puget Sound. Rosie Cayou [see article]

C.4 Ferry Tales
"Ferry Tales" is a compendium of tales about all the strange and wonderful things that happen on ferry boats. Some of the stories are historical; others contemporary. Each story is told from a different point of view: the captain, a crew member, a passenger, an historian, or a bystander, and illuminates, in some small way, the ancient and on-going relationship between man (and woman), and the boat. Jill Johnson [see article]

C.12 Rosario ... of Legends and Tidepools
Get your feet wet in the history, culture, fragility, and stewardship of Rosario Beach and Deception Pass State Park. Sammye Kempbell [see article]
Island Living

A.5 It's Your County
Learn the basics of county government and local bi-partisan politics, how county government works, what elected officials do, how decisions are made, and citizens' key role in the democratic process. John Dean [see article]

A.7 Life's a Beach - Fish from It
Learn fishing techniques and tips, from the shore or from a boat. Toby Black

A.14 Solar 4R Schools - The Project
Find out everything you could want to know about energy efficiency and sustainability projects underway at the Coupeville Schools. Students will present an overview of their Senior Project - Solar 4R Schools. Learn how solar energy technology will be integrated into the middle and high school curriculum. Terry Welch, Alexia Hemphill, Colleen Fox, Cathy d'Almeida

A.15 Sound Kayaking
Kayaking can be a lifestyle enjoyed by all ages and our own backyard offers amazing opportunities to enjoy this sport. Learn about possible destinations, safety considerations, equipment needs, and potential hazards. Pete Stevens

A.17 The Truth About Trash
Where does all our trash come from and where does it go? Learn the ins and outs of garbage and recycling, what really happens to all that trash and what you can do to reduce it. Janet Hall [see article]

A.19 Two Islands, 12 State Parks
Discover and explore the diversity of the State Parks on Whidbey and Camano Islands. Learn about their history, their management, their ties to the communities, and their plans for the future. Jack Hartt [see article]

B.2 Emergency Preparedness!!!
What supplies do you need? What preparations should you make to keep your family safe when an unexpected calamity hits? Get the answers to these important questions. Alan Whitman

B.3 Environment and Power Generation
Production of electricity from fossil fuels, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, and biofuels will be discussed and compared. The fundamental differences between production from fossil fuels and nuclear fuel will be explored. Dan Moon

B.4 Finding Food & Fiber Locally
What's your local-sphere? Whether you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint or reduce your food miles, this class helps you determine where and how to look for the local stuff you love. Olivia Forte-Gardner [see article]
Please note: This class will be taught by Peg Tennant, Coupeville Farmers' Market Manager, who has been eating local all her life, and Sheila Case-Smith, a 4th generation family farmer and active market vendor, for Olivia Forte-Gardner.

B.5 Fly Fishing 101
This will be a discussion of where and when to fish, and the effects of tides and currents. Neal will also cover equipment: rods, reels, lines, leaders and flies used in salt water fishing. Bring your questions. Neal Sims

B.7 Gardening on Puget Sound Bluffs
An all new version of an old favorite class: What's growing on my bluff? How do I protect my investment? Can I save my trees and have a view? What is the right thing to plant? Where can I find the information I need? Handouts on resources and research for use in your own garden will be provided. Duane Hoekstra, Sue Hoekstra

B.8 Get Crazy, Not Lazy, Teaching Kids
Activity is the key when teaching kids. If they're involved physically, emotionally, and mentally, they'll "get it". Learn experiential teaching techniques for the kid in all of us! Maribeth Crandell [see article]

B.14 Safe and Sound Drinking Water
Do we have enough water? Is pollution a concern? Knowledgeable activists will discuss the future of our water supplies. Larry Bach, Don Lee

B.15 Safe Harvest of Shellfish
Learn about the public health issues involved with protecting shellfish habitat and preserving water quality for safe shellfish harvest. Kathleen Parvin

B.17 Sustainable Towns - the Mayors Speak!
Graham Johnson will facilitate this forum of Island County Mayors discussing the actions our towns are taking to be more proactive in caring for the environment. Nancy Conard, Jim Slowik, Paul Samuelson [see article]
Please note: Robert Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem of Langley will be taking Mayor Paul Samuelson's place on this panel.

B.18 The Sustainable House - an Example
Learn about resources and options, from site preparation to solar power, that will enable you to build a greener home as your own contractor - from a woman who did one. Nicole Luce [see article]

C.2 Beach Watcher's Training Exposed!
Sue and Sarah will share what it means to be a Beach Watcher, what the training is like for new volunteers, and the activities available for BW. WSU Beach Watcher program is a worthwhile commitment - 100 hours of expert training from top professionals. Sue Howard, Sarah Martin [see article]

C.8 Options for Renewable Energy
Do you think it is time to kick the hydrocarbon habit and use more renewable energy? This class is an overview of the various renewable energy options available in the Pacific Northwest, including site evaluation, selection criteria, current state of the technology, and incentives available to home owners. Kelly Keilwitz

C.13 Rural Island Real Estate: Consider This!
Become aware of important issues to consider when buying real estate on an island including: watersheds, septic tanks, wells, environmental issues, and sustainability. Kevin Brutsche

C.15 Straight Talk on the Seafood You Eat
Where does the seafood you eat in local restaurants and buy in local food stores come from and how is it caught? What's the difference between farmed and wild? Which fish are harvested sustainably? Pete Granger
Marine Life

A.2 A Sound Partnership
What is it going to take to turn things around in Puget Sound? The Puget Sound Partnership has drafted the first ever Action Agenda, a comprehensive plan for reversing the sharp decline in the health of Puget Sound. Come find out what the plan is and how you can take part! Kristen Cooley [see article]

A.6 Kelp to Crab: The Magic of the Sea
The class is a slide show and discussion covering some of the major groups of marine organisms found in the Pacific Northwest, with an emphasis on showing organisms in their natural environment. Jon Gross [see article]

A.9 Meet Your Intertidal Neighbors
There's more on our beaches than barnacles and mussels! Beach walkers, scuba divers and natural history buffs will learn about intertidal animals. Mary Jo Adams, Rick Blank [see article]

A.13 Salmon: Just Passin' Through ...
Use of nearshore areas by juvenile salmon are important to the health of salmon populations in this region. Explore how juvenile salmon use these habitats, the effects of human alterations to the nearshore environment and what we can do to better protect and restore this part of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Kurt Fresh

A.16 The Rise and Fall of Puget Sound Tides
What makes tides work? Explore the celestial, earthly, local geographic, and bathymetric factors involved in shaping the high and low tides we experience in the Puget Sound. Jan Holmes
Please note: Lili Yocom, Beach Watcher 08, will be filling in for Jan Holmes for this session.

A.18 Tracking Invasive Marine Species
Because exotic marine species pose many challenges to the Puget Sound ecosystem, regular citizens are actively monitoring beaches, docks and sub-tidal areas. Learn about the identification and tracking of exotic species in Puget Sound from both the historical perspective of non-native species introductions and current threats. Ann Eissinger

B.6 Food Under Water - Penn Cove Shellfish
What are those things floating in the water? Below the surface of Penn Cove is a farm where the "crops" needn't be sown, fertilized, medicated or irrigated. Learn what takes place under the water and how the shellfish are seeded, thinned and grown out for harvest. Ian Jefferds, Tim Jones [see article]

B.11 Over Medicated Waters
Unwanted medicines at home pose risks to our families, communities and the environment. Learn about those risks and key findings from the statewide Medicine Return Pilot Program coordinated by the PH:ARM team. Find out how you can help and the next steps for establishing a permanent program. Alice Chapman

B.12 Plastic - In All the Wrong Places
A survey of the quality and effects that plastic marine debris has on humans and wildlife, with a focus on the research Port Townsend Marine Science Center has been conducting throughout the Puget Sound. Jen Kingfisher

B.13 Pollution in Puget Sound
An overview of the state of the science on toxics and the health of Puget Sound. Key threats, ongoing research, and future challenges to biological conservation will be explored. Nat Scholz

B.19 Toxic Logs, Sunken Ships, Killer Nets
This session will focus on three marine debris removal projects ongoing in Washington state: derelict fishing gear removal, creosote debris removal, and derelict vessel removal. Simon Geerlofs, Lisa Kaufman, Melissa Montgomery

B.20 Where Have All the Salmon Gone?
Hear an overview of the Puget Sound Partnership's salmon recovery efforts, key strategies, and how you can be involved. Morgan Schneidler, Barbara Rosenkotter, Ann Boyce

C.7 O, Sailor, Beware...
Learn the effects and hazards of wind on currents, and how to predict the roughest waters and Deception Pass hazards. Identify two main fog types, how to cross shipping lanes, and avoid rocks and shallow areas. Practical safety suggestions will be offered. Doug Bishop
Plant Life

A.10 Native Plant Communities
This is a short tour of the Island's many native plant communities, and how to encourage native plant diversity in the backyard based on your property's individual characteristics. James Guzman

A.11 Only Rain Down the Drain
The worst pollution in Puget Sound comes from our storm water. Low Impact Development strategies, like rain gardens, naturally filter and slow storm water. See how these strategies are being implemented on Whidbey Island. Maribeth Crandell [see article]

C.5 Knowing and Loving Native Plants
This class will look at the many wonderful native plants found on Whidbey Island with a focus on how to effectively use them in your garden. June Davis

C.20 Wild Mushrooms or Fun with Fungi
Curious about the mushrooms in your yard and in the forests of Western Washington? Learn about which mushrooms are edible, and how fungi interact with your trees and plants. Scott Chase [see article]
Wildlife

A.1 A Real Charmer: the Pigeon Guillemot
The beaches and waters around Whidbey Island offer summer breeding and winter feeding to many seabirds. Through photos and videos we'll track the yearly cycle of guillemots, those lively, red-footed clowns of our summer beaches. We'll discover how our inland waters attract murres, murrelets, auklets and the occasional puffin. Frances Wood [see article]

A.8 Marine Mammals of Puget Sound
Learn about the natural history of local marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions) and how we are negatively affecting their habitat and why they are stranding on our beaches. Sandy Dubpernell

B.21 Wildlife Photography
An award winning wildlife photographer reveals the tricks and stories behind samples of his work. He describes equipment, locations, and techniques for getting better photos of our local wildlife. Bart Rulon [see article]

C.6 Masters of the Sky: Island County Birds
View colorful close up photographs of Whidbey Island's amazing birds and learn where to look for them. Craig Johnson, Joy Johnson [see article]

C.9 Orca Family History
Once considered indiscriminate killers of all life, Southern Resident Salish Sea orcas have been discovered to be gentle family-oriented animals that form distinct cultures and interact with each other. Susan Berta, Howard Garrett [see article]

C.11 Raptors in the Reserve
Learn about raptors found in Ebey's Reserve, field ID, hot spots and little-known facts. Bring your questions. Pat Cozine

C.17 The Case of the Disappearing Sea Birds
Marine birds are at ever increasing risk for survival. This talk will highlight some of the studies going on and what is being done to protect marine birds in our area. John Bowers [see article]

C.21 Wildlife Art
An award winning professional wildlife artist offers a behind the scenes look at how he creates wildlife paintings. Bart Rulon [see article]