Project Context & Credits

The American Periphenomenal Survey (APS) is an independent research initiative and citizen-science project focused on the folklore, mythology, and high-strangeness of the Pacific Northwest.

CLARIFICATION: The APS utilizes a formal administrative framework to ensure data standardization and archival rigor. We are a civilian research collective. We are not a government branch, law enforcement agency, or emergency service.

Mission Statement

Our goal is to create a rigorous, non-judgmental archive of the "unexplainable" human experience. We believe that stories of the paranormal, liminal, and weird are vital parts of our regional cultural history.

We utilize the Experience-Centered Approach (David J. Hufford), which validates the reporter's experience without necessarily endorsing a supernatural cause. We listen, we log, and we map.

We operate under the Hybrid Ecology Hypothesis, viewing modern anomalies as friction points where ancient biological pattern-recognition systems collide with modern digital amplification.

Research Ethics & Safety

Voluntary Participation: All data is submitted voluntarily. We prioritize anonymity and data privacy above all else.
Passive Observation: Field Researchers are instructed to observe public spaces only. APS does not condone trespassing, vandalism, or the defacement of public property.
Methodological Agnosticism: We do not try to "debunk" or "prove" ghosts. We document the narrative as it was felt by the witness.

Resources & Support

This project deals with themes of high strangeness, ontological shock, and non-consensus experiences. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact professional support services:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

Credits

Director / Lead Archivist: AEW (APS Cascadia)
Typography: "National Park" (Design by the National Park Service / US Govt Public Domain)
Inspiration: The works of Jacques Vallée and Charles Fort, and the citizen-science model of iNaturalist.

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