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NORTHWEST NATURE SHOP 30 years of birds, bees and more Anniversary celebration of iconic outdoor store set for June 27 Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jun. 4, 2015 at 12:27 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jun. 4, 2015 at 12:27 PM » Social News Providing educational nature hikes and a wonderland of fascinating goods, the Northwest Nature Shop has been around a long time — 30 years — and is now run by the grown children of late founder, the legendary Mike Uhtoff. “He moved the family down here from Portland in ’85 and started this store as a center of education, hiking and natural history,” said daughter Marie Uhtoff, who manages the store with her brother Chris Uhtoff — with a little help from a third generation, Marie’s three children. “Dad’s vision is still here, a gift store, with lots of stories to pull both children and adults into nature and science,” says Chris. “It’s evolved into more field trips and learning about local birds and plants. The trips are a big part of our philosophy. We see ourselves as not just a store, but a resource, encouraging people to learn, conserve and get out in nature.” The shop, always housed in a family-owned craftsman home, stands at 154 Oak St., just off Lithia Way. It's set a public celebration of its anniversary, complete with a band, for 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, June 27, at the store. No matter what your age, you’ll find yourself entranced and drawn into an amazing range of science-based books, semi-precious stones, owl clocks, pottery, Night Sky (stars that go on your bedroom ceiling, arrayed just like the real stars), T-shirts, cards, puzzles, hammocks, binoculars and more. For instance, here’s a mushroom knife with a brush on the other end to brush the stuff off the shroom. And a mushroom spore spreader — a basket that’s vented to allow its spores to go back into the forest as you walk along. You know how hard and risky it is putting bees or other bugs out of your house. Well, here’s a bug catcher that allows you to edge it gently in a container and let it go, with both of you safe. Down the aisle is a solar lantern with a dozen tiny lights and solar collectors on top, that will burn for eight hours, letting you read all night without using any fossil energy or disturbing anyone. Talk about renewable and useful! Store clerk Marjorie Gosling grew up with the store and notes, “You get to talk passionately to people about being outside in the natural world. It opens your imagination and you get to play with 1-year-olds, or have serious talks with tourists and locals and encourage them into nature. Part of my deepest childhood dreams was to be in this store and here I am. I have such great memories of sifting through all the rocks and playing with the toys. People wander, lost in here for hours.” Uhtoff family membes find themselves captivated by the shop and hikes, which they grew up with — and their children are repeating the same pattern. Marie got her nursing degree, but found she was happiest running the shop and having her kids pop in after school. “I didn’t realize how much the shop had gotten into my blood,” she says. “It fits my personality.” Chris echoes the thoughts. “I just like serving and helping people and being immersed in the educational aspect.” Their mother, Kathy Uhtoff, still leads hikes — and just got back from a birding trek around Malheur County, in the southeast corner of Oregon. Her late husband, Mike, is noted for a trail named after him — bike-free and connecting White Rabbit and Oredson-Todd. As president of the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, he spearheaded the creation of 300-acre Siskiyou Mountain Park, realized through public fundraising to buy the land and gift it to the city. He died in 2009 at the age of 70.  As part of the shop, the Ashland Trail Trekkers offers day camp for kids at Lithia Park Oredson Todd Woods, White Rabbit Trail and Ashland Ponds, each stretching over several days and costing $180. Call 541-482-3241 for info. Goods, hikes and events are at http://www.northwestnatureshop.com/. The shop donates 20 percent of profits or 1 percent of sales (whichever is greater) to environmental, educational and community organizations. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jun. 4, 2015 at 12:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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