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Non-consumptive appreciation of butterflies is central to our purpose and basic to our approach. This is the guiding principal behind general membership field trips. Collecting of adult butterflies is not allowed on general membership field trips. Collecting of eggs and larval stages for rearing is accepted on the condition that individuals raised to adult stage are to be released at their original location.

The butterflying season in Washington lasts from March through August or September.
See additional notes about field trips following the schedule.

Difficulty codes:
1 = Easy, mostly by car, minor walking along roads.
2 = Fairly limited amounts of walking, some slopes involved.
3 = Moderate difficulty, up to 1.5 miles walking with moderate slopes.
4 – Difficult, Hiking required, trails or terrain are steep in places.
5 = Very difficult. Steep, extended hiking on trails or terrain.

Sign up for field trips at a WBA monthly meeting or with the trip leader/trip contact.

Butterfly lists from previous years are provided to give you an idea of what we might see.

General membership trips for 2012:

WHERE & WHEN TO MEET: Trips will depart from the Ravenna Park & Ride at 7:00 a.m. unless expressly stated otherwise. The park & ride is located under I-5 at Ravenna Blvd between NE 50th & NE 65th St. We meet in the north half of the park & ride.

On request will also stop at the Issaquah Park & Ride at 7:30 a.m. To reach the Issaquah Park & Ride, From I-90 turn south at Exit 15 (the westernmost of the two Issaquah exits). Go 0.4 mile south, through ~4 traffic lights, to a traffic light at Newport Way. Turn left (east) on Newport Way and drive a short block to the first traffic light, where turn right (south) into the park & ride. Note: the multi-story parking garage north of Newport Way is *not* where we meet for field trips.

If you live in another part of the state, contact the trip coordinator to make arrangements to meet the field trip group.

All field trips are conducted by carpool. Without the volunteer participation of drivers the trips are not possible. If you have a car you are willing to drive, please have the gas tank full and ready to go.

All WBA-sponsored field trips are fully insured through our parent organization, NABA.

COSTS:Passengers are expected to share gasoline expenses. Typically this is $8-10 each. It is suggested that each rider also pay the driver a share of any park entry fees, ferry fares, etc.

The trip leader will collect a voluntary donation of $5 per person (children under 12 are free) for each field trip to help offset expenses of the organization.

CANCELLATIONS: If you need to cancel, please remember to contact the trip coordinator as soon as you can so the group does not wait for you at the park & ride.

SCHEDULING & WEATHER: Weather is always a major factor for planning butterfly trips in Washington, particularly March through June. The key to dealing with weather is flexibility; our leaders reserve the right to make last-minute itinerary changes in order to provide you with the best possible butterfly experience. On occasion it may be necessary to cancel or postpone an outing if the weather does not permit a viable alternative. The flow of the season is also important, and it may be necessary to adjust some trips to earlier or later dates to best match the seasonal weather patterns. WBA will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes.