On Wednesday, May 14, award winning artist Tuttie Peetz will share her passion for finding and sculpting driftwood in Session 4 of this and informative series by self-proclaimed “outdoor fanatics.” The final Outdoor Fanatics presentation will be at 7 p.m. at the Dungeness River Audubon in Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road in Sequim.

Peetz, who has been sculpting driftwood for 17 years and has been teaching it for 10, will show and tell the process of the sculpting. She also will show both finished and “in progress” sculptures. Although the process can be physically demanding, it also requires time and patience. The most exciting part of the process for her is beginning to work on a new piece of wood. She says that it’s like opening a present because you never know what you will find inside. Searching for the wood itself is her other favorite part.

According to her friends Peetz will go to literally any length to retrieve a special piece of wood. While she does search beaches for wood, her favorite source is old-growth cedar clear cuts. These places are difficult to find and often not easily accessible. It is not uncommon for her to go off on old logging roads and then hike in to carry the wood out. Often there is no cell phone reception and she needs to mark the trail in order to get out safely.

The Outdoor Fanatics series, sponsored by Columbia Bank of Sequim, kicks off the River Center Rally, an annual activities-based fundraiser that runs through May. Admission is by donation. The series and the River Center Rally raise funds to help support educational programs of the Dungeness River Audubon Center and maintain Railroad Bridge Park.

For more information, visit www.dungenessrivercenter.org, contact rcoffice@olympus.net or call 681-4076.