Work Parties
Work Parties are a great way to make a difference while learning about properties that contain important ecological benefits and how we restore these special places through stewardship. These events are generally held on Saturday mornings in the Spring and Fall from 9am to noon, allowing you to make a big impact in your community in just a few hours! All ages are welcome, and families are highly encouraged to join us. Please bring a reusable water bottle and enough snacks to keep you fueled throughout the event.
RSVP Encouraged: Please click on the name of the event that you are interested in attending and fill out the associated form. Each person attending must fill out the form separately.
Questions? Please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator, Madeline Mahler, madeline@whatcomlandtrust.org.
2023 Summer Work Parties
Saturday, July 8th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Scotchbroom removal with NSEA @ Maple Creek Reach
What better way is there then to spend your Saturday morning bonding with others in your community while improving habitat along the North Fork of the Nooksack River? Join Whatcom Land Trust and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association at this beautiful, riparian zone full of wildlife. This property has gone through amazing transformations in previous years but still needs help to reach its full potential. In the coming years, this will be a river access point so come help us make it into a beautiful, accessible spot!
For more information and to register, please visit https://nsea.volunteerhub.com/vv2/
Saturday, July 15th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Scotchbroom removal with NSEA @ Maple Creek Reach
What better way is there then to spend your Saturday morning bonding with others in your community while improving habitat along the North Fork of the Nooksack River? Join Whatcom Land Trust and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association at this beautiful, riparian zone full of wildlife. This property has gone through amazing transformations in previous years but still needs help to reach its full potential. In the coming years, this will be a river access point so come help us make it into a beautiful, accessible spot!
For more information and to register, please visit https://nsea.volunteerhub.com/vv2/
Saturday, July 22nd (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Invasive Removal around native trees with NSEA @ Catalyst Preserve
Come spend your Saturday morning with the Whatcom Land Trust and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in fighting invasive species on the South Fork of the Nooksack river. We will focus on saving native trees that were planted previously from getting swallowed up by evil invasives. Catalyst Preserve is a stunning property along the South Fork of the Nooksack with many different types of ecosystems. See you out there!
For more information and to register, please visit https://nsea.volunteerhub.com/vv2/
Saturday, July 29th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Invasive Removal around native trees with NSEA @ Catalyst Preserve
Come spend your Saturday morning with the Whatcom Land Trust and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in fighting invasive species on the South Fork of the Nooksack river. We will focus on saving native trees that were planted previously from getting swallowed up by evil invasives. Catalyst Preserve is a stunning property along the South Fork of the Nooksack with many different types of ecosystems. See you out there!
For more information and to register, please visit https://nsea.volunteerhub.com/vv2/
COVID-19 Update:
The safety of our volunteers and community remain our highest priority. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, have any symptoms of illness, or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you MUST stay home even if you have already RSVP’d. Please understand that if you choose to participate in a field Friday event, you do so at your own risk. While these precautions may reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, that risk still exists. By choosing to volunteer, you are knowingly and accepting the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Liability Waivers
Liability waivers need to be filled out prior to volunteering with Whatcom Land Trust. The liability waiver is good for the remainder of the calendar year (January – December), and a new one will need to be filled out each year after. Both electronic copies and printed copies will be accepted.
If you are 17 years of age or older, simply fill out the adult liability waiver below.
Adult Liability Form
Minor Liability Form
How to fill out these forms if a volunteer is under 17 years old:
– If the volunteer is under 13, a parent will need to sign both the adult liability form and the minor addendum form.
– If the volunteer is between 13 and 17 years of age, the teenager will sign the adult liability waiver, and a parent will need to sign the minor addendum form.
Click on one of these links to learn more about our volunteer opportunities:
Work Parties | Field Fridays | Become a Volunteer Land Steward | Other Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer with our local partners!
https://www.wmbcmtb.org
https://www.n-sea.org
https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1787/Parks-Recreation
Past Work Parties
California Creek Timberline Work Party
Saturday, May 22nd: We cut blackberry, grubbed blackberry, and cut tree branches to prevent blackberry from climbing up the trees.
Earth Day Work Party at Bell Creek
Saturday, April 24th: Volunteers at the Bell Creek Work Party removed English Ivy, Periwinkle and Blackberry.
Earth Day Work Party at Maple Creek Reach
Saturday, April 24th: Volunteers worked to clear about 150 square feet of invasive scotch broom from around plantings at our Maple Creek Reach property. It was amazing to see the difference that just one person made removing this incredibly invasive species! Even though it rained, everyone was happy to be working on the land for Earth Day.
Pratum (Lake Whatcom Watershed)
March 20th, 2021: Volunteers removed about 75 square feet of Vinca Minor (Common name: Periwinkle). The weather held for us and we enjoyed the walk through the property, even stopping to give volunteers an opportunity to enjoy a waterfall.
Lower Middle Fork Complex
March 6th, 2021: We had a great time pulling out invasive English ivy
Bell Creek
December 12th, 2020: We removed English ivy, Vinca (Periwinkle), and blackberry.
Fenton Reserve
December 5th, 2020: We had a great tree planting party at the Fenton Reserve. Everyone enjoyed themselves!
Maple Creek Reach Reserve
November 6th, 2020: We removed a lot of Scotch Broom at Maple Creek Reach. See before and after photos.
Halloween Work Party at Kelsey
October 31st: We planted about 80 trees today at Kelsey! It was a perfect Fall day for planting and the volunteers thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the sunshine.
Make a Difference Day Work Parties
Lower Middle Fork Complex
October 24th: During the coldest day this fall, our volunteers helped remove an entire truck bed full of ivy along a creek bank. Thank You!
White Deer Work Party
October 24th: We had volunteers and staff remove ALL of the (known) patches of invasive Archangel from White Deer! Garbage was also picked up from across the property and Kokanee are not in Austin Creek yet!
Lower Middle Fork Complex
February 29th: We planted 105 trees and removed English ivy from trees and on the ground.
Lower Middle Fork Complex
December 14th: We had seven people show up and planted/blue-tubed 151 trees!! We even got to mulch some!
Work Party at Kelsey
December 7th: Work Party at Kelsey: We planted and blue-tubed more than 200 trees along Butler Creek, and installed caging on the cedars for protection from deer browsing.
Work Party at California Creek
November 16th: Thanks to everybody who showed up at California Creek despite the rain! Together with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and the Washington Conservation District we planted nearly 300 trees.
Alcoa Work Party at Kelsey
November 8th: Thanks to everyone from Alcoa who came out to Kelsey to get some trees planted!
Superfeet Work Party at Wild Cat Reach
October 11th: A huge thank you to Superfeet for sponsoring this work party! With their help and some awesome Superfeet volunteers we got 500 trees planted at Wild Cat Reach.
Planting Party at Maple Creek Reach
October 5th: Returning to Maple Creek Reach today we planted trees along Maple Creek. Lucky attendees even got to see spawning Pink salmon in the river!
