Job Posting: Administrative Assistant
Apply now to join our growing team! Position Title: Administrative Assistant Location: Renton, WA The Administrative Assistant will be responsible for supporting the Executive Director and other staff in office tasks. The ideal candidate is dependable,...
A Thank You Letter to Our Native Raccoons
Did you know that October 1st is International Raccoon Appreciation Day? Though a bit late, we at SHADOW would like to celebrate one of Washington’s most resourceful and funny creatures: the raccoon (Procyon lotor). These nocturnal mammals are undoubtedly cute, but...
Frog Frolic Flashback: Hopping Back in Time
We're sorry to announce that there will be no Frog Frolic this year in 2024 — we'll miss you, Frog Frolic! If you're disappointed it's not happening this year, we are seeking event coordinators to help us grow and bring this event back in the future. While we'll...
Canadian Peatland Restoration
Peat used to be big business in the Puget Sound lowlands. So big that in a matter of decades, 90% of the peat deposits that had been building up in the 10,000 or so years since the most recent ice age were depleted. Those that hadn’t been mined for the nursery trade...
Are Prairies Just Bogs Wearing Different P(l)ants?
Since I started working at Shadow, we have been talking about re-planting the meadow at SHADOW to create a “pocket prairie”. As the establishment of an entire ecosystem is a bit daunting, Land Management Specialist Shelley and I decided to join the Native Plant...
Macroinvertebrates
In my experience as an environmental educator, macroinvertebrate is a term mostly used for aquatic animals that are small enough that you may have to squint or use a magnifying glass to look closely, but that you don’t need a microscope to see. These critters,...
Spring Equinox
It’s a relief when we notice the shift to longer days in the spring. Suddenly it’s light when we eat breakfast, and STILL light when we get home from work. But it’s not just we humans who notice. About that same time, the birds start singing, and buds start popping...
Showing Love for the Environment and Yourself
Happy February! We wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day, Lunar New Year, and Black History Month. We, at SHADOW, hope you will take some time for yourself this month and learn about self-care, dazzling dragonflies, organic...
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service. While our work party is full there is ample opportunity for you to continue your connection to habitat by participating in a local Martin Luther King Day of Service event...
Science Communications: Cultural Significance of Wetlands
It is interesting that so many English words for wetlands have negative connotations. When you first hear the words “swamp” or “lagoon” or “mire”, what do you imagine? Chances are, most people picture a dark and unpleasant setting, rather than a vital ecosystem...
Native of the Month: Squirrels
Seven species of these fuzzy rodents call Washington home, but only five of them are native to our area. All live in forests, and are primarily herbivorous, but they are surprisingly diverse in their lifestyles and range. Top predators of most squirrels are domestic...
Young Sustainability: Coffee
We always have new opportunities to form good habits, but a new year feels like a great time to explore our practices. In this article of Young Sustainability by former SHADOW Intern, Isabella Boparai, she explores the negative effects of coffee on rainforest and ways...
Habitat Habits
Many of us start off our new year with resolutions or habits we want to adopt or goals that we want to accomplish. People have been making promises or resolutions going as far back as the Babylonians, some 4000 years ago, celebrating their new year in March. With the...
Join us Forest Bathing!
The times I feel most calm are during a backpacking trip or when foraging for mushrooms. These are a few of the rare times that my thinking slows and I am reminded of the large scale of nature, making my little problems seem less important. It has been proven time and...
Science Communications: Do Trees Talk?
As humans, there can be an urge to personify everything, and as a naturalist, this is a helpful tool to emphasize the importance of protecting ecosystems. However, there is a Western scientific rule of thumb that says personification is dangerous, that it can lead...
Spicy Steps in the Forest Shadows
You may have seen dark, heart-shaped leaves cascading down a slope under conifer trees in the deep forest. Or perhaps you have spied a carpet of hearts peeking out of a snowy bank in the woods. I have discovered Wild Ginger in several spots throughout the Pacific...
Why do we plant in the fall and winter?
Winter is the Best Time for Planting: Leaves of all colors are falling from the trees, most flowers have frozen, and the garden may look dead. The weather is dark and rainy, and you may not be dreaming of spending time working outside. So why is winter the best time...
Fall is When the Bog Comes Alive – Come Visit!
Though it may be cold and rainy, autumn is one of the best times to visit the bog and see it in its full glory. Shadow Lake Bog looks completely different in fall than in summer. By comparing these differences that we can come to a better understanding of the systems...
Native of the Month: Bryophytes
The first plants to adapt to life out of water were Bryophytes, plants that reproduce via spores and have no circulatory system: the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. These amazing little plants have no roots, but they may have rhizoids to anchor them to their...
Haunting Happenings in the World of Insects
Admittedly, I am not much of a scary movie buff, but whenever I do buckle in for a scare, I am struck by how many scary movie tropes are reminiscent of real-life happenings in the insect world. One spooky concept often explored in the horror genre is ‘mysterious and...
Young Sustainability: Fast Fashion
As we continue to be mindful of our practices, we continue to change our habits and improve the environment. Did you know that many products can be unstable, due to the company's materials and practices? However, many companies today are taking the initiative to...
