The Program

Washington State is without a doubt one of the most picturesque, eco-rich states of our nation. With its lush green landscapes, towering coniferous forests and stunning rock-strewn shorelines, this state is frequently featured in movies and TV shows. But, did you know that the Evergreen State wasn’t always so green – and amidst all its notoriety for rainfall and cloudy skies, the forests of Washington have changed and migrated, following the earth’s evolving climate patterns and rehoming themselves as a response to climate change.

It is fascinating to learn that Washington State houses one of the most globally significant, adaptively advanced and diverse forest landscapes on the planet. These coniferous forests, ancient in age, are actually quite sophisticated in their ability to literately adjust as needed to climate change. Join us as we investigate this phenomenal adaptation. From forest migrations patterns to the wildlife that depend on them, our program will focus on the intersections between climate change, diverse forest types, wildlife habitat, and Pacific Northwest culture. Together, we will explore iconic Northwest landscapes as we link past geologic and climatic events to ancient fossil sites and living fossil trees. We then quickly move into studies of current forest issues as we learn to identify forest communities and the ecological characteristics that drive forest composition and structure. Expect to gain an understanding of how climate influences forests and vice-versa, how forests influence climate, all while honing the field skills used by climate experts and wildlife managers to study forests, identify trees and support forest-dependent wildlife.

Traveling across Washington, we will follow a transect of climate and terrain as we camp, backpack and explore dryland forests, temperature rainforests, and alpine forests to learn dendrology and important ecological field techniques used to study forests. We’ll uncover the mystery of why Washington’s temperate rainforest trees are amongst the tallest, oldest and highest volume on the planet. We will unlock the secrets of tree ring studies and learn how scientists use lake sediment coring to reconstruct past climate and forest fire frequencies. And we’ll ramble through alpine meadows at peak wildflower season to investigate meadow encroachment as climate warming drives plant and animal communities upslope and poleward.

Disturbance and forests are intertwined. During our journey of forests, we’ll witness the awesome power of volcanic eruptions and the importance of fire ecology on forest communities. Students will transform their understanding of forests and climate during day trips to active fossil digging sites and visiting fossilized forests at Ginkgo State Park to longer forays at Mt. Saint Helens National Monument. We’ll backpack the famous Hoh River Trail within Olympic National Park and finish our program near the peaks of Mt. Rainier National Park.

Throughout the course, students will participate in field research and learn the process of science, from data collection to communicating findings. You will also learn to observe change and articulate field observations through a variety of ways, including mapping forest communities and short essays on topics related to forest and wildlife ecology, and conservation. Likely too will be the opportunity to contribute to understanding forest bird, mammal, and bat community composition at selected sites and methods for assessing wildlife occurrence.

This program will transform your understanding of forests and climate across space and time. Students will depart the program with an advanced ecological understanding of how Washington’s forested landscapes have evolved and continue to adjust to climate change. Come prepared to study and to live within awe-inspiring landscapes across elevational gradients from lush Pacific lowland rainforests to high alpine flower-strewn meadows.