Campfire Chat

Celebrate Pollinator Week with EarthCorps and Friends

Washington State’s San Juan Island National Historical Park is home to the only remaining population of the endangered Island Marble Butterfly. In partnership with the National Park Service, EarthCorps is supporting work to protect and restore the butterfly’s habitat.

This quarter, EarthCorps Alumni and Education Manager Brandon Riehl, members of the EarthCorps team, EarthCorps alum, and National Park Service Resources Stewardship Program Manager Sara Dolan joined “Campfire Chat: Celebrating the Island Marble Butterfly” to discuss the importance and impact of the work that’s happening on San Juan Island, as well as share the history of this very special pollinator. 

Rewatch the Campfire Chat on Instagram Reels

EarthCorps Program Director Elizabeth White joins Campfire Chat to discuss the Corps Program. Covering the structure of the programming to how the feedback loop has redefined the program’s structure, White answers all your questions about what to expect from this year’s Corps Program.

In 2021, EarthCorps partnered with the City of Kent to discuss sustainable trail design and construction at Mill Creek Canyon. Working with the city, EarthCorps identified community needs and strategized a multi-year revitalization plan to create and maintain accessible trails. From brush cutting, to tread work, building switchbacks, and installing structures, the Mill Creek Canyon Project dives deep into city collaborations, extensive planning and strategizing, and working toward long-term sustainability.

In this series, EarthCorps’ Field Operations Manager Whitney and EarthCorps’ Project Manager Mahleah welcomed folks who have supported the ongoing Mill Creek Canyon Project.

Whitney shares: “The Canyon is a fantastic place with rich ecology. When you get far enough into the Canyon, you could close your eyes and not know that you are in the middle of a very dense urban landscape. There are many big plans for the Mill Creek Canyon that go beyond trail work, but our piece, for now, focuses on trail construction and design.”

At EarthCorps, actualizing a future where all people and nature thrive together means investing in community engagement efforts. During this conversation, EarthCorps connects with speakers from partnering organizations:

• Abdi Haro from Bridging Cultural Gaps
• Gabbi Gonzales from City of Burien
• Joe Camacho from Foster High School

These leaders highlight their collective and shared goals towards environmental and social justice and discuss breaking down barriers to providing unique experiential opportunities for youth and communities throughout the region.

After a two-year COVID hiatus, EarthCorps welcomed six passionate and talented folks to the International Corps Program. This cohort brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental sustainability, forestry, environmental science, and radio telemetry. On November 15, 2022, the International Corps joined Campfire Chat to discuss their backgrounds, cross-cultural experiences, and visions for after the program.

Creosote is a petroleum-based toxin that was once used as a preservative for piers and docks throughout the Puget Sound region. The use of creosote is now banned, but old wooden structures continue to pose a deadly threat to marine life. By removing toxic debris from local waters and shorelines, EarthCorps is protecting salmon, orcas, and other marine life that call the Puget Sound home.

In partnership with Washington Conservation Corps, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and the Samish Indian Nation, EarthCorps has removed over 900,000 pounds* of toxic, creosote-coated logs from local beaches and waterways. On September 15, 2022, EarthCorps Executive Director Evlyn Andrade welcomed our partners to discuss the impacts of the project and celebrate major milestones.

*Statistic at the time of recording.