Work Parties
Work Parties
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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.

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: Adult 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: Minor Liability Form

RSVP Encouraged: Please scroll to the event that you are interested in attending and fill out the associated RSVP form. Each person attending must fill out the form separately.
Questions? Please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator, Madeline Mahler, madeline@whatcomlandtrust.org.


2024 Spring Work Parties

Saturday, March 9th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Blackberry Removal @ Riverstead

We are kicking off the 2024 work party season out on this 75-acre property on the South Fork Nooksack River. This property supports many different wildlife populations including all five species of Pacific Salmon, the South Fork Elk Herd and the beautiful, soaring eagles that we all love to look at. We have owned this property since 2013 and through work parties like this one, have been slowly transforming it to a healthy ecosystem for these creatures. This property is a wonderful mix of open meadows, forested tree cover, creek habitat, etc. For this work party, we will be focusing on digging out blackberry roots that threaten the native species. Come join WLT for a morning full of fun and hard work!


What to expect: Walking a short distance on uneven ground, digging using a shovel, pulling roots, clipping plants


Directions: From Bellingham take Mt. Baker Hwy east past Deming. Turn right (south) on SR 9 to Acme. Travel south just past Acme. Turn left on Rothenbuhler Road and cross the railroad tracks. Then follow the WLT signs to where you should park!


Address: 5400 Rothenbuhler Road, Acme, WA, 98220.


Carpool option: Riverstead is about 40 minutes from Bellingham. Follow this link to join a carpool! http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/ed4x3k


RSVP: Registration is not required but signing up beforehand will make signing in easier! Click here to pre-register!

Saturday, March 16th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
English Ivy Removal @ Lower Middle Fork Complex with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association

The Lower Middle Fork Complex is located along the alluvial fan of Canyon Creek and the Middle Fork Nooksack River. This makes this property extra special because Canyon Creek supports consistent populations of Spring Chinook and Steelhead which are both endangered species. The Land Trust protecting this property means that salmon habitat will improve and
the forested habitat zone will be restored overtime. As some of you know, we hold work parties on this property twice/ year to hold the invasive ivy at bay and the great news is that it has been working! We are back at it this spring because consistency is key. We are excited to be partnering with NSEA for this one and even more stoked to see all of your smiling faces at this
beautiful, unique property!

What to expect: Walking on uneven ground, pulling roots, digging

Carpool option: Lower Middle Fork Complex is about 35 minutes from Bellingham. Follow this
link to join a carpool! https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/pgk8mv


For more information and to register, please visit: https://nsea.volunteerhub.com/vv2/

Saturday, March 30th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Blackberry Removal @ Kelsey

Kelsey was the Land Trust’s second property, donated to us by Ruth Kelsey in 1992. This property protects Butler Creek which is important fish habitat and connects to Lake Terrell. This is a diverse property with many small fields surrounded by coniferous and deciduous forest structures. This property unfortunately has many invasive species right now but with YOUR
help, we will create a beautiful ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. See you out on the land!


What to expect: Walking a longer distance on uneven ground, digging using a shovel, pulling roots, clipping plants


Directions: From Bellingham, head north on Interstate-5, take the exit for Grandview Rd (Exit 266), turn left onto Grandview Road (WA-548N) toward Custer, travel approximately 3.5 miles and turn left onto North Star Road. After approximately 1.4 miles, the gravel driveway to access the property will be on the right shortly after crossing Butler Creek.


Carpool option: Kelsey is about 25 minutes from Bellingham. There will be limited parking, so please carpool if possible. Follow this link to join one! https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/3bg8r5


RSVP: Registration is not required but signing up beforehand will make signing in
easier! Click here to pre-register!

Saturday, April 6th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Scotchbroom Removal @ Maple Creek Reach

You will want to spend your Saturday morning out at this beautiful 100-acre property for many reasons. We almost always see eagles soaring through the skies over the North Fork of the Nooksack River, the scenery is breathtaking and most importantly, there is LOTS of Scotchbroom to remove! Maple Creek Reach is a fan favorite for good reason. Come help out the Land Trust restore this wonderful place by using weed wrenches to defeat the invasive Scotchbroom.


Carpool option: Maple Creek Reach is about 45 minutes from Bellingham. If you are interested in joining a carpool, follow this link. https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/7dw0f8


What to expect: Walking a short distance on uneven ground, using weed-wrench, pulling weeds


Directions: From Bellingham take Mt. Baker Hwy east to Maple Falls. Once through Maple Falls, follow the highway for two sharp beds followed by crossing Maple Creek. The entrance to the property will be on the right hand side at the bend in the highway after a straightaway. Look for the purple Whatcom Land Trust signs!


RSVP: Registration is not required but signing up beforehand will make signing in easier! Click here to register!

Saturday, April 20th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Earth Day @ Ladies of the Lake

It is the day that we celebrate our lovely Mother Earth a little bit extra! Make our wonderful Earth proud by coming to this work party and helping to restore this beautiful ecosystem next to Lake Whatcom. We will be working along Fir Creek which is home to Kokanee and other native wildlife. In the last few years, we have planted hundreds of trees at this property but they now need to be maintained. We will be removing invasive blackberry and clearing around each of these saplings. Join us on this beautiful morning of celebrating the Earth!

What to expect: Walking a short distance on uneven ground, digging using a shovel, clipping plants

Directions: From Bellingham- take Interstate 5 South to exit 240 toward Lake Samish Rd. Turn LEFT at Lake Samish Rd, and continue to Alger Cain Lake Rd. Continue on Cain Lake Rd. Turn RIGHT on South Bay Drive/Lake Whatcom Blvd and continue about 3 miles. Ladies of the Lake Preserve will be on your right. Look for the purple Whatcom Land Trust signs!

Address: 4101 South Bay Drive

Carpool option: Ladies of the Lake is about 40 minutes from Bellingham. If you are
interested in joining a carpool, follow this link. https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/fqpdk3

RSVP: Registration is not required but signing up beforehand will make signing in easier! Click here to register!

Saturday, May 11th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Vinca and Blackberry Removal @ Bell Creek with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association

It is now May and we are at the last work party of the season! As a final hurrah, we will be working at the Land Trust’s Bell Creek property; improving riparian habitat by removing both Vinca and Blackberry. Bell Creek empties into the North Fork of the Nooksack and is a vital habitat for many native species. Did I mention it is also a beautiful creek that has mini-waterfalls and looks like it is out of a movie? Spend your Saturday morning with us improving Bell Creek’s ecosystem!

What to expect: Walking a short distance on uneven ground, digging using a shovel, pulling
roots, kneeling

Carpool option: Bell Creek is about 30 minutes from Bellingham. If you are interested in joining
a carpool, follow this link. https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/jmpwvq

For more information and to register, please visit: https://nsea.volunteerhub.com/vv2/


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!

Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition
https://www.wmbcmtb.org
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
https://www.n-sea.org
Whatcom County Parks and Recreation
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!