P4150003 trail through the forest - reduced.JPG

Photo May 10 2023, 11 49 20 AM mud tracks - reduced.jpg

Being a Beaver — February 6, 2027

$160.00

Saturday, February 6, 2027
8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Class Location:
The Quilcene Lantern (classroom), then outdoors at a local beavery site

Instructor:
Jen Vanderhoof

What is life like if you are a beaver? Only the beaver can truly know, but thanks to the prodigious amount of sign they leave on the landscape, we can try to imagine as we talk about where they live, the foods they eat, and the many structures they form and build. We'll talk about why they do what they do as well as their beneficial impacts on the landscape and other species.

We'll start the day in a classroom setting at the Quilcene Lantern, then after a break for lunch, we’ll explore a local site in search of beaver activity.

What to Bring:

• Knee boots or similar footwear for potentially walking in mud
• Outerwear and layers for being outside — we’ll go rain or shine
• Lunch, water, snacks
• Optional: notebook for taking notes
• Optional: binoculars

Recommended reading: Eager, by Ben Goldfarb; this is a fantastic introduction to the awesomeness of beavers, and as an added bonus, a lot of the subject matter is from Washington State.

Tuition:
$160 (includes state sales tax)

Ages:
18+

Additional information:

The Quilcene Lantern will offer special rates for class attendees to book lodging, as long as rooms are available.

Saturday, February 6, 2027
8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Class Location:
The Quilcene Lantern (classroom), then outdoors at a local beavery site

Instructor:
Jen Vanderhoof

What is life like if you are a beaver? Only the beaver can truly know, but thanks to the prodigious amount of sign they leave on the landscape, we can try to imagine as we talk about where they live, the foods they eat, and the many structures they form and build. We'll talk about why they do what they do as well as their beneficial impacts on the landscape and other species.

We'll start the day in a classroom setting at the Quilcene Lantern, then after a break for lunch, we’ll explore a local site in search of beaver activity.

What to Bring:

• Knee boots or similar footwear for potentially walking in mud
• Outerwear and layers for being outside — we’ll go rain or shine
• Lunch, water, snacks
• Optional: notebook for taking notes
• Optional: binoculars

Recommended reading: Eager, by Ben Goldfarb; this is a fantastic introduction to the awesomeness of beavers, and as an added bonus, a lot of the subject matter is from Washington State.

Tuition:
$160 (includes state sales tax)

Ages:
18+

Additional information:

The Quilcene Lantern will offer special rates for class attendees to book lodging, as long as rooms are available.

Meet Your Instructor

Jen Vanderhoof

Jen is a wildlife ecologist in the King County’s Science and Technical Support Section, where she has worked for 27 years. For the past several years, much of Jen’s work has been focused on beaver-related topics, including new planting techniques at stream restoration sites, consulting on restoration design, and permitting and policy. Jen obsessively observes beaver activity on and off the clock and is constantly learning from and about them. She likes to think she's got the largest beaver library in the world, and there is a good chance she has the largest beaver stick collection in the world too. She’s also a Master Birder, long-time cold-water diver, wildlife and underwater photographer, and past President of Beavers Northwest.