Island Living
WEDNESDAY, July 25, 2012
The Islands’ Sounder • www.islandssounder.com
PG. 9
Paul Weatherford photo
A rough-skinned newt
Magic and
wonder
Summit Learning Center opens at top of Mt. Constitution on Orcas by CALI BAGBY Staff reporter
The Summit Learning Center’s walls are adorned with colorful images of nature and there is a distinctive woody smell like tree bark soaked in sunlight. Kokanee salmon fry swim in a large tank, newts crawl in a mossy sanctuary and pictures of native birds are everywhere. “They are so cute,” says one tourist as Justin Hull shows off the newt’s bright orange belly. Hull, a summer intern, is one of the many staff members and volunteers running the newly opened Summit Learning Center. It is located at the top of the Mt. Constitution, a 2,409-foot-high peak that is an international travel destination at Moran State Park. The center opened Memorial Day weekend after the Friends of Moran noticed, over the years, that visitors wanted to know more about the park, said Michel Vekved, president of the non-profit. “The learning center gives us the opportunity to reach out to visitors and have a place to invite them in to learn more,” she said. “The Summit Learning Center has been incredibly successful. We are thrilled because part of our vision was to educate visitors and have them spend more time at the summit.”
And due to this year’s park budget and recent staff a week working at the summit. Hugh spends his days cuts, Friends felt the need, more than ever, to provide as a naturalist at the summit and Lynn runs the nature extra information and assistance. shop. The center offers maps, books, souvenirs and a place Hugh learned about the history of the islands in a to experience the magic of island nature. A live rough- four-week, self-taught crash course. He said people skinned newt habitat gives visitors a chance to observe enjoy the dynamic qualities of oral history. these large salamanders in action and learn about this And the far reaches of the world that visitors travel critter’s toxins used as a defense against predators. The from may surprise island residents – two researchers toxins are only fatal if you ingest an from Antarctica made the trip to entire newt, said Hull, which doesn’t the summit this summer. “The learning happen very often. Lynn said the experience is One of the center’s most popular rewarding, especially at the end center gives us the activities is the treasure hunt – 350 of the day when she checks the opportunity to reach have been handed out – to help kids guest book and reads pages of explore and learn about the environ“Thank you,” “This is awesome,” out to visitors and ment at the summit. When youths and “Thanks for being here.” identify a majority of items in the park, “There has been a lot of posihave a place to invite such as spider webs, slugs and animal tive feedback, it makes us feel them to learn more.” droppings, they get to choose a prize. pretty good,” Lynn said. “It’s great One young visitor from Oregon said — Michel Vekved, Friends of Moran for people to see all the islands his favorite part was finding animal and trails and other places to go prints after a long hunt. on the island. For many this [Mt. In the future, Vekved said, more Constitution] is the first spot they lectures will be held at the center, including “Creatures head to straight off the ferry.” of the Forest,” a program for elementary classes, which The center is the physical structure that embodies the consists of five classes: kokanee salmon, rough-skinned Friends of Moran’s mission to provide substantive infornewts, birds, mammals, and biodiversity. Kids learn mation and hands-on activities in the great outdoors in that all animals and plants are connected by the web the hopes that kids will grow up to be adults that take of life, that there is a great variety of plant and animal care of the environment. life in Moran State Park and the world, according to the “The learning center is important to Friends because Friends’ website. we are supporting the park, helping visitors make conHull is working on future lesson plans for young nections and memories that will draw them back to the and old, but said outdoor education is crucial when it park and remind them how important our state parks comes to youths because it gives them an opportunity are and why they need to be funded,” Vekved said. to see how they fit into the bigger picture of the Earth’s For more info, visit http://friendsofmoran.com/. ecosystem. Hugh and Lynn Fulton, from Pasco, Wash., are the center’s full-time volunteers and live on Moran State Park for the summer. Vekved describes them as being This month’s lecture is on the Mt. Baker able to “make you laugh” and ensuring you “leave knowing more about the park than you expected.” volcano on Aug. 4 starting at 4 p.m. in The Fultons were recruited to be summit hosts because of their experience in parks and extensive the Summit Learning Center. teaching backgrounds. Since early June, the couple has spent about 25 hours
This month’s lecture