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17th Annual Conservation Breakfast
April 5, 2025 at 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us for the 17th annual North Olympic Land Trust Conservation Breakfast!
Reading the Landscape through Wildlife Tracking
Saturday, April 5th, 2025
Doors open at 9:00 a.m. | Presentation at 9:30 a.m. | Coffee Hour & Reception at 11:00 a.m.
Field Arts & Events Hall | 201 W Front St, Port Angeles
We are excited to host David Moskowitz, expert wildlife tracker and author of Caribou Rainforest, Wolves in the Land of Salmon and Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, for a talk filled with amazing photographs and stories exploring the hidden stories of our region’s wildlife. From the tiniest mice to bears and cougars, the signs of wild animals are around us year-round, waiting to be discovered by the observant outdoor adventurist. From the wild coastline to alpine tundra and from rain forests to deserts, David will share tips on how to find wild animals and interpret the signs they leave behind on the landscape including tracks, feeding sign and scent marking.
Following this, Sarah Spaeth, Director of Conservation & Strategic Partnerships at Jefferson Land Trust (a strong partner organization of North Olympic Land Trust), and certified Track and Sign Specialist, will illuminate some of the ongoing wildlife conservation work in our region which is putting the unique skills of wildlife tracking to work to protect our region’s natural heritage. From learning how to read the stories left on the land by our wild kin, land trusts can refine conservation priorities and engage our communities in stewardship and citizen science opportunities.
Each year at our Conservation Breakfast, we proudly present the Out Standing in the Field Award. This prestigious award recognizes a local citizen or group whose exceptional efforts have made a significant positive impact on conservation in our community. North Olympic History Center is the 2025 recipient of the award for their work to help our community learn to read our landscape through a historical lens. By learning the past of this region, we can better prepare for our future here.
The North Olympic Land Trust Conservation Breakfast is Clallam County’s biggest celebration of local land conservation. It’s a chance for community members and partners to connect, learn about the land trust’s work, get involved, and build relationships. We’ll share recent conservation successes, discuss challenges, and highlight exciting new projects.
A coffee hour and reception in the lobby and Sunset Lounge will follow the presentation. Light refreshments such as hot drinks and baked goods are included at no cost with your RSVP. Donations are appreciated. We recommend that you bring a reusable mug or thermos to cut down on waste.
Copies of David’s books will be available for purchase from Port Book & News at the event.
Space is limited, registrations are appreciated at your earliest convenience.
If you have questions or concerns, or would like to volunteer for this event, please contact Lexi at (360) 417-1815 ext. 2 or lexi@northolympiclandtrust.org.
About our Speakers
David Moskowitz
David works in the fields of photography, wildlife biology and education. He is the photographer and author of three books: Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest and Wolves in the Land of Salmon, co-author and photographer of Peterson’s Field Guide to North American Bird Nests and photographer of Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin. He has contributed his technical expertise to a wide variety of wildlife studies regionally and in the Canadian and U.S. Rocky mountains, focusing on using tracking and other non-invasive methods to study wildlife ecology and promote conservation. He helped establish the Cascades Wolverine Project, a grassroots effort to support wolverine recovery in the North Cascades using field science, visual storytelling, and building backcountry community science.
Visual media of David’s has appeared in numerous outlets including the New York Times, NBC, Sierra, The National Post, Outside Magazine, Science Magazine, Natural History Magazine, and High Country News. It has also been used for conservation campaigns by organizations including National Wildlife Foundation, the Endangered Species Coalition, Wildlands Network, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Conservation Northwest, Oregon Wild, Wildsight, Selkirks Conservation Alliance, and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
David holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education from Prescott College. David is certified as a Track and Sign Specialist, Trailing Specialist, and Senior Tracker through Cybertracker Conservation and is an Evaluator for this rigorous international professional certification program.
Sarah Spaeth
Sarah is the Director of Conservation and Strategic Partnerships at Jefferson Land Trust. In her 28 years with the Land Trust, she has worked with many landowners, community members, partner organizations and agencies in creative conservation partnerships to protect the farms, fish and forests of this special place we call home. She was born and raised in the northwest, and earned a degree in biology from Western Washington University and a Masters degree in coastal zone management from the University of Washington. Sarah is certified as a Track and Sign Specialist through Cybertracker Conservation and teaches wildlife tracking through CedarRoot Folk School and Jefferson Land Trust. In her past she worked as a consultant on marine resources issues, as a fisheries biologist, and as a baker and cook on natural history boats in Alaska. She has lived in the traditional territory of the Chemakum and S’Klallam people for the last 34 years.
Conservation Breakfast FAQ
Why is this event called Conservation Breakfast?
The name is a holdover from the earliest years of this event, when it was a much smaller gathering over breakfast. While this event has grown and changed with our community and breakfast is no longer served, and the name connects us to our humble past!
Where can I find parking at the Field Hall?
Directions to the Field Hall and a detailed map of free parking locations in downtown Port Angeles can be found here.