The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announces that many western Washington state parks will be hosting Earth Day events and activities this month.
Friday, April 22, is the official date of Earth Day; however, many of the events are on Saturday, April 23, and one is scheduled for Friday, April 29. Some events include volunteer work parties, others will have booths and educational opportunities.
The following is a list of Earth Day activities with state parks connections:
KING COUNTY
– Lake Sammamish State Park: Earth Week Restoration Volunteer Work Party
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23
2000 NW Sammamish Road, Issaquah
Directions: http://parks.state.wa.us/533/Lake-Sammamish
Volunteers are needed at the AmeriCorps’ Living Laboratory restoration site to help plant native vegetation and do some maintenance work to prevent invasive blackberry from re-establishing in the area. This will be a fun, hands-on project with time to discuss sustainable living in honor of Earth Week. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. The organizers request that interested participants sign up athttp://goo.gl/forms/mr9HTfXuHW.
For more information, contact Aubrey Tingler, event organizer and AmeriCorps volunteer, at Aubrey.Tingler@parks.wa.gov, or visit the Friends of Lake Sammamish website at:http://lakesammamishfriends.org/.
– Lake Sammamish State Park: Keep Issaquah Beautiful Volunteer Event
9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 23
Several locations in Issaquah, including Lake Sammamish State Park
2000 N.W. Sammamish Road, Issaquah
Directions: http://parks.state.wa.us/533/Lake-Sammamish
Volunteers—individuals and groups—are needed for this fourth annual event. Projects include picking up litter, sweeping, digging and planting throughout Issaquah and Lake Sammamish State Park. The organizers request that participants sign up for the event at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044EACA92AA5FD0-keep.
For more information, contact Brenda DeVore, enews@downtownissaquah.com or (425) 391-1112.
– Saltwater State Park: Earth Day Fair
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 29
25205 8th Place, South Des Moines
Lower parking lot
Directions: http://parks.state.wa.us/578/Saltwater
For the past seven years, Washington Service Corps|AmericCorps and Washington State Parks have partnered on the Earth Day Fair at Saltwater State Park. This year’s Earth Day Fair will focus on how people can make choices every day to benefit the planet and live more sustainably. This fun and educational opportunity is open to everyone, especially students pre-K through 6th grade. Numerous organizations will have booths and activities of interest to all ages.
School groups are asked to register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2B8XDV. Individuals do not need to register.
For more information, contact Julie Cleveland, AmeriCorps volunteer and event organizer, at (260) 786-8433 or saltwater@parks.wa.gov.
PIERCE COUNTY
– Kopachuck State Park: Parks Appreciation Day
9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 23
10712 56th St. N.W., Gig Harbor
Directions: http://parks.state.wa.us/530/Kopachuck
Kopachuck State Park is one venue of more than a dozen sites participating in Gig Harbor’s Parks Appreciation Day to celebrate Earth Day. Volunteers do not need to register but should bring gloves, and if willing to share: shears, loppers, pruners, mattocks or Pulaskis, rakes and / or shovels. A hot dog lunch will be provided at noon for the volunteers at either Sehmel Homestead Park or Gateway Park.
For more information, visit: http://www.cityofgigharbor.net/parks-appreciation-day/, or contact Dennis Mills, Kopachuck park ranger, at (253) 265-3606 or dennis.mills@parks.wa.gov.
