Local Students Build Community through Volunteering

In an effort to keep students and parents connected, the International Community School (ICS) located in Kirkland formed grade level Parent Liaisons to bring families together and discuss concerns. One of the biggest concerns was the lack of connection between students and too much screen time.

Parents brainstormed ways to keep students connected in safe, socially distanced activities which included:

1. Online group assignments at school
2. Outdoor walks at Marymoor Park
3. Volunteer work parties at Bridle Trails State Park
4. Students teach online cooking classes to fellow 10th graders.

The volunteer work parties at the Bridle Trails State Park was the clear winner based on the survey sent to parents. The 10th grade liaisons scheduled their first Bridle Trails State Park work party on January 9th, 2021.

Kelly Gode, President of the Bridle Trails State Park Foundation, that organizes the volunteer groups noted that she did not see any electronics out while the students were working.

A total of 17 volunteers with ICS showed up resulting in at total of 29 hours of volunteer time. The groups of volunteers weeded the picnic area, cut back blackberry bushes, helped pick up trash along the Raven Trail, and worked on weeding around an equestrian round pen.

Pre-COVID, Bridle Trails State Park Foundation (BTPF) organized larger annual work parties for National Public Lands Day and Earth Day. To stay safe during COVID, Washington State Parks and the BTPF pivoted to allow small groups of 5 to volunteer in different areas of the Park and created a way to schedule your own stewardship event. If you are interested in setting up your own volunteer event, you can visit the Bridle Trails Park Foundation website at:

https://www.bridletrails.org/schedule-your-own-stewardship-event