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Americorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more
than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country's critical needs in
education, public safety, health, and the environment. Through the support and management of the
Northwest Service Academy (NWSA), Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation has provided opportunities
for Americorps members to work on locally-relevant environmental restoration and preservation
projects in Clark County for over a decade. This work includes offering community members
opportunities in civic participation, environmental responsibility, and community success
through volunteer activities that enhance their local parks and natural areas.
Check out some photos of our volunteers in action!
Upcoming Events in 2010
Food, water, gloves, and tools will be provided for all events.
To find out more details about these events, to register to participate, or to receive notices about
upcoming events, please contact the AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator at cityparks.volunteercoordinator@ci.vancouver.wa.us.
,(360) 619-1124.
3rd Annual Trails User Count
September 14,15,16 from 5 to 7 p.m.
September 18 and 19 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Calling all Bicyclists, Pedestrians, and Trail users - Help count or make your trip count!
Volunteers are needed to document the number of people walking and bicycling on select Clark County trails,
bikeways, and sidewalks. In addition to counting users, bicyclists and pedestrians will be invited to complete
a short survey that will provide information on why people use trails, bikeways, and sidewalks; as well as what
types of improvements they would like to see to make trails, bikeways, and sidewalks more accessible.
Each location will be staffed by two volunteers - one to count and one to survey. We need about 45 volunteers
to count at all locations on two separate days. Volunteer training sessions are scheduled on September 1 and Sept 8 from 6-7:30 p.m. at 610 Esther Street.
Third Annual Camas Lily Field Restoration
Saturday, September 18
Come join Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation and neighborhood volunteers in their efforts to
clear Scotch broom from the Camas Lily Fields. Help us keep this historical field healthy! Highlights
include a camas seed planting and root tasting.
Map
Riverside Clean-Up
Saturday, September 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (unveiling*)
Along the East Fork Lewis River lies a 166 acre wetland where migratory birds flock and locals take
their daily walks. La Center Bottoms Stewardship site is a hidden gem and one of three state-designated
Watchable Wildlife sites in the county. To help keep this park a local treasure join SOLV, the Vancouver-Clark
Parks and Recreation Department, La Center's Wetland Stewardship Program and local school
students for a plastic tree protector removal and litter clean-up event. This is conjunction with SOLV's
Annual Beach and Riverside Clean-up event hosted along shorelines from California border to the Lewis River.
*The unveiling of new wildlife interpretive signs that include local kids' art will follow the clean-up.
Map
No Ivy Day
Saturday, October 9
In partnership with Portland's No Ivy League, join in on a great regional effort to remove English Ivy
(Hedera helix). Ivy is an aggressive invasive plant that threatens our trees, native plants and wildlife.
Help protect our indigenous habitat and recreational areas while promoting biodiversity. There will be work
parties at multiple locations in Clark County. Call to join a crew or to lead a party at your local park.
"Soon one day I hope I can come back with my family and walk around
and see how clean and neat it is and show my family what I did to help our community..."
-An 8th grade student, after working on the Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway
"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
The tremendous dedication and special efforts of community volunteers has done much to ensure
that Vancouver and Clark County's parks, green spaces and trails are protected and preserved for
generations to come. In 2008, 586 volunteers joined the Volunteer Program in numerous
Parks and for various different
service and education projects. Take a look at our service opportunities to get an idea of the work we do and the wide range of people and organizations that
we work with.
The Benefits of Service
The list is endless of what and who can benefit from your volunteering in Vancouver and Clark
County's parks and greenspaces (water, soil, animals and plants- individuals, groups, and communities). The list of benefits include:
- Making a visible difference in the community in which you live.
- Maintaining and creating a cleaner and healthier environment for animals, plants and humans to enjoy.
- Education and knowledge: while there is always work to be done, we always try to make sure that our volunteers understand what their efforts are accomplishing and how it fits into the bigger picture.
- Gaining new experience and learning and developing new skills - both personal and
interpersonal. Volunteering at the right project can even be a good way to explore potential career goals.
- A sense of pride, accomplishment, and confidence for the individual and the community, as well as satisfaction and accomplishment.
- Service can be therapeutic and fun! Our parks and green spaces are beautiful places to work and play in, rain or shine.
Service Opportunities
We have worked with individual community members of all ages and backgrounds, various local
organizations, businesses, school groups and Scouts. We are always open to new ideas
for projects and partnerships. Here are the project areas that we focus on:
- Non-native, invasive species removal (English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, Scotchbroom, etc)
- Trail maintenance and repair
- Litter and debris pickup
- Tree and shrub plantings
- Bird and bat house placement
- Interpretive signage
- Wildlife monitoring and stewardship
- Remove tree protectors
Contact Information
Contact the Americorps Volunteer
Coordinator at cityparks.volunteercoordinator@ci.vancouver.wa.us, 360-619-1124. We are always open to suggestions, requests and proposals for local
projects.
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the women and men to gather wood,
divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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