Nature

The 255-acre site is also home to a stream, a four-acre pond, and abundant animal and plant life.

Bog

The bog is quite acidic, creating a very special habitat for unusual plants. Insectivorous plants, such as the round-leaved sundew, grow in this nutrient-poor soil by supplementing their nutritional needs from the bugs they eat. You will also find Labrador tea, Western hemlock, bog cranberry and bog laurel.

Marsh

Much like a sponge, the cattail marsh provides a natural filtration process for the environment around it. It is estimated that over 80% of all animals use a wetland at some point in their lives. We frequently find Red-Winged Blackbirds, Buffleheads, Mallards, and the Great Blue Heron in this area.

Pond

Stream

Out of Mac's dam flows this small stream. Down near the harbor, culverts keep fish from entering the creek. One culvert has recently been replaced and we're working with the city to replace the other as part of a salmon restoration project.

Ravine

Western red cedar, Douglas fir, and Licorice and Sword fern dominate the ravine. A suspension bridge traverses Mac's Stream and the steep slopes on either side. The bridge gives students a bird's eye view of the forest canopy and prevents erosion that would otherwise occur from the development of trails in the area.

Harbor

The harbor was the site of the old Port Blakely Mill, established in 1864 by Captain Renton. Once the largest mill operation in the world, this community had electricity before Seattle. The mouth of the harbor serves as a gateway to Puget Sound. Some of the most diverse marine life in the area is found here, along with some of the largest octopi in the world.