IslandWood

10/20/2026

Finding the time to get your Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification is tough—most courses demand 9 to 10 straight days away from work and life.

That’s why this course is so rare: a 5-day NOLS Hybrid WFR right here in Western Washington.

Initial hybrid WFR courses from rarely pop up locally in this format. You complete 30–40 hours of self-paced coursework online first, then join us for just 5 intensive days of hands-on, scenario-based backcountry rescue training (Dec 19–23)—cutting your in-person time in half without sacrificing the gold standard of wilderness medicine.

Whether you guide professionally, lead outdoor groups, or want the ultimate medical decision-making skills for your own backcountry adventures, don’t wait on this one.

🌲 When: Dec 19–23
📍 Location: IslandWood, Bainbridge Island
🎒 Format: Hybrid (Self-paced online + 5 days in the field)

Spots for this format fill fast. Learn More >> https://bit.ly/4zGGahG

10/16/2026

Ever wonder how an owl hunts in total silence, or how bats navigate using only sound? 🦉🦇

Bring the whole family to IslandWood on Saturday, October 24, for Hoots & Howls: A Spooktacular Evening! Explore night trails at your own pace, test your senses with hands-on nocturnal science, and gather around the campfire for hot cocoa, treats, and songs. ☕🍬

100% family-friendly (costumes encouraged)!

Reserve your spot >> https://bit.ly/4zXnn1N

10/14/2026

Seven outcomes measured. Seven above-average results.

These findings reflect what can happen when our strong education team, passionate school partners, and committed donor community come together around a shared belief: that every young person deserves meaningful opportunities to learn, explore, and belong in nature.

10/07/2026

Join us Monday, October 12, as IslandWood gathers with community to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington.

We invite you to come together for an afternoon centered on culture, reflection, and connection.

Event Highlights:
• Screening and community discussion of Strawberry Fields Forever: Picker Cabin Stories
• Elders Blanketing Ceremony
• Drumming
• Community potluck (bring a dish or treat to share!)

💲Free Admission!
📅 When: Monday, October 12 | 3 – 6PM
📍 Where: Bainbridge Island Senior & Community Center

All are welcome. We hope to see you there!

10/05/2026

Congratulations to IslandWood board chair, Chas Malatesta on her well deserved recognition from YWCA Kitsap County! What a gift you are to this community, Chas!!!

🌟 Meet Our 2026 Honorees!

Today we are proud to celebrate Chasity Malatesta, recipient of the 2026 Linda K. Joyce Award.

Chasity is an educator, equity advocate, and community leader whose work focuses on creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Through advocacy, mentorship, education, and service, she continues to make a meaningful impact throughout Kitsap County.

We are honored to recognize Chasity and celebrate the leadership, compassion, and commitment she brings to our community.

💐 Join us October 9th for the 2026 Women of Achievement Gala, A Bold & Beautiful Evening of Impact.

🎟️ Tickets: https://square.link/u/5YkoDFpi

10/05/2026

When children are given the opportunity to spend meaningful time outdoors, away from distractions and immersed in shared experiences, they often begin to notice things they might otherwise miss, both in nature and in one another.

Last month, St. Thomas School brought their fifth graders to IslandWood for the School Overnight Program. When they got back to school, students reflected on their experience in a variety of ways, including one who wrote this poem that we were a bit gobsmacked by, and thought you might be too 💚

10/01/2026

Voted 2026 Best of Bainbridge in Three Categories! 🙌

💒 🌲Best Wedding & Event Venue & Best Conference Spaces... two years in a row!
♻️ Best Earth Friendly Business/Organization

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted and trusted IslandWood with their milestone celebrations. Beyond offering 250 acres of quiet forest and gathering spaces for weddings, retreats, and reunions, every event hosted here does something bigger: it directly supports scholarships for youth across our region to experience the magic of outdoor learning. ✨

Thinking of hosting your next gathering in the woods? Click IslandWood.org/PrivateEvents to explore our spaces and start planning.

09/29/2026

Megan Karch is IslandWood's CEO. She's also a parent, an outdoor enthusiast, and a pretty serious Broadway musical fan.

To celebrate her birthday month, we asked her eight quick questions about everything from favorite school subjects to what she hopes students take away from their time with IslandWood.

We hope you enjoy getting to know her a little better!

09/28/2026

Autumn in the Pacific Northwest may not look like New England, but our mossy, evergreen woods have plenty of seasonal secrets of their own. 🍂🌲

Head out on the trails with us this Sunday, October 4, on our Bainbridge Island campus and discover a few!

What’s actually happening inside a bigleaf maple as summer green gives way to gold? Why do some species blaze with color while others fade straight to brown? How does a tree know when it’s time to drop its leaves? And how do animals prep for winter?

🎟️ Get Tickets >> https://bit.ly/4iUjIMU

09/25/2026

Nature’s Best Engineers vs. IslandWood Facilities...AGAIN! 🦫🪵🍂

Every fall, our Facilities crew suits up in waders to clear the Floating Classroom of sticks, mud, and logs our resident beavers pack around Mac's Pond overflow pipe.

Why? That big metal pipe hums with running water like a giant speaker, and to a beaver, the sound of running water means one thing: LEAK. MUST FIX.

We deconstruct, they rebuild. It’s a years-long rivalry where nobody gets hurt—except maybe the beavers' egos, and whichever crew member accidentally drinks pond water.

Happy Friday from the dam good team keeping our pond running! 🌲💧

Image description: IslandWood facilities team—from front to back and left to right: David (IslandWood volunteer 💚), Mark, Jeff and Tannar are clearing out sticks, branches, and debris from underneath and around the a wooden deck leading to the Floating Classroom (seen in the background).