Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference 2026: Rising Seas
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 12:30 pm – 4 pm
How will sea level rise affect our home and what can we do?
Sea level rise is no longer a distant possibility. It is already shaping our shorelines, infrastructure, ecosystems, and daily lives in Puget Sound. The Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference brings together scientists, local governments, Tribal partners, nonprofit organizations, artists, and community members to explore what sea level rise means for our island and how we can respond together.
This year’s conference focuses on the latest science behind sea level rise in Puget Sound, the real impacts already being felt on Bainbridge Island, and the tools, policies, and community actions that can help us adapt. Through plenary talks, panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and tabling with local organizations, participants will learn how sea level rise affects natural habitats, parks and recreation access, infrastructure, housing, public health, and long-term community resilience.
The conference emphasizes practical, place-based solutions by highlighting current efforts underway locally and regionally, sharing lessons learned, and creating space for dialogue across sectors. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the challenges ahead, opportunities to reduce personal and collective risk, and ways to support stewardship of our island’s natural and built environments.
Get Tickets
Your Entry Ticket includes entry to the conference, plenary presentations, interactive breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with local organizations, agencies, and community partners working on sea level rise, climate adaptation, and coastal resilience in Puget Sound. Refreshments during the conference are included.
The optional Community Lunch & Entry Ticket includes all of the above, as well as a lunch made in-house by IslandWood’s celebrated culinary team. Simply select the choice for Community Lunch & Entry Ticket (versus Entry Ticket) or a combo for your party.
Optional field trips on the Saturday prior offer opportunities to see sea level rise impacts and adaptation strategies firsthand at local sites around Bainbridge Island. To select which breakout you wish to attend, please “vote” in your order form when you register for this event. You will see the choices listed (more details below.)
Agenda Overview
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Optional Lunch (purchased in ticketing)
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Doors Open
1:00 PM – 1:45 Welcome, Awards, & Opening Plenary
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM Break & Visit Tables & Partner Orgs
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Breakout Session One
2:45 – 3:00 PM Break & Visit Tables & Partner Orgs
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Breakout Session Two
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Wrap-Up & Action Takeaways
Breakout Sessions
Please choose TWO of these when you are registering, so we know how many folks to expect in each breakout and can plan accordingly. Thank you!
Join us for a series of interactive breakout sessions exploring sea level rise from multiple perspectives, including:
Art as the Water Rises
Artist Jill Pelto leads a hands-on activity to explore how art can communicate the science, emotion, and urgency of sea level rise, and how creative expression can inspire awareness and action.
Local Government Planning and Action
Hear from City, County, and Tribal representatives about how local governments are planning for sea level rise, including infrastructure, land use, and policy responses at multiple scales.
Shared Ground: Habitat, People & Parks
Using Fay Bainbridge Park as a case study, explore how rising seas impact habitat, recreation, and park infrastructure, and learn about regional approaches to shoreline protection and restoration. Join Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation, Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, Bainbridge Island Land Trust and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to consider how Bainbridge Island can strive to balance shoreline access, habitat protection, and long-term resilliance in a changing climate.
Natural Resource Management in a Changing Coastal Landscape
Explore how sea level rise is affecting wildlife and ecosystems. This session highlights responses from parks, land trusts, Tribes, and state agencies addressing coastal squeeze, habitat protection, and stewardship of natural areas.
Beyond Our Shores: Large-scale Adaptation Approaches
We can’t do everything we need to about sea level rise on Bainbridge Island. What can we influence beyond our shores at the regional, state, national and international scales – for people and nature?
Accessibility
IslandWood works to ensure that all reasonable accommodations are in place so that everyone can fully participate and learn during their time on the campus. All indoor spaces and many of our outdoor spaces and field structures were built and are continually maintained to meet ADA code, adhering to WAC 51-50. Learn more about the physical accessibility of the IslandWood campus here.
Service animals only, please.
Our Steering Committee
The Bainbridge Island Environmental Conference is a joint project of Sustainable Bainbridge, EcoAdapt, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, IslandWood, and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. This group sets the annual theme and shares the responsibilities of planning and coordinating the conference. We welcome your ideas for topics for future environmental conferences. Please contact us if you have ideas or suggestions!
