Introduction to the Mighty Map and Clever Compass

Spend a day learning to read the landscape and treat common outdoor injuries with plants in Introduction to the Mighty Map and Clever Compass, a five‑hour field workshop held at Tolt‑MacDonald Park & Campground in North Bend, Washington. The class meets at 1711 Boalch Ave NW, North Bend, WA 98045, USA, and runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering hands‑on plant identification, ethical harvesting practices, and basic first‑aid treatments suitable for hikers, bikepackers, and backyard herbalists. The setting is classic Cascade‑foothill riparian forest: big-leaf maple and red alder along a gravelly river bank, beds of sword fern, bracken, and berry thickets that burst with salmonberry and blackberry in season.

Instructor-led walks focus on species you’re likely to encounter on local trails—yarrow for bleeding control, plantain for stings and scrapes, cedar and willow for inflammation—while emphasizing correct identification to avoid look‑alikes and toxic relatives. Practical demonstrations show how to create poultices, compresses, and simple salves from locally legal and abundant plants, with clear limits on quantities and methods so participants can harvest responsibly. What makes this workshop stand out is its blend of safety and stewardship.

The Bronze Chapter frames plant medicine around legal access, respect for Indigenous knowledge, and non-destructive harvesting. Sessions cover Leave No Trace principles adapted for foragers: when to refrain, how to take only what you need, and how to harvest in ways that let populations regenerate. The small-group, in-field format turns abstract names into tactile memory—pinch, smell, and observe growth habit—so you leave confident, not guesswork-bound.

Practicalities are simple: bring a sack lunch, layered clothing for variable Pacific Northwest weather, and comfortable footwear for damp trails. A small notebook and a pen help you record notes and sketches, and hand lenses or a phone macro are useful for close inspection. No prior experience is required, making it an ideal intro for outdoor enthusiasts who want self-reliance beyond a first‑aid kit.

The workshop also functions as a gateway to deeper study—participants often leave with a short reading list and local resources for ongoing learning. This class is particularly valuable for visitors staying in North Bend or traveling the nearby Cascade foothills who want to add a practical, place-based skill to their outdoor toolkit. Whether you’re preparing for multi‑day trips or just seeking a safer day on local trails, this course teaches you how to move through the landscape with curiosity, caution, and real skill.

By day’s end you’ll know a short list of dependable plant treatments, also how to harvest with care.