Volunteer at The Optimist Club – March 15th, 2025
Help us care for young trees at the Optimist Club Youth Camp in Battleground, WA
If you are looking for a perfect way to spend your Saturday morning, look no further than the beautiful Optimist Club Youth Camp! Columbia Land Trust conserved this property through a conservation easement in 2022 and has been helping to care for it by removing invasive Scotch broom and English holly. At this volunteer event, we’ll lay mulch around the young trees we’ve just planted in the area that has been cleared of weeds. This mulch will suppress weed growth and insulate moisture in the ground, helping these new plantings establish.
As a volunteer, you’ll get to be part of this important work while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful forest surroundings.
When: Saturday, March 15th, 2025 from 10am – 1pm
Where: The Optimist Club Youth Camp near Battle Ground, WA
Directions: Find your way to Battle Ground, Washington (approximately 15 miles NE of Vancouver). From the corner of Hwy 502 (NE 219th Street / Main Street) and Hwy 503 (Lewisville Highway), go north approximately 3.7 miles, turn right onto NE 132nd Avenue, continue right around the corner, then left on 282nd Street, stay right on the paved one-lane roadway into the forest, stay right on the paved roadway which becomes Raintree Drive, go down a steep hill to the bottom. There will be signs on the right to direct you to the parking area.
Note: This Google Maps pin shows you the location, but we highly recommend following our directions and looking for posted signage, as Maps may take you down the wrong road.
Directions: Please follow event signage when approaching the area, as Google Maps may try to navigate you through a gated residential community. Find your way to Battle Ground, Washington (approximately 15 miles NE of Vancouver). From the corner of Hwy 502 (NE 219th Street / Main Street) and Hwy 503 (Lewisville Highway), go north approximately 3.7 miles, turn right onto NE 132nd Avenue, continue right around the corner, then left on 282nd Street, stay right on the paved one-lane roadway into the forest, stay right on the paved roadway which becomes Raintree Drive, go down a steep hill to the bottom.
What To Expect: This work will involve 2-3 hours of physical work spreading mulch around freshly planted trees using shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows. We will work on terrain that may be uneven and thick with vegetation in some areas. We will provide work gloves, tools, water, coffee, and light snacks. A rustic pit toilet is available for our use. All participants will be asked to sign our Participant Release Form after registering.
Participants should wear sturdy work boots and layers that can protect from rain and wet brush and ground. We recommend packing a water bottle, sunscreen, and lunch if you would like to stick around for a picnic after we wrap up our work.
Contact: Please contact Events Manager Peter Condra with any questions: events@columbialandtrust.org (503) 847 3342