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Teen (age 14-18) Spring Break Work Party at Black Diamond Open Space

Youth Day Work Party

Tue Apr 14, 2026: 9:00 AM — 3:00 PM

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Region

Puget Sound and Islands — Seattle-Tacoma Area

Crew Leader: Kaci Darsow

Find salmon, wetlands, and more at the Black Diamond Open Space. Photo by Violcia.

Overview

Teens age 14-18 are invited to give back to the trails during their spring break at Black Diamond Open Space! Earn up to 8 hours for each day of volunteering.

About the Area

The Black Diamond Open space consists of 1,240 forested acres including wetlands, peat bogs, streams and portions of the protected migratory corridor known as the Wildlife Habitat Network. Explore the 17 miles of non-motorized trails only two miles north of Black Diamond and six miles to the south of Maple Valley.

What to Expect

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

Project Description

We've got a handful of days coming up here and the projects will focus on classic tread and drainage work. That means lots of overgrown vegetation to cut back, and muddy areas to fix up with digging!

Hiking Information

Our hike to the project site is expected to be about 1-2 miles over rolling terrain.

Schedule

  • 9:00 AM: Be ready to sign in and meet the crew, rain or shine
  • 9:05 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
  • 3:00 PM: Closing circle 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
  • For ages 14-18.
  • Annual Release Waiver required for all participants.

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, snacks, 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

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

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Partners

Directions

From Seattle, drive I-90 to exit 25 for Highway 18. Turn right on Highway 18. Take exit SE 231st Street toward WA-169/Maple Valley. Turn south on SE 231st Street. Turn right onto WA-169 S / Maple Valley - Black Diamond Road SE.


In a little under half a mile, take a left onto SE 231st Street. After about 0.2 mile, take a right onto WA-169 using the right two lanes. Continue for approximately 4.5 miles and there will be a gravel parking lot on the Right.

*We will be meeting on the West side parking area of 169. There is also a parking area nearby on the East side of the highway. We will be meeting at the WEST lot*.



If you are traveling using public transit, King County Metro Route 143 and DART Route 907 go to the SR-169 and SE 280 St stop and the Black Diamond-Ravensdale Rd SE stop nearby the park. (See metro.kingcounty.gov for schedules and connections).

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

You must be part of this crew and have a My Backpack account to see the Crew Corner.

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Carpool

Find a ride, give a ride with people who also want to carpool.