Earth Day Celebration: Plant it for the Planet!

Since 1999, the StreamTeam has coordinated a large scale community celebration for Earth Day. Each year, hundreds of volunteers join the team to plant native trees along our waterways, protecting local water quality and quantity.  This was our 10th annual event and was held on April 18.

The event included a native tree planting, an EcoFair, children's activities, and celebrating the community. More than 250 volunteers came together to celebrate Earth Day. There were a variety of different ways to be involved in the Stream Team's Earth Day Celebration:

Native Tree Planter: Volunteers spent four hours planting native trees to save salmon. Volunteers receive all of the training and supplies to plant trees during our Earth Day Celebration.

Planting Crew Leader: Crew leaders are seasoned StreamTeam volunteers who have received special training in the art of leading a crew of tree planting volunteers. Crew leaders are very knowledgeable volunteers who worked alongside planting volunteers to make sure everyone had a great day.

EcoFair: Many joined the EcoFair and had some EcoFun while enjoying a local green space.  The EcoFair was a great opportunity to be involved for those who did not have the time or physical ability to plant trees. Visitors enjoyed the EcoFair with FREE children's activities from local, environmental organizations and businesses. Attendees learned how to lessen their impact, save money and support the environment. They had a good time being a part of this large community event.

Salmon Creek Reflections: An environmental expression contest for students (grades 3-12) based on the theme, "What does your watershed mean to you?" The contest was designed to help youth explore the natural history of the place they live and to express, through art or literature, how they feel about their discoveries.

Congratulations to Skyler, an elementary school student who won first place for his recycled salmon artwork made from reclaimed wood and milk paint.

Congratulations also go to Marquette for her first-place poem titled My kind of water.
 
"People like the utility's Earth Day Celebration because they're able to go outside with like-minded people, friends and neighbors; get their hands dirty doing something good for the environment; and enjoy a sense of community," said Lisa Beranek, the utility's StreamTeam volunteer coordinator.

The event was co-sponsored by the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation department, and local sustainable and environmental businesses. The utility received support from local Rotary clubs, high school InterAct clubs, Starbucks, BioKleen, Aramark, Whole Foods, Sunrise Bagels, Burgerville, and local restaurants and businesses. To help support this event, contact our StreamTeam Coordinator.