We are looking forward to another exciting field season in 2003. We’re very pleased to welcome back Richard Lindstrom as Field Trip Chair.

FIELD TRIP PROTOCOLS: 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. Passengers are expected to share gasoline expenses.

Please tend to any personal matters, such as getting breakfast, coffee or gasoline, before the departure time so others are not delayed.

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

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

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.

Date	Destination
May10	Cowiche Canyon
May 17	Swakane Canyon
June 14	Quincy Lakes (Note:    This is a special trip-we will be joined by Dr.
	Dennis Paulson, an expert on dragonflies.)
June 29	NABA 4th of July Butterfly Count (See following article)
July 12	Lion Rock WBA Butterfly Count
July 19	Quartz Mountain
Aug 2	Crystal Mtn with optional chair lift ride for higher elevation butterflies
Aug 16	Mt. Townsend

We’re having a marvelous field season this year! We’re finding lots of butterflies, and the weather has been remarkably cooperative. We hope you’ll be able to join us on some of the upcoming trips.

Join the 2003 Annual Chumstick Mountain NABA Fourth of July Butterfly Count

Groups will form for the various routes to the summit of Chumstick Mountain. Each group will travel by auto on unimproved dirt roads between viewing sites. At each viewing site, we will walk about in the roadway, meadows, and openings in the forest to view the butterflies.

Weather permitting, the count will conclude at about 4:30 p.m., with all groups converging on Chumstick Summit (5,810 ft.). At this glorious old Forest Service Lookout site, we’ll combine our data, confirm the identity of any “mystery” butterflies, and share a watermelon feast while enjoying the stunning view of the Stewart Range. The air temperature at that altitude can be cool, so bring a warm jacket.

Gear for this trip is the same as for WBA field trips. Bring your lunch and a canteen of water. Wear outdoor clothes, sturdy footwear and bring a warm jacket. Sun protection (wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves, long pants) is appropriate. Close-focusing binoculars are best for viewing butterflies. Bring them if you have a pair. If you don’t, sharing is part of the fun.

This North American Butterfly Association program is intended to promote interest in butterflies. A fee of $3.00 will be collected from each adult participant to defray NABA’s costs of printing forms and programs. More information on NABA and the count program is available at the website at www.naba.org.