Moss Appreciation Week 2026
Moss Appreciation Week will return to Watzek Library and other campus locations, as well as a new off-campus location, February 8-15, 2026. Please join us!

For the eighth time, the Lewis & Clark College Natural History Club invites you to join in celebrating Moss Appreciation Week, “an annual invitation to the community to salute our bryophyte brethren and, in doing so, revel in our Pacific Northwest habitat.”
This week was organized by club leaders Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26, Kenji Yamamoto ’26, and Desi Potter ’27.
Sunday through Sunday, February 8-15th
***Moss Petting Zoo
Watzek Library Atrium, beginning at noon on Sunday, February 8th
Curated by John Christy, Herbarium Manager, Portland State University Herbarium
***Including stickers featuring original artwork by Bea Konar-Steenberg ’26, Eden R. McCoy ’28, Tyson Cornwell ’27, Ahnalya De Leeuw ’28, Oren Parthenos ’26, Autumn Clark ’26, Alex Nash ’25, Jackson Copernicus White ’26 and bookmarks featuring original poetry by Natalie Weyer ’27
***MOSScam - Sunrise to Sunset: Join Here!
Presented by Justin Counts ’99, Educational Technology Specialist, IT
***Make & Mail a Mossy Valentine
Library Atrium, all day
Created by Soff Olmedo ’28 and couriered by Desi Potter ’27
***MOSS sounds: a moss week playlist - Listen Here!
Spun by Jim Bunnelle and the Center for Cassette Studies
Monday, February 9th
***Opening of Indigenous Moss Stories, an ear-forest installation
Ear Forest, 3:40 pm
Curated by Kenji Yamamoto ’26
Featuring:
Ancient Green from the Potawatomi Nation told by Kai Mermis-Cava ’27
The Great Blanket of Moss from the Coast Salish told by Jo LaPlaca ’29
Raven’s Dancing Blanket from the Tsimshian told by Errol Sloan ’29
Flood Myth from the Cree told by Aviva Meisel ’29
How Coyote Happened to Make the Black Moss Flood from the Salish Secwépemc & Okanagan told by Alder Kindseth ’26
Blue Jay’s Skinny Legs from the Bitterroot Salish, told by Kenji Yamamoto ’26
With gratitude to Dr. Luhui Whitebear, Oregon State University, for their guidance.
Hot Cider and Cupcakes
The installation will continue to play afternoons 12-4 pm through Sunday, February 15th.
***Opening of Moss Video Installation Artwork by Lauren Arriola ’24
Watzek Library Atrium, 4:45 pm
Refreshments
Tuesday, February 10th
***Gastropodcast
Olin Balcony, 3:30pm and on Twitch
Cohosted by Deanna Sunnergren ’24, Doctoral Candidate at Oregon State University & Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26.
***Gastropod Derby
Olin Balcony, 4 pm and on Twitch
Gastropod handler: Deanna Sunnergren ’24, Doctoral Candidate at Oregon State University
Refreshments
Racer profiles here
Place your wagers here
Wednesday, February 11th
***Draw Moss
Library Atrium, all day
Supplies provided
***Investigate a Moss Clump: Meet a Tardigrade
Watzek Library Atrium, from 1:30pm on throughout the afternoon
Tended by Sammy Kutsch ’24, Madeline Jones ’25, and Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26
***Mossy Movie Night
Frank Manor House, 7 pm
Hosted by Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26
Thursday, February 12th
***Dress like Moss Day
As it suits you
***Draw Moss
Library Atrium, all day
Supplies provided
***Investigate a Moss Clump: Meet a Tardigrade
Watzek Library Atrium, from 1pm on throughout the afternoon
Tended by Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26 and Zack Stack ’26
***Terrarium Workshop led by Robin Fujita ’18
Meet inside the front doors of the Watzek Library at 4:45pm
Supplies provided
Friday, February 13th
***Moss Valentine Candy available at the Petting Zoo
Library Atrium, all day
***Snow Flea Circus!
Watzek Library Classroom, 3:30 pm
Curated by Deanna Michinski, Portland State University and Dr. Christopher J. Marshall, Curator of the Oregon State Arthropod Collection, Oregon State University
***Mossmates, meet and greet
Watzek Library Classroom, 3:30 pm
Assorted bryophyte friends presented by:
Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26, Frasier Shanker ’26, Desi Potter ’27, and Zack Stack ’26
Pizza provided!
***Keynote Lecture - “Tiny Titans of the Mossy Log: A Safari into Hidden Realms”
Watzek Library Classroom, 4 pm
Also by Zoom: Meeting ID: 269 487 7562 Passcode: moss
Presented by Dr. Christopher J. Marshall, Curator of the Oregon State Arthropod Collection, Oregon State University
Preceded by BryotaBiota Trivia
***A satellite instance of the Moss Petting Zoo, curated by John Christy, Herbarium Manager, Portland State University Herbarium, will appear at the Portland Japanese Gardens from February 9-15th featuring an informational sheet co-developed by Kenji Yamamoto ’26, Max Allen ’25, and Finn Goldberger-Judd ’26.
Learn more about how Portland Japanese Gardens are joining in the celebration here.
Aubrey R. Watzek Library is located in Watzek Library on the Undergraduate Campus.
email watzek@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7270
Aubrey R. Watzek Library
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road
Portland OR 97219
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Come visit our Poetry Pharmacy
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Announcing the 2026 Special Collections Visiting Fellow
Watzek Library Special Collections and Archives is pleased to announce the Eric Rosenblum is the recipient of the inaugural Special Collections Visiting Fellowship. Rosenblum will work with the Katherine Dunn collection and related collections held at Lewis & Clark College this June and July, 2026.
More information about the fellowship is available on the Special Collections website.