If you’ve seen our calls for Southwest Queen Anne Greenbelt volunteers, but thought “I don’t have the skills or knowledge to help out” – well, two things. 1) anyone can help, and 2) if you want to make it official, you can become a Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) Native Plant Steward.
The WNPS stewards help save Seattle parks, so the skills you gain as a steward can reach beyond Queen Anne. Right now, the WNPS and the Green Seattle Partnership are offering 100 hours of free stewardship training.
Native Plant Steward training will teach local native plant identification, Puget Sound ecology, current restoration and landscaping skills, and how to control invasive weeds. Once you have the training under your belt, you can help restore Seattle’s urban forests, salmon streams, and wetlands – like the Southwest Queen Anne Greenbelt urban forest. You can also apply your knowledge in creating native plant gardens and educating the public (kids and adults alike) about native plants and habitats.
The 100 hour course includes classroom training and field trips beginning April 19th and running through June 28th – with applications due April 8th. The course is free, all you need to do is commit to 100 hours of volunteer service over the year following the training. Enrollment is limited, so if you’re interested, submit your online application today.
If you have any questions, contact Joy Wood, WNPS Stewardship Coordinator, via email or at 206.963.5704.