July 2, 2024
Featured Post
June 29, 2017
A Watershed Approach
It takes a watershed approach to clean up Puget Sound. What do I mean by that? To improve the health of Puget Sound, we have to work together to restore the lands and waters that feed into the sound. The EPA defines a watershed approach as one that involves all stakeholders, including federal, state, local...
June 8, 2017
A Legacy Lives on in the Hylebos Watershed
Where do you want to leave your mark? John Eastman, a generous resident of Federal Way, had a special relationship with the Hylebos Watershed. There, a rich network of streams, wetlands, forests and open space surround the Hylebos Creek. Hylebos creek empties into Tacoma’s Commencement Bay, in the south Puget Sound. The watershed lies primarily...
May 16, 2017
Celebrate the Rain
“We are water people!” I told the crew with a burst of Pacific Northwest pride. It was the fifth downpour of the week. Seven of us were standing by the side of a road in Everett. We were soaking wet. At our feet, a steady stream of oily water was racing along the curb. The water...
April 10, 2017
Inviting the World into Our Home
When my husband David and I are not traveling, we host young internationals from EarthCorps, bringing the world into our home and mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders. EarthCorps brings together young people from all over the planet to learn about environmental leadership, trail building, and restoration in Seattle, Washington. The young internationals range...
April 3, 2017
The Power of the EarthCorps Community
“How long have you been with EarthCorps?” It’s a question I get almost every weekend from curious volunteers at the events I lead. I usually say since the beginning of 2016 when I started my first year as a Corps Member, but I always pause a bit before answering. Although this is my second year...
March 9, 2017
The Invaluable Lessons of AmeriCorps Service
I served as an AmeriCorps member with EarthCorps in 2007. My year of service taught me invaluable leadership and teamwork skills, a strong work ethic, how to manage money on a very meager budget, and instilled in me a spirit of volunteerism that still motivates me to serve my community. Working in close quarters with...
March 6, 2017
AmeriCorps Week
Happy AmeriCorps Week! Did you know that the US participants in our corps programs are AmeriCorps members? As an AmeriCorps grantee, EarthCorps is connected to a vibrant national service movement that has contributed 1.4 billion hours of service at non-profits, schools, public agencies and community groups across the United States. This is our week to celebrate...
March 2, 2017
Spirit of Service
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” EarthCorps has seen a surge of community members wanting to give back. In January and February 2017 more than 1,100 volunteers have worked with us to improve the health of our parks; a 30% increase from...
February 9, 2017
Proud to be a Steward
I began my time with EarthCorps by volunteering on the weekends at various parks around the Puget Sound. I would show up Saturday morning, work in the park for a few hours, and then go home. After a month or two, I found myself wanting more. I wanted to know which native plants worked best...
February 3, 2017
The Tale of a Transplant
I have a secret. I’m a transplant. Not native to the Puget Sound area. Instead, I spent my seedling years in Los Angeles, California. So when I moved here in 2013, it felt pretty lonely. Even though Seattle’s an awesome place. (For example – football. We have a formidable team and they have won the...