Nonprofit Spotlight

Wild Society

August 26, 2025 - Around West Sound, Blog, Featured - Comments: 
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Nonprofit Spotlight

Washington state is gifted with almost 45,000 registered and legit not-for-profit organizations. Their missions are wide ranging, but all attempt to address a significant community need, often relying completely on donor funding and an active cadre of community volunteers to do so.
For many residents, the nonprofit world can seem like a confusing, amorphous bag of missions, volunteers, fundraising, staff and activities, often seeming to overlap. But these groups provide or supplement essential and usually underfunded resources, direct services and programs that address critical community needs, bringing added value their service areas and hope to those who need it most.
Nonprofit Spotlight provides a snapshot for you as readers, residents, potential volunteers, donors and clients with the basics, the info you need to make an educated decision on whether to support or participate. These are often community-based organizations, so you can bet that both will be highly valued and greatly appreciated. Check them out, ask questions, stop by, call or email for further info. They’ll be delighted to hear from you.

This month:

Wild Society

  • wildsociety.org
  • Board president: Chris Ziobro
  • Executive director: Kieva Myers

Located in Kingston, Wild Society was formed in 2015 to create opportunities for people to fall in love with the natural world. From the beginning, the organization acknowledged that everybody has a different way in which they relate with the world around them, offering diverse and varied programming.

The priority of Wild Society’s programs has always been to facilitate experiences that are inspiring and exciting for people, allowing them to continue their own journey and build relationships with the natural world. Offered fully on public lands, these programs have the goal of creating a sense of belonging in the spaces and places available to us all.

Nonprofit Spotlight - Wild Society“Connecting people, especially youth, with the great outdoors is what Wild Society is all about,” says board President Chris Siobro. “Our backpacking camps offer a space for experienced trekkers to share their knowledge of backcountry skills and stewardship principles with kids and adults who might not have the opportunity otherwise. Unplugging from our busy digital world and connecting with fellow campers and nature often leaves folks feeling transformed from the journey — it’s pretty awesome.”

Nonprofit Spotlight - Wild SocietyFounder Forrest Nichols shares, “When I look back on my life, the moments that stand out the brightest are the times where I was in a wild and beautiful place with people I cared about. My inspiration comes from those moments. For those of us who love the natural world, it is imperative that we share that love with others. When people find a connection to nature, not only are their lives enriched, but they are more likely to contribute to the preservation and stewardship of those places. The sharing of a love of nature supports both the people and the places that we care about.”

Key Programs and Services

Contact the organization directly for more information and specific dates.

Backpacking Summer Camps:
Summers, ages 12-18. Overnight backcountry trips in the Olympic Mountains.

Nonprofit Spotlight - Wild SocietyWomen’s Intro to Backpacking:
Summers, ages 18-plus. Female-identifying weekend backcountry trips building skills with experienced guides.

Sea Otter Weekend:
Summers, ages 18-plus. Younger teens welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Overnight campout with a professional marine biologist.

Educator Excursion — Elwha Backcountry Adventure:
Summers. Spend four days and three nights in the Elwha Valley with peers, amazing guides (teachers themselves) and an experienced naturalist. Learn about the flora and fauna of the Olympics, the benefits of being outdoors and the skills to be a confident backpacker.

Guided Backpacking Camps in Olympic National Park:
Summers, ongoing. Hands-on, outdoor learning for all ages. Scholarships available.

This Nonprofit Spotlight column is designed to inform you about our community’s highly respected 501(c)3 organizations. We highly recommend potential clients, volunteers and donors access further information via the charity’s own website or via independent watch groups like GuideStar, Charity Navigator, GreatNonprofits or Charity Watch, all available online. And for an updated list of nonprofits in our community, check out the links provided by community foundations in Kitsap and Jefferson counties.