See Our January 2024 eNews

Bells rang in the Preservation Trust’s offices on December 14, 2023, as we celebrated the addition of a 58-acre woodland haven on Orcas Island to our network of preserves. Nestled near the northern shore West Sound, the land was a donation from the estate of Frank S. Bayley III. The donated property is called the Three Brothers Preserve in honor of Frank and his brothers, Doug and Tom, who were the Preservation Trust’s first board members when the organization was founded in 1979.

In the online version of our Winter 2023 Dispatch newsletter, we recap highlights of the year in the "Three Cs" of our mission: Conserve, Care, and Connect -- and we acknowledge all those who supported our mission with their contributions as donors and volunteers. (Plus: pretty pictures!)

The Preservation Trust recently posted a new career opportunity—the position of Director of Communications and Outreach (DCO). In addition to serving as a senior member of our collaborative leadership team, the DCO leads all aspects of external communications, digital and print marketing, and public education/community outreach activities. A successful DCO will be a powerful storyteller with a strong command of written, verbal, and visual media. Learn more here.

In addition, we continue to seek applicants for a conservation-minded fundraising professional. Learn more about the Philanthropy Associate position. 

See below for yet another employment opportunity!

We are seeking applicants (ages 18+) for our 2024 Fred E. Ellis Summer Internship. This year, most of the Intern’s time will be spent assisting our Stewardship group as they perform restoration, monitoring, and maintenance work on SJPT-protected lands throughout the San Juan archipelago. Applications are due on or before March 8, 2024.

Join us at the Sundstrom Farm Preserve on San Juan Island to help restore native vegetation along San Juan Valley Creek.

Help us seed host plants in SJPT's Island Marble Butterfly habitat plots on San Juan Island. (Session 1 of 2)

Help us seed host plants in SJPT's Island Marble Butterfly habitat plots on San Juan Island. (Session 2 of 2)

Help us give the heave-ho to invasive English holly at the beautiful Marilyn and Fred Ellis Preserve on Shaw Island.

Join SJPT staff for a fieldwork foray around Reef Island, where we'll focus on beach cleanup. Shearwater Adventures is offering to supply kayaks to registrants who don't have their own vessel.

On the evening before our first Bluebird Blitz of the year, join us at Red Mill Farm for an evening of Q & A about Western Bluebirds. Returning and new volunteers alike are encouraged to attend.

Our first Bluebird Blitz of the year. As a volunteer community scientist, you’ll be assigned to an area on San Juan Island to search for Western Bluebirds to assess where they have returned from winter migration.

Our second Bluebird Blitz of the year. As a volunteer community scientist, you’ll be assigned to an area on San Juan Island to search for Western Bluebirds to assess where they have returned from winter migration.

Leslie Veirs and her husband, Val Veirs (pictured), have participated in our region's contribution to the statewide swan count for years. They were one of the few folks who made it past the snow accumulation and out to their assigned territory to look for swans. Leslie and Val's commitment to the cause is evident by their willingness to get out and monitor despite harsh weather. Leslie's photo pretty much sums up the 2024 Swan Count in a single image: lots of frozen water and few waterfowl were anywhere in sight on January 19, the day of the count.

Thank you, Leslie (and Val), for your support of this important statewide effort, and for sharing your photography skills!