The Dirt: calendar of hands-on volunteer opportunities
It's Earth Month - Spring 2013

United Natural Foods Inc. employees taking on the weeds at
Metzler Park!

Summer 2013 restoration, trail work, concerts & National Trails Day!

Summer is here and the weeds are coming out in full force! Just like housecleaning; weeding of invasives must be done regularly in order to keep them under control or eradicate them. The native vegetation is coming out of winter slumber to green up and grow during the spring rains and summer sun; let’s give them the best chance to survive and thrive! With your continued support and hard work; the weeds won’t win!

Marymoor Monthlytrail and meadow event: contact Laurie Clinton:

• June 1st Marymoor Park at Bird Loop Trail – work with Eastside Audubon to help out the birds and wildlife.

Help maintain parks restoration projects (all events are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). To sign up or for questions contact Tina Miller, Restoration Volunteer Coordinator.

• June 8th – Taylor Mt. Forest – let’s see how much mulch we can move around the new plants;
• June 15th – Dorre Don on the Cedar River – come spread mulch around the newly planted trees and shrubs;
• June 22nd – Belmondo Reach Natural Area – watering, moving mulch and weeding the restoration area. Help out the salmon using the Cedar River.

Restoration project along the Snoqualmie River at Fall City Park
Join the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe as they work to improve habitat.
Saturday, June 22, 10am-2pm
Where: Fall City Park 4101 Fall City-Carnation Rd SE, follow signs in parking lot
Event: trial building/black fabric removal
Refreshments provided, equipment provided
Please contact Laurie Clinton.

National Trails Day – June 1st GO TAKE A HIKE!!
Celebrate National Trails day right in your beautiful Big Backyard! King County Parks will have Park & Trail Ambassadors and other key volunteers at Cougar Mt., Taylor Mt., Island Center Forest, Maury Island Marine Park, Soaring Eagle, Moss Lake Park, Big Finn Hill Park, Tanner Landing, Marymoor BirdLoop, Black Diamond Natural Area (Henry’s Ridge) to talk about trails and where to hike. They will be there from 9 AM to 11 AM.  Contact Laurie Clinton for more details.

OR  join a National Trails Day volunteer event

• work on trails at Black Diamond Natural Area (Henry’s Ridge).  Contact Laurie Clinton.
• sign-up to do trail work at Cougar Mt (see below)
• help at Taylor Mt. Forest with the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed from 9 AM to 1 PM.  Contact Tina Miller.

Backcountry Trail Work –.  Volunteer Events are Tuesdays through Saturdays and start at 8:30 a.m. and finish at 2:30 p.m. They require hiking to the site.  To register contact Washington Trails Association (WTA) at www.wta.org or call 206-965-8561

• June 1th – Cougar Mt.
• May 24th and June 7th and June 21st – Soaring Eagle

Join a fun bunch at Marymoor this year. Volunteer to be a concert composter/recycler. Help educate outdoor concert goers on recycling & composting while helping minimize amount of concert waste going to the landfill. Free concert & free parking when you volunteer for a shift. Please contact Laurie Clinton for more information.

Be a Weed Watcher

Sign up to adopt a trail or lake , keep an eye out and enter weed survey data and locations.

• Lake Weed Watchers
• Upper Snoqualmie Trail Weed Watchers

EarthCorps Sound Stewards

• Help restore the shoreline (external link) along the Duwamish River Estuary, now through October.

Native plant holding facility
Groups are needed to care for salvaged native trees and shrubs at our holding facility near Sammamish. To schedule a group work party, please contact Cindy Young.

Adopt-a-Park or Trail & Park Ambassador Programs
These programs provide opportunities for groups or individuals to help maintain King County's 180 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 130 miles of backcountry trails.  For more information please contact Laurie Clinton, volunteer program manager.

Salmon counts and habitat restoration

• Salmon Watcher Program
  Help us learn more about our local salmon and what they need to thrive. Contact Jennifer Vanderhoof.
• Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship
  Help restore these creeks in SW King County, pick up litter and pull noxious weeds.
• Volunteer for Salmon!
• Green River habitat restoration - students needed! Learn about restoring habitat while planting trees and shrubs. Groups of volunteers are needed for restoring habitat along the Green River. Weekdays preferred. 4th grade and up. Please contact John Koon.

Road edge planting volunteers

King County Roads Landscape Enhancement Program
Volunteer to tend roadside plants in your neighborhood.

For more information about volunteering in King County, please contact Laurie Clinton, Volunteer Coordinator, King County Parks and Recreation Division.