Category Archives: Uncategorized

On March 13th local authorities shared that public events of over “ten people” should be cancelled, even when held outdoors.

Until future notice sessions are suspended…

Mid-day Friday, March 13th, we were informed by local authorities that public events of “over ten people” should be cancelled, even if outdoors.

Before this setback we were gaining momentum. Skagit Valley College’s Wildland Firefighting Class (shown above) had joined us on Sunday, March 1st, to rough-in Phase II of the Pump House Trail. As our second “guest group” of the year their eighteen (18) volunteers edged past the first group, that attended the prior week:

• 1st: SVC’s Wildland Firefighting Class with 54 volunteer hours.
• 2nd: Serve Group of Radius Church with 47.25 volunteer hours.

Cascades Job Corps Students and Faculty, last year’s “Top Group,” was scheduled as a “guest group” the next two sessions, on March 14th and the 28th – then this happened.

We will resume sessions at some point, unfortunately “for now” they have been suspended for the foreseeable future…

On Saturday, February 22nd we held our third session of the year. It was a great session, with no rain and a notable surprise. Fifteen (15) SERVE GROUP members from Radius Church became this year’s first “guest group,” and set a very high bar:

• Youngest volunteer (above) at 2-1/2 years.
• Their group “alone” put in 47.25 hours.
• Helping hit a session total of 114.42 hours.

Their involvement demonstrates how important guest groups are to our success. In one session they amassed 18.7% of this year’s total volunteer hours. Please checkout our session gallery for more photos.

Skagit Valley College’s Wildland Firefighting Class has a special session on Sunday, March 1st. Followed by Cascades Job Corps College and Career Academy, that will make back-to-back appearances. Last year Job Corps students and faculty earned “Group of the Year.”

Take a look at the guest group calendar, and please think about it. Maybe your group wants to get involved…

Our next session is Saturday, March 14th.

On Saturday, February 8th work on the Pump House Trail continued. We enjoyed another session without rain, and great working conditions. Our eleven (11) volunteers did some very impressive work.

Pictured above, in addition to Jerry (on the left), three (3) SWHS students; Zoe, Romel and Marcelino, along with Germaine – of the SW City Council. So Sedro-Woolley was very well represented. We had four (4) new volunteers, with two (2) coming from Anacortes to help.

Please checkout our session gallery, and think about forming a guest group for the upcoming session. Thanks everyone for a great session!

Please join us on Saturday, Feb. 22nd.

On Saturday, January 25th work on the Pump House Trail resumed. We enjoyed a break in the rain (for a day), so we had great working conditions. We had fun, our eleven (11) volunteers did some really good work.

Pictured above, Art explained what was planned for the session. The gallery shows us grubbing roots, contouring, transplanting ferns and moving rock. We had a wonderful lunch, provided by Leslie and Roger Estep.

After a cancellation, and a light turnout (this session), we need your help to get back on pace. We have two spots open for guest groups this month…

Please join us Saturday, February 8th.

In our first year volunteering on the Northern State Regional Trails Project our group put in one thousand one hundred and seventeen (1,117) volunteer hours.

Together two “Guest Groups” put in two hundred and thirty-nine (239) hours, which was twenty-one (21) percent of 2019’s total volunteer hours.

Cascade Job Corps students and faculty attended five (5) sessions in 2019, volunteering one hundred and sixty-nine (169) hours – making them our “Top Guest Group.”

Skagit Valley College’s Wildland Firefighting Class was our first group in 2019, attending two (2) sessions, and contributing seventy-one (71) volunteer hours. We go way back, they were our first group at Little Mountain – and are scheduled to be our first group this year.

Varsity in Volunteerism (VIV), or Youth United, is also on our schedule. While they were not involved last year, we have a history with them, that like SVC – goes back to Little Mountain. On that project we had lots of groups attending “at least” one session each year. We sincerely hope that more groups get involved this year!

For 2020 we’ve doubled the number of sessions, along with our goals for volunteer hours and involved groups. There are lots of ways to help; volunteer, form a group, donate, provide lunch(es), or sponsor a session.

Help us break 2,000 volunteer hours this year!

Skagit County Parks and Recreation hauled and spread eight (8) truck loads of crushed rock on the worst sections of the park’s service road. They bought more hand tools, serviced the power carrier, and provided the first of the trail signs we needed – so we’re all set. Thanks SCPR!

Highlighted is the Pump House Trail, which we expect to complete this Summer. Sections 1-3 have already been hand-finished, which is contouring the trail tread and applying ballast rock – as needed.

Sections 4 and 5 have been roughed-in, using a mini excavator. At the next volunteer session removing salmon berry roots will be the first task. After they are removed the final machine grading will be done – that will then make it possible for the final hand-finishing to be completed.

Rock walls will also be needed in a few areas; on sections 2, 3 and 5. The final trail capping is expected to begin in late Spring/Summer. With native plant restoration along the trail corridor, that’s planned for late Fall/early Winter.

Our next session is January 25th, with the Estep Family providing lunch. That’s starting the year off right!