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

An Alternative Birthday Party with NSEA

by Jill Burns3/18/2008 9:09:18 AM

Planting parties are a great activity for kids and adults.

Planning the details of your child's birthday party can be daunting. Pressure builds as you mull over guest lists, themes, activities and food. Indoors or out? Big event or small soirée? Gifts or not?  Decisions such as these need not exasperate eager parents who wish to commemorate each child's birthday with ease and intention. There is a solution: collaborate with a local non-profit organization in service of our Bellingham community to honor your child's birthday.  As I discovered recently, it's a simple and fulfilling way to bring joy to any birthday celebration. 

When I began corresponding with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) about a community service event for my son's first birthday, I sensed immediately that all of the usual worries that might go along with planning kid's parties were about to melt away. NSEA would essentially organize the day's activities for me: post directions and signage to the work site, give an educational talk and demonstration, and coordinate all aspects of the work party, including tools, safety equipment, even refreshments! All I had to do was throw some invitations together and bring a passel of folks together for some salmon stream restoration.

Planting trees for Archer's birthday.

I chose the theme of "Presence, Not Presents" for the festivities, and sent out 50 invitations.  NSEA did the rest. 

The forecast called for rain, so guests were reminded playfully via Evite that saving the planet can often be muddy and damp, especially in Bellingham. But as we drove toward Terrell Creek that day, the sky burst with blue and we had to squint for the sun's brightness. NSEA's staff and interns welcomed us warmly, and when a critical mass of guests had arrived, Lindsay Taylor, NSEA's volunteer coordinator, took us down alongside the gently flowing water and gave a thorough explanation of NSEA's mission, the history of Terrell Creek and its salmon population, the objectives for the day, and their hopes for the future of the local wild salmon habitat.  There were plenty of hands-on visual aids for both kids and adults, including salmon egg-to-fry samples, photo boards, and maps of the area.

The birthday boy dozes while Grandpa digs.

After the orientation, everyone grabbed gloves and shovels, spread out to where various potted native shrubs and trees had been placed and happily began digging holes. Pods of people gathered together, chatting and toiling playfully, others marched straight to the rocky creek bed and pick axed furiously to break apart the soil for better planting. Kids crossed the stream in their rubber boots and clamored to find the biggest trees to plant along the opposite hillside. Laughter swirled in the wind, along with the soft grunts of physical labor and the gurgle of the creek. Three hours later, we had planted 300 trees.

Archer's great-grandmother lends a hand making tree stabilizers.

Birthday party guests included friends and family, young and old, able-bodied and injured. The birthday boy rode around among them on his Grandpa's back, finally dozing amid the excitement and bustle. Meanwhile, his 87-year-old great-grandmother spent her time sitting on a folding chair atop a berm overlooking the creek, assembling stabilizers for the newly planted trees. 

Later in the day we would sing Happy Birthday and eat cake, but the best part of the celebration, everyone agreed, was our work at Terrell Creek.

Step-By-Step: Arranging a Community Service Birthday Party

1. Search the web for local non-profit organizations that you might be interested in.
2. If you don’t know where to begin, try the Whatcom Volunteer Center. Check out the current listing of organizations in need, updated weekly in PDF form.  Scroll down for the special category titled “Group Volunteer Opportunities.”
3. After choosing a few organizations that you are interested in working with, call or write emails to each of the volunteer coordinators/directors, explaining your desire to throw a community service party in honor of your child’s birthday. Be sure to include the date and a rough estimate of the number of expected guests.
All agreed that the best part of this birthday celebration was our work at Terrell Creek.
4. Once you’ve made contact with the organizations, you will be able choose one based on their current needs, as well as their willingness and ability to work with your group.
5. Send out an Evite that includes a brief explanation of the concept of a gift-free, community service party and a link to the non-profit you’ll be working with. Ask your guests to RSVP so that you can provide accurate numbers to your contact at the organization.
6. Remain in contact with the organization leading up to the event, updating guest counts and relaying details and information from the organization back to the invitees about the time, location and type of work they’ll be doing.
7. Be sure to take lots of pictures at the event, and enjoy!
8. Follow up with a thank you note or email (Evite) to your guests that includes some photos of their accomplishments.

A Note About the Author: Jill Burns

Jill Burns, a freelance writer and English teacher, is trying her hand at full-time parenting for the first year of her son's life. She enjoys writing poetry, creative non-fiction, and reviews. She enjoys living in Bellingham because of all the outdoor activities, like sea kayaking and hiking.