VOLUNTEERING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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VOLUNTEERING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS Summer just doesn 9t seem to last long in this corner of the country. Many of us think being outside is the best and highest use of the good weather and long days. There are many opportunities to volunteer that give you plenty of outside time 3 cleaning up parks and the landscape, helping your neighbors, helping raise food for those who lack it.

Think about spending some quality time outdoors this summer 3 making a difference in the life of your community while enjoying the beautiful summer! Some opportunities include: If you like cleaning up the great outdoors , there are many opportunities. Some are one time, some need you to commit to a period of time.

Check these out! Bellingham Parks has many opportunities ranging from the Park Steward program to dropping in to help with park and greenways cleanup. Work party schedule is: Woodstock Farm July 15 th and August 5 th 6:30-8:30pm Get dirty at Woodstock Farm and help restore this beautiful historic site by removing invasive plants.

Pack a picnic and come early for a family outing. Cars are not allowed on site, so park at the North Chuckanut trailhead parking lot and ... more. less.

take the shuttle * or walk the interurban trail, there will be a walking map at the parking lot. For road cyclists, the entrance to the farm is located ½ mile past the parking lot on the right off Chuckanut Drive. * Woodstock summer events and shuttle Info. http://www.cob.org/documents/parks/parks- trails/2009-woodstock-events.pdf Squalicum Creek Park July 1 st ~ 6:30-8:30pm Help out the new urban forest on the hillside at the new Squalicum Creek Park by weeding and mulching around the trees. Park at the lot off Squalicum Parkway across from West St. Boulevard Park July 8 th and July 29 th ~ 6:30-8:30pm Lend a hand removing invasive weeds from the beautiful headlands section of Boulevard Park located between the two foot bridges. Park in the lower parking lot at Boulevard Park near the entrance. WTA Red Line. South Bay Trail July 16 th ~ Thursday , 6:30-8:30pm Join Village Books staff in battling bind weed and blackberries along the trail. Park in Fairhaven, catch the trail at 10th & Mill and walk to site: WTA Red Line. Padden Creek Trail at 6 th Street July 22 nd ~ 6:30-8:30pm Help remove invasive plants to reduce competition with new native plantings and improve wildlife habitat along this trail. Head west on Harris Street then turn left on 6 th street. Park on the street right-of-way and follow the signs to the work party site. WTA Red line. Summer Concerts need volunteers, to help concertgoers to remember to recycle and learn about Food Plus recycling - Call Rae Edwards at 676-6801 or go online to http://www.cob.org/government/public/volunteer/parks/index.aspx to learn more about volunteering with the Bellingham Parks Department. Other Parks You Might Want to Help: Silver Lake Park one of the Whatcom County Parks, needs help with grounds maintenance 3 call 599-2776 if this sounds like something you could help with. Josh Vander Yacht Park needs help with clean up and general maintenance. Call them at 592-4514 Birch Bay State Park uses volunteers to help educate people about the wildlife in the park, serving as Wildlife Interpreters. They also need people to help with maintenance projects. Give a call to 371-2800. Are you interested in being outdoors, working with animals ? Many programs need work done either with animals or around animals. Many offer training. Animals as Natural Therapy needs folks to help with care and maintenance of horses, llamas or small animals. If you 9re 14 and under, you need an adult to accompany you. Call 671-3509 for information. NW Therapeutic Riding Center needs stable hands with horse experience. Call 966-2124 for information. NW Wildlife Rehabilitation Center needs a volunteer to pick up and transport injured or orphaned wildlife to rehab centers or the airport. Call 366-3828 for more information. And other places that could use your help include: Lutherwood Camp needs a Maintenance Assistant to keep things tidy and working well. Call 734-7652 if this sounds of interest. Food Bank Farm grows food to help keep people from going hungry. Call 927-1968 if you 9re interested in helping out with the tasks involved in growing food. Do you like to mow lawns, keep gardens tidy, make home repairs and keep things working? The Volunteer Chore Program has many tasks for low income elderly and adults with disabilities that will help keep them living in their own home independently. Common Threads Farm offers a chance to learn about sustainable agriculture practices while helping to create a thriving farm on Lummi Island. Call 927-1590 for the details. Habitat for Humanity uses volunteer builders each week. Check with them about their construction schedule by calling 715-9170. Dorothy Place (734-51221), the YWCA (734-4820), Brigid Collins offices (734-4616) at the Garden Street Family Center , and Lummi Head Start (384-2255) all need help with the gardens at their facilities. Bellingham Public Works trail walkers talk to dog owners about the importance of cleaning up after their animals. Educational tools and training are provided. Call 676-6850 for the details. And there are always special events that need a helping hand 3 4 th of July at the Port of Bellingham (676-2500) and at Blaine (332-4544), the huge garage sale to help Lydia Place remain sustained, Downtown Bellingham Partnership (527-8710) needs help with events including Summer Sounds concert series, the downtown ArtWalks , and the Bite of Bellingham on August 1. Check back through the summer to see what other events have requested volunteers. You can pick up a Community Volunteer Opportunities publication at the library or the Volunteer Center, or you can go online to http://www.whatcomvolunteer.org/pdf%20files/CVO.pdf and look for cSpecific Date Requests d for the most up- to-date list. Isn 9t it nice that you can go outside and still help others? Enjoy!

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