Volunteer for Salmon!

Photo showing happy volunteers planting trees at Whitney Bridge Park on the Middle Green in October 2002Outdoor volunteer opportunities are waiting for you. Sign up now!

Sound Steward Training Program in February
Get involved with the restoration community along the Duwamish River and on Maury Island and become a local habitat hero! People For Puget Sound is offering a FREE, four-class series February 10 - 20. Class topics include a history of the Duwamish River, introduction to Puget Sound ecology, native vs. invasive plant identification, weed control, and planting techniques. In return for 16 hours of training, Sound Stewards commit to 40 volunteer hours over the next year on People For Puget Sound restoration sites.

Training program details and sign up.

Seattle Parks Volunteer Projects
In addition to the volunteer projects below, the City of Seattle Parks Department offers many opportunities to steward urban forests across the city.

Resources for New Stewards in King and Snohomish Counties
Other resources for new volunteer stewards (Adobe Acrobat 177 KB).

Date and Time Name Location Information and sign up (sponsors vary)
Tuesday, Feburary 9
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Thursday, February 11
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Saturday, February 13
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Saturday, February 13
9 a.m. -
1 p.m.
Roxhill Bog at the Headwaters of Longfellow Creek
Unique opportunity for knowledgeable plant stewards! Help further the incredible amount of work done to restore a rare bog at the headwaters of Longfellow Creek. Five years of work and 250,000 plants are gradually transforming grass back into a bog ecosystem. Work at this site at SW Barton Street and 29th Avenue SW occurs every second Saturday of the month. Call or e-mail to confirm and sign up.
West Seattle

Scott Blackstock,
206-938-2144

Tuesday, Feburary 16
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Thursday, February 18
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Friday, February 19
9 a.m. -
1 p.m.
Seeds, Roots & Shoots
Work in the nursery to raise native plants that will be used to restore aquatic and upland habitats all across King County.
Renton

Adam Jackson, King Conservation District,
425-282-1908

Saturday, February 20
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Brandon Street Natural Area on Longfellow Creek
Battle the ivy and blackberries to help the stream ecosystem work for fish, birds, and wildlife. Work at this site at SW Brandon Street and 26th Avenue SW occurs every third Saturday of the month. Call or e-mail to confirm and sign up.
West Seattle

Jay Mirro,
206-935-6532

Saturday, February 20
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.

Codiga Estuary Restoration on the Duwamish
Join People For Puget Sound on this former dairy farm that is now a tidally influenced wetland providing shelter and food for wildlife such as ospreys, great blue herons, bald eagles and juvenile fish. We’ll be working together to remove pesky invasive weeds like blackberry and bindweed that threaten to overtake native plants.

Special Note! Joining us will be two volunteers from "The Civic Projects: Serving 50 States in 50 Days." Read their blog!

Duwamish in Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, February 20
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Tuesday, Feburary 23
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Thursday, February 25
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Saturday, February 27
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.

North Wind's Weir Restoration Planting
Plant trees and shrubs in beautiful, sandy, rock- and root-free soil at the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project constructed in 2009. This will be the easiest planting experience you've ever had!

Project flier for February 27 (Adobe Acrobat).

Vicinity map (Adobe Acrobat).

Information for volunteers from People For Puget Sound.

Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, February 27
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration
Join in a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the Duwamish greenbelt by controlling invasive plants and planting native trees and shrubs. Note that locations vary depending on the date so RSVP to find out the exact site.
West Seattle

Marisa Ordonia, The Nature Consortium,
206-923-0853

Saturday, March 6
10 a.m. -
1 p.m.
Marine View Park Restoration
Remove ivy and plant trees at this park along the Puget Sound shoreline.
Normandy Park

Stacy Cachules, Cascade Land Conservancy

Friday, March 12
9 a.m. -
1 p.m.
Seeds, Roots & Shoots
Work in the nursery to raise native plants that will be used to restore aquatic and upland habitats all across King County.
Renton

Adam Jackson, King Conservation District,
425-282-1908

Saturday, March 13
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Maury Island Marine Park Restoration
Join People For Puget Sound and Sound Stewards at Maury Island Marine Park. This former gravel mine has the potential to be pristine shoreline habitat with your help. We’ll be working together to remove pesky invasive weeds like blackberry and scotch broom.
Maury Island (part of Vashon/Maury Island)

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, March 13
9 a.m. -
1 p.m.
Seeds, Roots & Shoots
Work in the nursery to raise native plants that will be used to restore aquatic and upland habitats all across King County.
Renton

Adam Jackson, King Conservation District,
425-282-1908

Saturday, March 13
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch
Stewards of the Cove
Work with the Stewards of the Cove to protect and restore Miller and Walker Creeks where they enter Puget Sound. Work varies but can include invasive plant removal, planting native trees and shrubs, and constructing instream structures to improve fish habitat.
Normandy Park

Gary Gaebler, Normandy Park Community Club

Saturday, March 20
9 a.m. -
11 a.m.
Walker Preserve Ivy Removal
Over the last three years, volunteers have removed English ivy from all the trees in the Preserve and from a ever larger part of the forest floor. See photos of the most recent work last November. Join us as we keep the momentum up. Pulling ivy is easiest when the ground is damp in the spring!
Normandy Park

Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Stewardship Program,
206-296-1909

Saturday, March 20
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Turning Basin Estuary Restoration on the Duwamish
Join People For Puget Sound on the shores of the Duwamish River. Turning Basin #3 is a wetland that used to contain Kenco Marine Company where boats moored. Now it is a tidally influenced wetland providing shelter and food for wildlife such as ospreys, great blue herons, bald eagles and juvenile salmon. We’ll be working together to remove pesky invasive weeds like blackberry and scotch broom that threaten to overtake native plants.
Duwamish in Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, March 20
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Brandon Street Natural Area on Longfellow Creek
Battle the ivy and blackberries to help the stream ecosystem work for fish, birds, and wildlife. Work at this site at SW Brandon Street and 26th Avenue SW occurs every third Saturday of the month. Call or e-mail to confirm and sign up.
West Seattle

Jay Mirro,
206-935-6532

Friday, March 26
9 a.m. -
1 p.m.
Seeds, Roots & Shoots
Work in the nursery to raise native plants that will be used to restore aquatic and upland habitats all across King County.
Renton

Adam Jackson, King Conservation District,
425-282-1908

Saturday, April 3
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.

North Wind's Weir Restoration Goose Exclusion Fence Construction
Geese like nothing better than the tender marsh plants we are planting at the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project, constructed in 2009. To foil these aquatic grazers, we will construct a fence around the areas we will plant with the marsh plants on April 17. No experience necessary to help with this unusual restoration task! However, you will get muddy -- wear rubber boots and pants/jacket that you don't mind getting dirty.

Adults and teenagers 16 and older only for this event, please.

Duwamish in Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, April 10
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch
Stewards of the Cove
Work with the Stewards of the Cove to protect and restore Miller and Walker Creeks where they enter Puget Sound. Work varies but can include invasive plant removal, planting native trees and shrubs, and constructing instream structures to improve fish habitat.
Normandy Park

Gary Gaebler, Normandy Park Community Club

Saturday, April 17
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.

North Wind's Weir Restoration Planting
Plant wetland plants at the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project constructed in 2009. Also help complete construction of a goose-exclusion fence to protect the young plants.

This is a Duwamish Alive! event.

Duwamish in Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, April 17
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
Duwamish Alive! at Multiple Locations on the Duwamish
Plant trees and shrubs and control invasive plants at multiple locations along the Duwamish River, the estuary to the Green River. More details will be posted as the event gets closer.
Seattle and Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, May 1
9 a.m. -
11 a.m.

Walker Wetland Blackberry Removal
Last March, we began working to control invasive Himalayan blackberry around the fringes of the Walker Wetland, which was purchased for preservation by the the City of Burien in 2005. We will continue controlling invasives to ensure the long-term health of the wetland, which serves as a sponge releasing clean, cool water into Walker Creek.

Burien

Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Stewardship Program,
206-296-1909

Saturday, May 8
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch
Stewards of the Cove
Work with the Stewards of the Cove to protect and restore Miller and Walker Creeks where they enter Puget Sound. Work varies but can include invasive plant removal, planting native trees and shrubs, and constructing instream structures to improve fish habitat.
Normandy Park

Gary Gaebler, Normandy Park Community Club

Saturday, May 15
9 a.m. -
11 a.m.

Miller Creek Restoration at S. 144th St.
Since 2007, volunteers have been restoring a 300 foot stretch of Miller Creek west of Des Moines Memorial Drive, most recently on a rainy weekend last October. Hundreds of trees and shrubs have been planted and thousands of invasive plants removed. Join us as we do some light weeding and put down mulch to help the plants thrive during the summer.

Burien

Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Stewardship Program,
206-296-1909

Saturday, June 12
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch
Stewards of the Cove
Work with the Stewards of the Cove to protect and restore Miller and Walker Creeks where they enter Puget Sound. Work varies but can include invasive plant removal, planting native trees and shrubs, and constructing instream structures to improve fish habitat.
Normandy Park

Gary Gaebler, Normandy Park Community Club

Saturday, June 19
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
North Wind's Weir Restoration Stewardship
At this event, we'll do any final restoration work at North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project not completed in 2009 and earlier this year. Work is likely to consist of light weeding (there are almost no weeds on site now).
Duwamish in Tukwila

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, July 10
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch
Stewards of the Cove
Work with the Stewards of the Cove to protect and restore Miller and Walker Creeks where they enter Puget Sound. Work varies but can include invasive plant removal, planting native trees and shrubs, and constructing instream structures to improve fish habitat.
Normandy Park

Gary Gaebler, Normandy Park Community Club

Wednesday, July 14
4:30 p.m. -
6 p.m.

Happy Hour Weeding" at Miller Creek Restoration at S. 144th St.
In the middle of the summer, it's hard to get volunteers to give up a lovely Saturday morning. Fortunately, our weeding tasks at the S. 144th St. restoration project on Miller Creek are modest and easily handled with "happy hour weeding." Don't believe it? See the "happy hour weeding" blog posting from July 2009. Weeding will reduce competition between the native trees/shrubs and the unwanted invasive plants during the most stressful time of year.

Burien

Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Stewardship Program,
206-296-1909