For the seventh time, the Natural History Club invites you to join in celebrating Moss Appreciation Week, “an annual invitation to the L&C Community to salute our bryophyte brethren and, in doing so, revel in our Pacific Northwest habitat.”
The Petting Zoo will return to the library atrium Monday at noon, with a new batch of student designed-stickers and student-authored poetry in bookmark format. MOSScam will return. Our alum-led terrarium workshop will return. And throughout the week we’ll have some new activities occurring alongside the table. If you have yet to visit the Petting Zoo, this is a great year to come by and take a look.
Also, Monday, February 10, at 3:30 p.m. we’ll open this year’s Ear Forest installation, Moss in Many Languages, featuring voice recordings collected from students, staff, faculty, and alumni over the past two years. Thank you to so many of you who have made contributions to this project—come hear yourselves and your loved ones echoing from the trees.
On Wednesday, we’re delighted to have local lichenologist Dr. Jesse Miller join us to lead a walk and deliver our keynote lecture, “Maintaining Lichen Diversity in an Era of Global Change.”
We’ll finish the week with our second Gastropod Derby (racer profiles coming soon). At present we have a couple lanes open and will accept walk-on racers. If you think your gastropod is faster than ours, meet us at the racetrack at 3 p.m. on Friday on the Olin Balcony.
The full schedule is below.
This week is organized by Natural History Club leaders Madeline Jones ’25, Kenji Yamamoto ’26, and Soff Olmedo ’28. With special thanks to Robin Anderson for their support.
Please join us in celebrating another year, and share with others as you like. All are always welcome.
All Week
MOSScam
Sunrise to Sunset: Join Here!
Presented by Justin Counts ’99, Educational Technology Specialist, IT
Moss Petting Zoo
Watzek Library Atrium, beginning at 12 p.m. on Monday
Curated by John Christy, Herbarium Manager, Portland State University
New stickers featuring original artwork by:
Elizabeth Young ’25, Chloe Pullman ’25, Zoe Rommel ’26, Suzie Myles ’26, Jacey Tanioka ’28, Eden McCoy ’28, Alex Nash ’25, Margo Gaillard ’24
Bookmarks featuring original poetry by:
Ash Garr ’25, Cleo Lockhart ’25, Ezra Ratinoff ’25
Vintage stickers featuring original artwork by:
Kincaid DeBell ’25, Stella Mercer ’25, Bella Root ’25, Alex Nash ’25, Claire Bakke ’25, Margo Gaillard ’24, Rowan Moreno ’23, Michelle Alden ’22, Mateo Kaiser ’23
Monday
Dress like Moss Day
As it suits you!
Opening of Moss in Many Languages, an ear-forest installation
Ear Forest, 3:30 p.m.
Imagined and realized by Kenji Yamamoto ’26, Kincaid Debell ’25, Mira Scwaller ’26, Soff Olmedo ’28, Logan Drain ’25, Robin Anderson, Jess Perlitz, Dann Disciglio, and Justin Counts
Hot Cider and Cupcakes
The installation will continue to play 12-4 p.m. throughout the week.
Terrarium Workshop led by Robin Fujita ’18
Meet inside the front doors of the Watzek Library at 5 p.m.
Supplies provided!
Tuesday
Investigate a Moss Clump: Meet a Tardigrade
Watzek Library Atrium, from 1:30 p.m. on through the afternoon
Tended by Madeline Jones ’25 and Soff Olmedo ’28
Wednesday
Make & Mail a Mossy Valentine
Watzek Library Atrium, all day
Created by Soff Olmedo ’28
Moss & Lichen Walk
Meet in front of Watzek Library at 3:15 p.m.
Led by Dr. Jesse Miller, Lead Botanist, Washington Natural Heritage Program
Mossmates, meet and greet
Watzek Library Classroom, 4:30 p.m.
Assorted bryota presented by: Sylvia Barclay ’25, Helen Andino ’25, Madeline Jones ’25, Sofie Hahn ’25, Max Allen ’25, Kenji Yamamoto ’26, Zack Stack ’26, Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26
Pizza provided!
Keynote Lecture: “Maintaining Lichen Diversity in an Era of Global Change”
Library Classroom, 5 p.m.
Also by Zoom: Meeting ID: 269 487 7562 Passcode: moss
Presented by Dr. Jesse Miller, Lead Botanist, Washington Natural Heritage Program
Preceded by Lichenology/Bryology Trivia
Thursday
Make & Mail a Mossy Valentine
Watzek Library Atrium, all day
Created by Soff Olmedo ’28
Draw Moss
Watzek Library Atrium, all day
Supplies provided!
Mossy Movie Night
Manor House at 7 p.m.
Hosted by Kenji Yamamoto ’26
Popcorn provided!
Friday
Make a Mossy Valentine
Watzek Library Atrium, all day
Created by Soff Olmedo ’28
Moss-themed Valentine candy available at the Petting Zoo
Gastropod Derby - RESCHEDULED due to storm
NOW: Monday, February 17th at 3pm
Olin Balcony, 3 p.m. and on Twitch
Gastropod handlers: Madeline Jones ’25, Kenji Yamamoto ’25, & Stella Mercer ’25
Refreshments provided!
Make your wagers here.
