In the Northern Hemisphere, each December 21, the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the winter season and the longest night of the year. This astronomical event is significant to many cultures, religions, and traditions, for many different reasons. IslandWood’s mission is to provide exceptional learning experiences that inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship. Gathering our community in awe, understanding, and celebration of the cosmos is one way to usher in the peaceful quiet of the colder months of the year, and renew awareness and understanding of biological phenomena that connect us all.
We are offering two hike routes with separate hike times. Our Family Walk will be shorter and take you past silhouettes of bigleaf maples and around the Forest Loop past our boggy peatlands. Our Welcome Center doors will open at 5:00 PM to check you in, greet you, and get you set up with your lantern. After which, we will ask your group to wait outdoors until we begin the guided experience at 5:30 PM. The walk will end at 6:30.
The Silent Walk is a great choice for adults and older youth who wish to experience a more meditative experience and will be a longer route, passing our freshwater pond and across our Suspension Bridge lit with luminaries. Our Welcome Center doors will open at 7:00 PM to check you in, greet you, and get you set up with your lantern. After which, we will ask your group to wait outdoors until we begin the guided experience at 7:30 PM. The walk will end at 9:00.
IslandWood is grateful for the support of our friends at Bloedel Reserve, and we are proud to pick up the torch to bring a solstice walk to our community this year, as both organizations care deeply for the land and our human connection and relationship with it.
Our team wishes you a warm, cozy, and healthy winter season!
Health & Safety
Your health and safety, as well as that of our staff, is our first priority. We’ll be limiting the number of guests walking the trails and will be acting in accordance with current health and safety guidelines. We ask that you bring a mask to wear to keep you, and those around you, safe.
Service animals only, please.
Accessibility
We work to ensure that all reasonable accommodations are in place so that everyone can fully participate and learn during their time on our campus. All indoor spaces and many of our outdoor spaces and field structures were built and are continually maintained to meet ADA code, adhering to WAC 51-50. Learn more about the physical accessibility of our campus here.
IslandWood is grateful for the support from the Fletcher Bay Foundation.
