Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Bellingham Celebrates Earth Day

by Neighborhood-Kids.com4/19/2008 1:30:41 PM

The NSEA Earth Day Work Party.

In September 1969, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced at a Seattle conference that a nationwide environmental demonstration would take place the following spring as a call to action about the world's unnerving environmental crisis. About 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970. Nearly 40 years later, efforts towards environmental preservation are acknowledged on this day at a global level.

Although April 22nd if the official observance of Earth Day, many organizations and communities in Bellingham held celebrations throughout the preceding week. People from all ages were welcome to participate in these clean-up parties to help keep our city beautiful. On Saturday April 19th, Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program organized a variety of park work parties around town in honor of Earth Day. Western Washington University also coordinated student and alumni clean-up projects, providing breakfast and shuttle rides for 150 volunteers.

The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) rounded out their Spring Work Party schedule at various Whatcom County creeks with an Earthy Day clean-up at Whatcom Creek and Maritime Heritage Park, home to the Maritime Heritage Fish Hatchery.

“Our goal today is to help with creek maintenance and park restoration,” explained NSEA Volunteer Coordinator Lindsay Taylor. “The park in and of itself is a restoration project. There have been lots of negative impacts of industry on Whatcom Creek.”

Kids learned about salmon restoration through games and crafts.

A major task of the day was to remove non-native plant life, like blackberry bushes and ivy, from the park. “By removing non-native plants and restoring the natural vegetation to the creek, we can keep the creek healthy for salmon recovery,” Lindsay said, and added, “And healthy for our own watershed since Whatcom Creek’s source is Lake Whatcom, where we get our drinking water.”

A variety of individuals turned out for the NSEA work party, as well as community groups. Baby Diaper Service and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Whatcom County had staff and volunteers participating in the day’s work. “We also have some local Girl Scout troops, and students and teachers from Sehome High School,” Lindsay said. She emphasized that Maritime Heritage Park and Whatcom Creek was a great location for their Earth Day event because it’s an urban park, right in the middle of town, so people can see the impact that they have in their own environment.

Work parties are a great community activity for kids and adults alike.

Local businesses donated refreshments like coffee and donuts for volunteers, and the NSEA also had a Kids Activities booth set up with coloring projects and other crafts to help kids learn about salmon restoration in Whatcom County.

Although Earth Day comes around just once a year, it’s always important to remember to keep our Bellingham community beautiful. “We think it’s important to keep the community involved in our efforts,” Lindsay said. “Volunteering at a work party is a great, hands-on activity that everyone can participate in— kids, families, anyone.”

If you're interesting in participating in future work parties or helping to organize a work day in your neighborhood, contact NSEA or Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program.