Stewardship Squad - White Center Heights Park, King County Parks

10300 7th Avenue Southwest,Seattle WA 98146

14 April, 2022

Description

You are invited to volunteer outside with other families! Stewardship Squad event will be working outdoors at White Center Heights Park in SW Seattle. See below for more info from our host, King County Parks. Approximate Address: 10300 7th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146 (see below for map image) Meeting Spot: Meet at the shelter in the park, not far from the intersection of SW 102nd St and 7th Ave SW. Look for the King County Volunteer signs. By Bus: Be sure to check current routes and schedules at tripplanner.kingcounty.gov. MORE INFO: Hello! Thank you for your support in our volunteer efforts. Please read through this document so we are as prepared as possible for our time together. Please let us know right away if you received this and no longer plan to attend. Our events run rain or shine. In the event of hazardous weather, we will be in contact via email the morning of the project. Plan to check your email before you leave so you receive any updates. If you are a group lead, please be sure you have set up a way to contact your group members the morning of the event if needed. COVID-19 Considerations & Protocols: • We want to keep everyone safe. Please do not sign up or attend the event if you feel sick, have been experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if anyone is your household is suspected of having or has been diagnosed with COVID-19. • Masks are now optional at our outdoor volunteer events. What to Bring: • Gardening gloves/work gloves • Closed-toe shoes are required! (ex: sturdy sneakers, rain boots, hiking boots. No sandals, heels, or flats) • Layers of clothing that can get dirty • Long sleeves and thick leg coverings to protect against thorny plants (shorts or capris are not recommended) • Rain gear -OR- sunblock and a sun hat (be sure to check the weather) • Full water bottle • Snacks Youth: Young people under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Any minors under the age of 18 attending the event without a parent or legal guardian must also bring a signed Youth Waiver to the event in order to participate. What to Expect: Please plan to arrive on time for the start of the event. When you arrive, we will have you (or your parent/guardian) sign in and then gather for an introduction circle. We’ll discuss safety, King County Parks, the park that you are serving in, why this work is important, and our plans for the day before we dig into our project. Safety: Considerations to be aware of include: • Personal Protective Equipment at all times: Gloves, closed toed shoes, sturdy clothes, etc. • Environmental Hazards: Look up and around for hazards such as branches, roots, holes, slopes, etc. • Other Park Users: Watch for walkers, runners, dogs, bikes, etc. and make space on trails for them to pass. • Stinging Insects: Bees, wasps, mosquitos, etc. may be active in the park. If you have any allergies to these, feel free to give a staff member a heads up, just in case. • Litter: Keep an eye out for litter as we work. Staff will handle any rusty/sharp/hazardous objects. • Weather: We will be outside which means exposure to cold/heat/wind, etc. • Technology: Keep technology stored safely away. No headphones please, so we are able to hear each other. • Photos: We may take photos during the event and will ask your permission beforehand. • Tools: We will discuss how to carry, use, and clean tools. Benefits of This Work: Often, our work attempts to restore balance to natural sites that have been negatively impacted. This can be due to larger scale impacts such as pollution and climate change, or more regional impacts such as disturbance from development and the presence of recently introduced aggressive weeds. Some benefits that a healthy park/forest/green space can provide include: • Absorbing and naturally filtering rain water (which also helps local salmon & orcas!) • Providing clean oxygen and filtering pollutants from the air • Creating living space for wildlife • Being a place where people can connect with the outdoors • Providing mental health benefits • Building resilience for a changing climate