Volunteer Opportunity: Spring Weeding at the Optimist Club
Help us remove invasive Scots broom at the Optimist Club Youth Camp in Battleground, WA
Join Columbia Land Trust for a morning of volunteer land stewardship at the Optimist Club Youth Camp near Battleground, WA. We will be removing invasive Scots broom and other weeds and monitoring plantings of Western redcedar at this beautiful site near the East Fork Lewis River.
A conservation easement on this 46-acre property was finalized in November of 2022 after years of work by Columbia Land Trust and the Optimist Club of Vancouver. With your help, we can maintain the health of this forest and the quality of this treasured community space.
Below you will find our registration link and details regarding the event. Our Participant Liability Waiver and additional event information may be emailed to registrants 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
Date: Saturday, April 8th, 2023
Schedule:
- 9am – Meet at the camp’s upper parking area and grab a cup of coffee or tea (provided)
- 9:15am – Volunteer orientation
- 10am – 1pm – Work in groups to get rid of those weeds!
- 1pm – Lunch (provided)
Location: Optimist Youth Camp (Map Link)
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:
We will spend three hours removing weeds using tools such as loppers, weed wrenches, and handsaws. This is physical work and can be demanding, so participants are encouraged to work at a pace that is comfortable for them. We will be working in a forest and meadow with uneven terrain and some areas of thick brush. This time of year it can be rainy or cold – even if it’s not raining, the vegetation may be wet! Please dress and plan accordingly. If the weather is rainy, consider bringing some extra clothing or shoes so you can comfortably enjoy lunch at the end of the day. There is a rustic vault toilet on site, as well as a covered picnic shelter.
We will provide meat and vegetarian options for lunch and will do our best to accommodate if you let us know of any dietary allergies or restrictions. For your safety, it may be most advisable to pack your own lunch if needing to avoid specific food allergens.
What to wear and bring:
- Sturdy, ankle supporting boots that can be worn in muddy conditions
- Gardening gloves, if you have them (we’ll have extras)
- Dress in layers to prepare for possible rain and cold weather
- Stay hydrated and please bring your own reusable water bottle
- We will provide tools for the workday, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own loppers and handsaws from home if in good working condition
Contact:
Please contact Events Manager Peter Condra with any questions: events@columbialandtrust.org (503) 847 3342