Scarabs Bug Field Trip to St. Edward State Park (near Kenmore, Wash.)

No Lecture Meeting in May! Instead, an In-Person Field Trip!

Some of you have asked about in-person meetings. Although we have no immediate plans for going back to in-person meetings, this field trip is IN-PERSON! Come meet fellow Scarabs while searching for and LEARNING ABOUT BUGS!

Trip is on if it's dry or just drizzling, but cancelled if there is REAL rain.

Located just 15 minutes from UW Bothell, St. Edward State Park in Kenmore, Washington spans 326 acres of ecologically diverse mature native forests, streams, and the longest undeveloped shoreline on Lake Washington. Historically understudied for insect biodiversity, the park is now the focus of research led by Dr. Michele B. Price, who has offered to lead this field trip!

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: (1) from Bothell Way (State Route 522).
Take Bothell Way (starts as Lake City Way) from the direction of Seattle to Kenmore. Turn right onto 68th Ave. NE in Kenmore. In 0.5 mile, continue onto Juanita Drive NE. In 1.3 mile further, turn right onto NE 145th St. (sign for Bastyr University); this takes you onto the park grounds. Keep driving down the park road (aka 145th), bearing right (don't turn left to Bastyr U), to the parking lot complex. Parking in a state park requires Wash. State Discover Pass, but Scarabs can get a temporary one (see below).
(2) from Interstate 405 N. Beginning in Bellevue (where I-90 crosses 405) it is 8.6 miles north to Exit 20A. Take Exit 20A (NE 116th St.). Turn slightly left to ramp to 116th St. In 1.4 mile, 116th turns right and becomes Juanita Drive NE. Continue on Juanita for 3.9 miles to turn left at 145th (park entrance). Rest as in directions #1 above. To find the EERC office (our rendezvous) see this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZENybJ90Vc
But the Lodge (a hotel), the EERC and the State Park office are all signed.

Meeting location & directions: We will meet at 1:30 at the Environmental Education and Research Center (EERC), one of the buildings around the Saint Edward State Park parking lots, next to the Washington State Parks office. Signage for the EERC is posted outside the building. If any Scarab doesn't have a Discover Pass for parking, stop by the EERC before 1:30 and we can provide a temporary parking pass for the day and just drop it off before you leave at the end of the event.

What you'll see: The habitat we will mostly be in is considered mature, second-growth forest. Some folks might make it to see some small streams and the shoreline of Lake Washington. Common plant species include Douglas-fir, western hemlock, red alder, bigleaf maple, western red cedar, and Pacific madrone. Of course we will see a mix of insects and spiders associated with those types of plants and habitats. Knowledgeable Scarabs (and perhaps some entomology students) will be able to tell you what you are seeing!

The event will be a mix of structured and flexible activities, including:

• A brief introduction to the park’s natural history and overview of the area
• Demonstrations of insect collecting/trapping techniques (no collecting permits, so primarily observational, catch-and-release, or photography-based)
• A guided walk along an accessible trail, with options for participants to explore further at their own pace
• Optional informal activities such as a scavenger hunt
• Time at the EERC to look at specimens under microscopes

Michele will bring some collecting containers and insect field guides, might even bring some nets for individuals to use for the day. Anyone else who has them is free to bring their own.

Don't vegetate at home! If nobody shows up, we may never try this again. See you there!