Stewardship Squad - Tolt MacDonald Park, KC Parks, Carnation

31020 NE 40th St,Carnation WA 98014

24 August, 2022

Description

This Stewardship Squad event will be working outdoors at Tolt MacDonald Park in Carnation with King County' Parks. This is a large handsome forest at the confluence of the Snoqualmie and Tolt Rivers with a wonderful bridge, forest paths, yurts and a campground. Note that KC Parks still requires proof of vaccination to volunteer. See past events on the Stewardship Squad blog: http://www.heidirosewatters.com/stewardship/tag/Tolt+MacDonald+Park#show-archive If the weather and River conditions cooperate, families may elect to swim afterwards! Approximate Address: Tolt-MacDonald Park: 31020 NE 40th St, Carnation, WA 98014 We will meet you at the parking area (marked with the yellow polygon in image down below). Once everyone arrives we will walk out to the event location together. Look for the King County Volunteer Program signs. There is additional parking south of the yellow polygon. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Further Info from King County Parks: 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. For the continued health and safety of our community, King County issued an Executive Order that requires all King County contractors and volunteers working on site to be fully vaccinated when performing work in person. Any volunteer attending events after October 18, 2021 will need to show proof of vaccination at the start of the event. To learn more visit COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Volunteers. • 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. 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