Last Updated Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Below s a list of environmental-related volunteer opportunities
in the area. Please send me an e-mail if you know of any others, or contact
me if you are interested in getting college credit from BCC for participating
in restoration projects, etc. I will try to update this site as I learn of new
opportunities, so please check back often.
--Rob Viens (rviens@bcc.ctc.edu or 425-564-3158)
Winter time is usually not to busy - there are a few things listed below, but expect updates as spring approaches.
For additional information on any of the following projects and workshops, call Bellevue Stream Team at 425-452-5200 or streamteam@ci.bellevue.wa.us
Nearly every weekend, volunteers of all ages come out to Greenway parks, forests, stream corridors and mountains to work on a variety of organized projects. Volunteers plant native trees and shrubs throughout disturbed landscapes, build and maintain forested trails, nurture seedlings in the Greenway nursery, and roam open spaces with shovels rooting out invasive plants.
Mountains to Sound Greenway has many projects and is always adding new ones so visit Current Events Calendar to see the most up to date list. You can also sign up for events via this same calendar.
The City of Woodinville offers a monthly environmental volunteer opportunity: Sammamish River Stewards. SRS is a small working group of volunteers dedicated to improving the habitat along the Sammamish River. Additional volunteers are always welcome. It’s a volunteer opportunity that allows the volunteer to see the impact of his/her efforts over time. Contact Patrick Tefft at PatrickT@ci.woodinville.wa.us or more information. SRS's meet the second Saturday of every month. Project locations include Woodin Creek, Little Bear Creek and NE 14th Street along the beautiful Sammamish River Trail.
These City of Woodinville habitat restoration volunteer events will focus primarily on the removal of non-native, invasive plants and the mulching of cleared areas and around existing native plantings. The City provides work gloves, tools, snacks and bottled water. Please dress warmly and in layers. Each volunteer must bring with them a completed City of Woodinville Volunteer Agreement. This form is online at http://www.ci.woodinville.wa.us/Play/GetInvolved.asp.
Dates: Regular meeting 2nd Saturday of each month, 10 AM - Noon (Unless otherwise noted)
Also in Woodenville:
Help make the Sammamish River a better and better looking place. Sponsored by the Sammamish Watershed Forum, King Conservation District, King County, and the cities of Redmond. For general information contact Tina Miller, 206-296-2990 or e-mail tina.miller@metrokc.gov. For specifics contact the people listed for each event below.
Dates: Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (unless otherwise noted)
This is an important area for fish, where the three tributaries come together to form the Snoqualmie River. Unless otherwise noted, contact Tina Miller at 206-296-2990 or e-mail tina.miller@metrokc.gov to register and get directions.
Dates: Saturdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Dig up native trees and shrubs from development sites. Volunteers are needed for salvaging in the Fall. Salvaged native plants are replanted on King County streams and wetlands to improve salmonid habitat. Contact Greg Rabourn at (206) 296-1923 or Greg.Rabourn@metrokc.gov.
Is your group looking for a project? Groups are also needed to care for salvaged native trees and shrubs at our nursery near Sammamish. Contact Cindy Young at (206) 296-8065 or Cindy.Young@metrokc.gov to schedule a work party for the nursery.
Dates:
A great place to view salmon while you plant native trees and shrubs. Unless otherwise noted, sign up with Tina Miller, Volunteer Coordinator (206) 296-2990 or e-mail tina.miller@metrokc.gov.
Dates: Saturdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed are looking for volunteers this Spring. To volunteer yourself or a group, contact Sarah at (sarah@cedarriver.org). Volunteers should bring a lunch and water to drink, and wear clothing appropriate for gardening. Long-term volunteer opportunities are also listed on the Friends volunteer website and more information can be founds at the FCRW events calendar.
Dates:
Native trees will be planted in a natural area along the Green River for enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat. Sign up with Tina Miller, Volunteer Coordinator (206) 296-2990 or e-mail tina.miller@metrokc.gov.
Dates: Saturdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (unless otherwise noted)
The Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force sponsors native planting events on many Saturdays throughout the fall, winter and spring. Below is a list of upcoming volunteer opportunities, join us to plant a tree for fish, wildlife, and water quality! To RSVP and for more information, contact Cara Ianni at cara@stillysnofish.org or (425) 252-6686. For directions, see our website at www.stillysnofish.org.
Dates: Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)
Team up with the Heron Habitat Helpers in this ongoing effort to preserve a little patch of urban forest for Seattle's Official City Bird, the great blue heron. We'll water, weed and whack at the enemy invasives. We'll work with local native plant experts to restore a healthy diversity of vegetation in the ravine. This project has it all: precious salmon, a lost urban creek, EarthCorps oversight, evil invasive knotweed & blackberry, fanatic native plant stewards, and, of course, the stars of the show - great blue herons.
Volunteer work parties will be ongoing. HHH really values our workers and during the work parties we fashion an education piece to accompany the labors. Come prepared for hard work, mud, and thorns! Wear leather gloves, long pants and sleeves - clothes that cover and can get grubby. HHH provides tools, snacks, and drinks.
Work parties take place a two locations:
Contact Volunteer@HeronHelpers.org, or the specific contacts listed below for details about specific dates and locations.
Dates: Saturdays
Contacts:
Kiwanis Wildlife Corridor:
* Mark Ewbank (206) 285-8104 or <theewbanks@comcast.net>
and
* KC Dietz (206) 284-8384 or <dietzkc@earthlink.net>
Kiwanis Ravine Overlook:
* Carol Burton (206) 691-1298 or <cburton@bcc.ctc.edu>
or
* Naomi Chechowitz (206) 784-1138 or <naochez@att.net>
or
* Scott Luchessa (206) 284-8052 or <ecologicalsolutions@seanet.com>
Come alone or bring the family. Enjoy the forest walk, the beautiful setting, and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with doing good work in a wildland community of bear and raccoon, deer and porcupine, birds and butterflies. You will also have a chance to experience first-hand the history, ecology, and value of native prairies as a unique part of Washington's heritage. Whatever your skills, the Meadow Project can use your help! For more information, please contact Jenny Bauer, from the Washington Native Plant Society, at 425-836-3461 or e-mail Jenny Bauer at jmjfb@comcast.net.
Dates: 4th Saturday of the Month, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
English ivy is a woody, climbing vine that has been used extensively in the
Pacific Northwest. English ivy is not native to the United States and has no
natural predators or pests to keep it in check. It easily escapes from planting
areas and invades natural areas, parks and urban forests. Take part in IvyOUT
sponsored work parties. Be a team leader. Adopt and area as your own IvyOUT
project!
See the IvyOUT website for dates. (Many dates were not posted at the time I updated this site.) or contact the following regional coordinators for more information.
To find other IvyOUT events see the IvyOUT web site.
Nearly every weekend, volunteers of all ages come out to Greenway parks, forests, stream corridors and mountains to work on a variety of organized projects. Volunteers plant native trees and shrubs throughout disturbed landscapes, build and maintain forested trails, nurture seedlings in the Greenway nursery, and roam open spaces with shovels rooting out invasive plants. New projects are always being added, so visit Current Events Calendar to see the most up to date list.
Our trails need work to keep people from getting their feet muddy! Help to get the water off the trails and clean up the environment. Assist with the construction of our regional trail network by joining a Washington Trails Association (WTA) work party on King County trails. WTA specializes in introducing new people to the joy of trail work. Volunteers will be introduced to basic trail work, safety practices, tools, terms and concepts. We need volunteers to work on trails at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, Squak Mountain, and Grand Ridge. Trail work is from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. To register for a trail party, contact Washington Trails Association at www.wta.org or call them at 206-517-7032.
Due to all of the downed trees from recent storms trail work paries are scheduled
for practically every day for the next couple of months - see www.wta.org
for a specific schedule. This is a great way to get some exercise!
King County Parks - Your Big Backyard, Volunteer Page
The Dirt: Hands-On Volunteer Opportunities at the Department of Natural Resources and Parks
King County Parks Volunteer Opportunities
WA Dept of Ecology Volunteers Page
Native Plant Society, Central Puget Sound Chapter - Volunteer Opportunities
Snohomish County Surface Water Program Volunteer Opportunities
Searchable list of volunteer organizations from the United Way of King County