Summer is coming to an end, and fittingly, I just spent several beautiful rain splashed days on the Olympic Peninsula. Susannah Spock, our Water Fish and Wildlife Program Manager, is based in Port Angeles and we have several exciting new projects in the works that we’ll be sharing with you all very soon!

I am always energized by my trips around the state. On this trip I got to meet with inspiring local leaders working to make sure tribal treaty rights are honored, providing homes for youth living on the street, and protecting the health of the one of the most unique and inspiring ecosystems in the world.

I’ve been coming to the Olympic Peninsula almost every summer since I was a little kid. It’s a place where it’s almost impossible to ignore the connection to nature, from the Garry oaks and madronas of the rain shadow around Sequim to the Sitka spruce and bigleaf maples of the rainforest, shrouded in moss and hanging lichens.

The end of summer is always a time of reflection and transition. As the weather starts to change and kids go back to school, we are gearing up for new projects and hiring new team members. Soon we will see the first completed comprehensive plan updates of this cycle, the first test for the new housing and climate requirements and for our efforts to grow our advocacy, education, and community engagement efforts and our partnerships to influence those plans.

As the sun set on the ferry ride home, I found myself grateful for the beauty and community of our home, and the power of people coming together for the ongoing work to make our state a little better each day.