The Bainbridge Island Land Trust seeks an Executive Director to lead its mission of conserving and stewarding the diverse natural environments of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead an organization with a deep legacy, strong community relationships, a stellar reputation, and an important role in shaping the future of Bainbridge Island.
The Board of Directors of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust announced today that Cullen Brady is stepping down as Executive Director effective June 22 to take the helm at Conservation Northwest.
Applications for the Summer 2026 Internship are now open! This program is designed to provide interns with experience and skills in the field of conservation, restoration, and outreach.
The Listen Up Collaborative, a pioneering partnership that uses acoustic bird monitoring to manage for fire and climate resilience and enhance habitat for bird conservation in Western Washington, has been featured in the New York Times’ prestigious “50 States, 50 Fixes” series. The feature highlights how the seven-organization coalition is using affordable technology and proven science to reverse declines in forest bird populations—and inspiring land trusts nationwide to adopt similar methods.
We’re hopping into another year of amphibian surveys! In partnership with Bloedel Reserve, IslandWood, and Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, we’re looking for volunteers to help survey ponds & wetlands on Bainbridge Island for frogs & salamanders. This hands-on community science opportunity plays an important role in understanding habitat health, and offers the chance to experience local ecosystems in a new way!
Love wildlife? You can help advance conservation just by spending a few hours looking through photos of cute otters and coyotes!
We’re partnering with Woodland Park Zoo for the Fall Photo Tagging Sprint, and we’d love for you to join! The Bainbridge Island Land Trust has previously operated wildlife cameras on our preserves as part of the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project. These cameras collected thousands of images that need to be carefully reviewed and tagged to support conservation research. This is a great opportunity for those with an interest in wildlife research to contribute through a computer-based conservation project and help strengthen our understanding of Washington’s wildlife populations.
Exciting news: the Bainbridge Island Land Trust has officially closed on the Little Manzanita Estuary property!
Now the story continues. To bring this estuary into permanent protection, we must raise $425,000 through Stand for the Land. Achieving this unlocks a matching $425,000 state grant, doubling the power of every gift. That means your support today has TWICE the impact, ensuring this rare shoreline is conserved permanently.
This spring, we surveyed ponds and wetlands on Bainbridge Island for quiet signs of amphibian life, from jelly-like egg masses to tiny tadpoles. Taking part in the first-ever amphibian surveys on the Island, six dedicated volunteers and Land Trust staff logged more than 43 hours wading and peering into the water in search of frogs and salamanders.
May 2, 2025 BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – The Bainbridge Island Land Trust, together with its partners— the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation—announces the success of the collaborative campaign to protect the 38-acre parcel at Grand Forest East. Launched on short notice and under an urgent timeline, the campaign received an extraordinary outpouring of generosity and support. Announced only two months ago with a goal to raise over $2.2 million, the campaign faced a tight timeline after the announcement by the Bainbridge Island School District to surplus the 38- acre property in February. The success of this campaign was vital to ensure the property could be purchased by the Park District, which will preserve the land for recreation and conservation. The parcel has been managed as part of the Grand Forest parkland for more than 30 years, even though it was owned by the School District as a possible school site. The community responded swiftly with contributions from hundreds of supporters, including a transformational gift by a private conservation fund established by an Island family, allowing this campaign to reach its ambitious goal in a short timeframe. The success ensures that the property will remain preserved as a public park for future generations, securing its place in the heart of the Island’s natural landscape. “We are incredibly grateful to the Bainbridge Island community for its overwhelming support for the Stand for the Grand Forest campaign,” said Cullen Brady, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “This collaboration has been a wonderful example of how we can come together to protect the Island’s most cherished places. This campaign demonstrated the strength and unity of this community by ensuring this land remains in public ownership.” The property, which is part of the…
Bainbridge Island, WA — April 9, 2025 — The Bainbridge Island Land Trust announced today that is closing on the purchase of the Winslow Heron Rookery, a vital nesting site for Great Blue Herons along the shores of Eagle Harbor. This achievement was made possible through the generosity and dedication of community members who rallied to safeguard this critical habitat. The Winslow Rookery, home to approximately 25 heron nests constructed high in the big leaf maple trees, is one of the few known nesting sites for Great Blue Herons on Bainbridge Island. The half-acre parcel also includes tidelands, shoreline, wetlands, and riparian vegetation—essential for maintaining Eagle Harbor’s ecological health and resilience to a changing climate. In 2024, the property was listed for sale, raising concerns within the community about potential development that could threaten the sensitive habitat. After completing its standard due diligence process and negotiations, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust mobilized a fundraising campaign in February 2025 with a goal of $300,000 to secure the land. Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the campaign successfully raised the funds, enabling the Land Trust to purchase the property and ensure the long-term protection and stewardship of the rookery. “This conservation success demonstrates our community’s deep commitment to protecting Bainbridge Island’s wildlife habitats and natural spaces,” said Cullen Brady, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “Because of this collective effort, the Winslow Heron Rookery will remain a safe haven for Great Blue Herons and other wildlife for generations to come.” The Land Trust extends its gratitude to all the donors, volunteers, and partners who contributed to this effort. Their support underscores the community’s ongoing dedication to protecting the Island’s cherished natural environments. In late March, several Great Blue Herons were seen returning to the rookery for their annual nesting…