We'd like to introduce you to Rosemary

Rosemary started her adventures here a little over 7 years ago, when TreeSong first opened and she was only 11 years old. Rosemary attended our monthly Circle Keepers program and attended summer camps each year. She began helping with the younger children when she was 13, where she immediately demonstrated the abilities and dedication of a natural born mentor.

Now she's 19, graduated from high school and attending Western Washington University in Bellingham (online). We certainly miss Rosemary's shimmering light as she’s headed into her college life, but know that she takes the beauty of what she experienced and learned here at TreeSong out into the world.

Here are Rosemary’s reflections on her time here:

Treesong is my happy place. There the trees are blanketed with thick layers of moss, home to tiny fungi and lush licorice ferns. The Washougal river winds through the lowest point of the land, running wildly in some parts, while pausing reflectively in others. Deer roam around the paths, quietly observing the ever changing environment.

It is a place of reflection and revelation; a land full of discovery. There, I have learned more than I can ever hope to put into words. I have been taught to appreciate and care for the land. Now I can identify most native plants in the area, and have learned much about their roles in the ecosystem and their medicinal properties. The Western Red Cedar would have to be the flora which I hold closest to my heart. Something about its ruddy red bark which smells so sweet and feels so soft often seems like a reflection of my own being.

There we learn of all the animals and their teachings, recognizing the paths which they leave behind. I was inspired by our findings to create my own journal to identify local birdsong, and I can proudly tell you the difference between a Pacific Slope Flycatcher and a Swainson’s Thrush without ever seeing either.

Treesong has acted as a sacred space for me, one which allows freedom and curiosity to cultivate and blossom. I feel that I have a deeper connection with the Earth and a better understanding of our relation with it after my time there. When I see that road sign on the way to Treesong which spells “Tree-ific Drive”, I know that’s exactly the kind of day I’m going to have.