32nd Annual Sound Waters University

Elective class selections can be made on the next screen - select "Continue" below.

We’ll start by looking for seabirds such as Rhinoceros Auklets from the bluff at historic Fort Casey State Park. A walk around the picnic grounds offers a chance to see forest birds. The trip will finish with a stop at Keystone Ferry and then a look for shorebirds and raptors along Crockett Lake.

Deer Lagoon Preserve is a National Audubon-registered Important Bird Area (IBA) with at least 211 different bird species documented. It consists of marsh, tidelands/mud flats, open water, and surrounding woodlands. The species mix is appropriate to these habitats. Washington State Fish and Wildlife has concluded Deer Lagoon is the single most important site on Whidbey Island for use by waterfowl, year around. The lagoon is a critical resting and feeding site for migrating shorebirds in the spring and fall. It has been labeled the most important wetland in Island County.

Join us at Keystone Farm and Forest to explore this recently protected 216-acre treasure, preserved by the Land Trust. Dive into the rich history of this special island site, discover native plants, and witness the latest restoration efforts firsthand. You will also get a glimpse into exciting plans! This scenic walk offers stunning views and a beautiful 2/3-mile stretch of shoreline. Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to connect with nature.

Join us at Keystone Farm and Forest to explore this recently protected 216-acre treasure, preserved by the Land Trust. Dive into the rich history of this special island site, discover native plants, and witness the latest restoration efforts firsthand. You will also get a glimpse into exciting plans! This scenic walk offers stunning views and a beautiful 2/3-mile stretch of shoreline. Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to connect with nature.

Nothing is constant but change! Come explore Libbey Beach Park just north of Partridge Point on western Whidbey Island. Learn how tectonic, glacial and shoreline processes shape our western Whidbey Island nearshore bluffs and beaches. See firsthand how our famous “feeder bluffs” erode and play a vital role in the life of the sea. The dynamic husband and wife duo of PaulBen (geology) and Jeanie McElwain (marine biology) provide complementary and magical interpretation of nature dynamically at work at this beach in winter, including necessities and challenges of bluff erosion, unique & essential marine life, and the effects of warming waters, storm surge and sea level rise.

In 2018, The Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Island County and Friends of Camano Island State Parks (FOCIP) successfully acquired the land that became Barnum Point Preserve also known as Barnum Point County Park. Impressive views of the Salish Sea, Olympic and Cascade Mountains, wetlands and other vistas from viewing platforms accentuate the inherent sense of a wilderness setting found here. This field trip is a guided walk led by naturalists from FOCIP. Through their perspective, you’ll explore secluded ponds and wetlands, the Port Susan shoreline, high bluffs and unspoiled tidelands. Primarily, you’ll learn about this mature coastal forest, with a focus on the unique Pacific Madrone. You’ll leave this trip with an enhanced awareness of the ecological value of this protected Park that ensures habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including shellfish, birds, insects and mammals, provides a critical refuge and feeding area for juvenile salmon, and secures a vital section of the Pacific Flyway, a key stop for hundreds of thousands of migratory waterbirds. 

Box lunches to be provided by Whidbey Provisions.  Supplies are limited.  Available options include: Classic Turkey, French Ham and Brie, Loaded Veggie, Falafel Wrap, and Big Green Salad (with options for roasted chicken or tempeh).  Gluten-free bread available.  Option will be selected on the next screen.