Overview

Ride the ferry over from West Seattle and enjoy the views on your way to help us build turnpikes and improve drainage on the North Trail in this beautiful Vashon Island park.

About the Area

With lovely Douglas-fir forest, wetlands, and a great network of trails, Island Center Forest is one of King County's best-kept secrets. Birds are abundant on the wetlands, and the forest is lush, with large, second-growth trees, a testament to the effort that several groups have put into managing this forest in order to restore the health of this area.

Thanks to work from the Friends of Island Center Forest, the Vashon Forest Stewards, Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, and Vashon-Maury Island Audubon, this nature preserve offers a network of forest trails to residents of (and visitors to) Vashon and Maury Island.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! No experience is necessary.

Project Description

We will be focused on drainage structures to improve the trail tread and building a series of turnpikes to get hikers up out of the mud.

Hiking Information

Expect to hike 1-2 miles roundtrip over rolling terrain.

Camping Information

Overnight housing options available for Assistant Crew Leads, please reach out to Bob Zimmerman, bobofwa@gmail.com, or the volunteer email inbox at volunteer@wta.org for this event. We have limited space with accommodations.

Schedule

• 8:30 AM: Be ready to sign in and meet the crew, rain or shine
• 8:35 AM: Gather for a safety briefing, then hike to the project site
• Morning: Work at your own pace, and take breaks throughout the day
• 12:00 PM: Lunch on the trail
• Afternoon: Consider trying a new task before wrapping up the day's work
• 3:30 PM: Sign out after enjoying refreshments at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a great day outside!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

• No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need
• Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours on uneven terrain
• Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18

What to Wear

Required:

• Sturdy closed-toe shoes
• Work gloves
• Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
• Long pants

Recommended:

• Sturdy work or hiking boots
• Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

What to Bring

• Lunch and plenty of water
• Rain jacket and pants
• Extra warm clothing in case of wet or cold weather
• A pack to carry your personal gear
• A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

 

• Frequently Asked Questions
• WTA's Trail Work Guide introduces the type of work you may do
• Contact us at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367
• Maury Island Webpage
• Ferry Schedule

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Partners

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