The Fox Island Nature Center

Location: 716 9th Ave, Fox Island, WA 98333

The Fox Island Nature Center was founded in October 2004, through a vision of former FICRA President John Ohlson, members of the FICRA Board and the Fox Island Building Trust. 

This property was purchased with donations from Fox Island residents through a wildly successful fund raising drive led by John Ohlson, following the 2004 FICRA Fair in August 2004.  Over $40,000 was raised in just over 90 days, in one of the most successful fundraising efforts in recent Island history.

In the months that followed, volunteers from local Boy Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops, FICRA, and the various Fox Island Garden Clubs contributed significant efforts to convert this formerly overgrown property into a nature trail and showcase of native plant life and climactic zones of Washington State.

Thirteen different Eagle Scout projects and one Girl Scout Bronze Award project have been completed between 2004 and 2011, to transform the property into a wonderful community asset.

The Fox Island Nature Center includes several wetland areas, a marsh including a small stream, a rain forest area including several spectacular examples of first-growth nurse logs, second growth trees, a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest in the upland area, park benches, a 60' footbridge and several raised walkways, and a native species garden near the trailhead.

Activities at the Nature Center include hiking, bird watching, plant identification trail, picnicking, and nature photography.  Park hours are dawn to dusk, 7 days a week.  The Fox Island Nature Center is located at 716 9th Ave, Fox Island, WA 98333.

Watch our Wetlands Virtual Tour

An update on our projects at the Fox Island Nature Center Wetland Park.  Thirteen Eagle Scout projects have been completed at the Nature Center, since its opening in 2005.

2011:
Scouts build Footbridge to span groundwater stream.

Sravan Konda completes the extension to the raised boardwalk linking the main trail loop to the Western Loop Trail.

2011:
Dallas Thornton added a brick pathway around the Native Species Garden, permanently incorporating the engraved bricks commemorating the donors who helped fund the purchase of the Nature Center Property in 2004.

2010:
Eagle Scouts Alex Ohlson, Jesse Long, and Grant Toepfer of Fox Island's Troop 27 have built three picnic areas in the undeveloped 'Western Loop Trail' area.

Eagle Scouts Jensen Bond and Max Reetz  of Fox Island's Troop 27 have completed trail improvement projects.

2007:
Eagle Scout candidate Ryan Eason of Boy Scout Troop 212, has completed the Native Species Garden in the far left hand area of the diagram.

Eagle Scout candidate Garrett McKinney  of Boy Scout Troop 212, has built raised walkways across the marshy areas of the nature trail.

Ian Johnson of Boy Scout Troop 217 recently completed his 'Western Loop' trail-building project, which expanded the Nature Center's trail system, and installed plant identification markers along the trails.

Zach Briggs of Boy Scout Troop 282 completed construction of three picnic tables, and a picnic area.

The Cub Scouts have built and installed birdhouses in various areas of the park.

Girl Scout Troop 290, led by Leader Lise' Ohlson completed a flower & shrub garden in the circular area at right.  They completed this service project in 2007 to help earn their Girl Scout Bronze Award.

Nature Center Trail Map!

Learn more about how the Nature Center came about.