It was rainy, windy and muddy. But the ivy was out there, so the volunteers were too.
On Saturday, March 1, about 40 volunteers ventured to Camp Long in West Seattle to remove invasive species of ivy under the supervision of EarthCorps. The volunteers hiked around a slippery forest slope, battling ivy on the ground and on the trees.
“Camp Long is one of our biggest parks, so it’s important that we maintain it,” EarthCorps representative Michael Helms said. “Ivy doesn’t allow for plant diversity because it suffocates other species, so we’re getting it out of here.”
EarthCorps and many other organizations host volunteer work parties in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation throughout the spring to keep natural areas healthy and flourishing. Helms said EarthCorps typically has around 50 people sign up for its events, many of them young students.
Andrew Nguyen, a senior at Roosevelt High School, spent his Saturday morning at Camp Long to help fulfil his community service requirement for graduation.
“I’m inside at school all week, so it’s a nice change to be here,” Nguyen said. “On the weekends I like to get outside and get some exercise.”
Marie Ong, a West Seattle High School senior, said she’d been to Camp Long a few times before with the O2 Program and was excited to do her part to keep up its forests.
To see the full schedule of 2014 volunteer work parties, click here.