This summer, Burien’s Outdoor Explorers summer camp joined forces with KCD’s Urban Forestry Program to provide paid environmental training program for local youth. The program emphasized restoration ecology, green careers, and holistic place-based activities that connected youth stewards to their landscape. These young land stewards spent eight days exploring Salmon Creek Ravine in Burien, learning about the ecosystem services the park provides to their communities. They also learned about restoration practices and together removed 800 square feet of common ivy and herb Robert. Their hard work this summer will support restoring the health of the ravine’s forest and its impacts will serve their community for summers to come.
The youth stewards also had the opportunity to meet several guest speakers and environmental professionals who shared their expertise in the environmental field. These guest workshops included monitoring stream health with Mountains to Sound Greenway, wildlife tracking with KCD’s communications coordinator, ivy weaving with Burien Forest Steward Jeanne Salter, and plant identification with Burien’s Washington Conservation Corps environmental justice crew.
After spending two weeks in this program, gathering new knowledge and practicing new skills, the youth stewards had the opportunity to lead a community event for their friends and family where they demonstrated how to identify and make tea out of cedar and led an ivy weaving workshop. We hope these future environmental leaders continue to explore their local green spaces, share the lessons they have gathered this summer, and grow their passion for conservation.
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