Volunteers are key players in DNR’s recreation programs

While not “fun” exactly, these volunteers had a good experience creating future fun times by helping DNR maintain recreational trails at Tiger Mountain State Forest near Issasquah. Photo DNR.

As the recently published DNR 2014 Annual Report explains, 2014 was a productive year for our recreation program. DNR installed 5 miles of new motorized off-road vehicle trails and challenge areas, built nearly 9 miles of non-motorized trails, completed the new 4.7 mile Mailbox Peak hiking trail, and opened 3 miles of new mountain bike trails in Tiger Mountain State Forest.

Volunteers were critical in 2014, both to DNR’s major recreation projects as well as to many smaller-but-still-important projects, such as litter removal and trail maintenance. During fiscal year 2014 (which ended June 30, 2014), DNR hosted about 65,000 hours of volunteer efforts and successfully competed for grants to provide more than 40 percent of its recreation funds. These efficiencies aid DNR in enabling more than 11 million diverse recreation visits across 3,400 square miles of state-managed lands, each year.

Got some time this winter? How about doing some good for the DNR-managed lands you love! Check the DNR Volunteer Calendar to find opportunities to give back. http://bit.ly/DNRvolunteer

Follow DNR on:

8 reasons DNR is thankful for volunteers

Volunteers help keep DNR-managed recreation sites clean, safe, and healthy. Photo: DNR.

Each year, volunteers of all ages put in thousands of hours helping DNR.

Their dedicated efforts and skills help us maintain and improve recreational sites, trails, natural areas, and other outdoor volunteer opportunities on the state trust lands we manage.

Some volunteers devote time every month; others pitch in a few hours here and there. Either way, we’re happy to get the help.

At DNR, we’re thankful to all of those who:

1. Spent countless hours battling blackberries and scotch broom to keep these invasive plants from overtaking trails and natural areas.
2. Volunteered for the Forest Watch Program.
3. Provided information and nature interpretation to school children and other forest visitors.
4. Trekked out in the field to collect data or monitor plant species — providing valuable information to staff scientists.
5. Helped us maintain and build recreational trails.
6. Organized volunteer work parties.
7. Helped DNR keep campgrounds open to the public by becoming a volunteer camp host.
8. …. and the many, many other activities that rely on the efforts of volunteers.

Rain or shine, DNR’s volunteers are always happy to show up and lend a hand. Photo by: DNR

To all of you, our sincere thanks! And a Happy Thanksgiving.

Got some time this winter? Plan to do some good for the DNR-managed lands you love! Check the DNR Volunteer Calendar to find opportunities to give back. http://bit.ly/DNRvolunteer

DNR has many volunteer opportunities planned in August

Popular trails get worn and become more susceptible to erosion. Volunteers help DNR stretch its scarce maintenance dollars to keep trails safe. Photo: DNR

Interested in recreation on DNR managed land, but not sure how to get involved? Luckily, DNR has all sorts of volunteer opportunities on deck for August and we would love to see you there.

DNR volunteers are vital to maintaining a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for visitors to DNR’s recreation facilities and trails. This isn’t an easy feat, and DNR is blessed with many dedicated volunteers. In 2013, volunteers totaled 61,300 volunteer hours on recreation projects.

If you’d like to join in on the fun, check out some of DNR’s volunteer opportunities below. For more details and updates on all DNR recreation volunteer opportunities, visit our volunteer calendar.

August 2
Friends of Capitol Forest Monthly Work Party
Where: Capitol State Forest
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What: Join DNR staff and volunteers from Friends of Capitol Forest for a work party to improve road crossing areas, remove wood supports on berms, and drainage. Kids are welcome! There is often a mountain bike ride after the work party.
Directions: (Map) Meet at the “Y” intersection of Waddell Creek Road and Sherman Valley Road.
Contact: Nick Cronquist, 360-480-2700

August 9
Walker Valley ORV Area Work
Where: Walker Valley
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What: Join DNR staff and other volunteers to help work on trails, clean ditches, haul gravel, brush trails, paint, pick up garbage, and more! No need to call first.
Directions: (Map) Meet at the Walker Valley Trailhead Information Kiosk: 18652 Peter Burns Rd., Mount Vernon, WA
Contact: Jim Cahill, 360-854-2874

August 16
Nicholson Horse Trails Work Party
Where: Sahara Creek Campground
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: Please join DNR staff and Pierce County Chapter Back Country Horsemen to work on the Nicholson Horse Trails.
Directions: Start at Elbe. Go 5.3 miles on Hwy 706. Turn left into the site.
Contact: Nancy Barker, 253-312-4301

August 23
Reiter Foothills ORV Work Party
Where: Reiter Foothills Forest
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What: Join DNR staff to enhance the Motorcycle Trials trail area and work other ORV trail projects.
Directions: Drive East on Hwy 2 through the town of Gold Bar. Turn left onto Reiter Road. Continue for 3.8 miles. Deer Flats Mainline Road will be on your left. Meet at the Deer Flats Mainline Gate.
Contact: Daniel Christian, 360-333-7846

Need a Discover Pass?
If you don’t have a Discover Pass, DNR staff can provide you with one for the day you volunteer. These volunteer events are eligible toward a complimentary Discover Pass.

Before you go, make sure to check our open and closure notices page.

Follow DNR on:

 

Help celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up the beach at Point Robinson, Maury Island

Puget SoundCorps doing some clean-up

Maury Island Beach clean-up

Are you tired of seeing bottles, food wrappers and so much other trash floating around on what could be beautiful beaches and tidelands? Celebrate Earth Day with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Puget SoundCorps to help clean up the beach at Point Robinson, Maury Island.

The cleanup is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 22. Parking is available at the upper lot of the Point Robinson Lighthouse.

Directions:

 – Coming on the ferry from Tacoma take Vashon Hwy SW.

 – Take a right onto SW Quartermaster Dr.

 – Follow SW Quartermaster Dr until you take another right onto Dockton Rd SW.

 – Continue straight onto SW Point Robinson Rd; this will take you all the way into the park.

What to bring and what is provided?

Please bring your work gloves, water, and appropriate work wear and come help DNR and Puget SoundCorps make a difference this Earth Day.

DNR will provide garbage bags and light refreshments. Volunteers can also take guided tours of the Point Robinson Lighthouse.

For further information, contact Kirsten Miller, DNR Puget SoundCorps crewmember or visit the event page on Facebook.

About the Puget Sound Corps

The Puget SoundCorps Program creates jobs while cleaning up state-owned aquatic lands and uplands across the 12-county area that makes up the Puget Sound basin.

SoundCorps members are young adults (18 to 25 years old) or military veterans who are serving a year of service as AmeriCorps members. Age restrictions may be waived for military veterans.

Puget SoundCorps is part of the broader Washington Conservation Corps program administered by Washington Department of Ecology in partnership with DNR. The Washington Conservation Corps is supported through grant funding and education awards provided by AmeriCorps.

For more information about the Puget SoundCorps Program, visit: www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc/psc.html

Follow DNR on:

Join the 9th Annual Great Gravel Pack-In

Great Gravel Pack-In volunteers are happy to help, rain or shine!
Photo by: Diana Lofflin/DNR

Join DNR staff and volunteers from a variety of recreation interests for the 9th Annual Great Gravel Pack-In, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..

The Great Gravel Pack-In has become an annual tradition that showcases and celebrates the value of volunteers and importance of cooperative efforts. See photos from past events on the DNR Flickr page.

This Year’s Activities
Volunteers will help spread gravel and repair damaged sections of trails in Capitol State Forest. Some may also help clear storm debris and make basic improvements to Middle Waddell and Margaret McKenney campgrounds.

Join the Event

	What		9th Annual Great Gravel Pack-In
	When		March 29, 2014 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
	Where		Capitol State Forest Tacoma Trail Cruisers’ Property

 

 

Ron Downing at the 8th Annual Great Gravel Pack-In. Photo: Diana Lofflin, DNR.

Learn more about the Great Gravel Pack-In and other volunteer events on the DNR Volunteer Calendar.

Invite your friends on Facebook. Come volunteer and be a hero for a day!

What to Expect
Volunteers should bring work gloves, water, and rain gear to this event. A barbeque lunch will be provided by the Tacoma Trail Cruisers.

We ask that children under the age of 18 are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Also, for the safety of horses and pack stock, please do not bring dogs.

Event Partners
A special thanks to the following groups for partnering with DNR on this event:

• Tacoma Trail Cruisers
• Backcountry Horsemen of Washington
• Washington ATV Association

Volunteers can get rewards
Did you know that volunteers can earn vouchers toward a complimentary Discover Pass for their service?

Get details.

Follow DNR on:

DNR Volunteer Heroes are at it again! Annual Great Gravel Pack-In

Great Gravel Pack-In volunteers are happy to help rain or shine! Photo by: Diana Lofflin/DNR

At DNR, we could not do the work we do without the help of our volunteers statewide. 

The Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark presents an annual Volunteer Hero Award to honor extraordinary volunteers who demonstrate leadership and commitment in their service to the DNR Volunteer Program.

The time of year has come where our Volunteer Heroes are at it again. They just can’t help leading volunteer efforts and they are looking for people who are willing to strap on their work gloves and join in the work.

Celebrate Boy Scouts’ Day the Boy Scout way

These little scouts spent the day picking up trash at Tarbell Campground for DNR.
Photo by Josh Riepe/DNR 2013

Just a few weeks past, was the celebration of Boy Scouts’ Day. Boy Scouts’ Day marks the day when Boy Scouts of America was officially incorporated.

There are many ways this day is observed all over the country. This day is also used by Cub Scouts to hold their banquets and award ceremonies where they can become Boy Scouts. This day has been celebrated since 1910 when the BSA was founded in America.

Boy Scouts help out DNR
Boy Scout troops often do community service and service projects with DNR, such as the campfire safety PSA (shown below) a troop created with DNR for Wildfire Awareness Week 2012.

They also build bridges, fix trails, and clean up recreation sites.

There are many troops who take the Boy Scouts’ Day as another day to help with cleaning up trails and keeping parks in tip top shape. These projects don’t just happen one day a year, but this day is a great reminder of what can still be done to help out.

Get involved
You can get involved just like the Boy Scouts by hopping over onto the DNR volunteer calendar. We look forward to seeing you out and about.

Special thanks to all the troops to lend a hand on DNR-managed recreation lands!

Follow DNR on:

Take the Reiter Foothills Forest ORV Trail Survey

Have you had a chance to ride the new 4×4, ATV, or single-track motorcycle trails at Reiter Foothills Forest?

Tell us about your experience riding the new trails at Reiter Foothills Forest. Photo: DNR/Sue Jensen

DNR staff want to know what you think! In just five minutes, you can take the survey. Your input will help DNR staff to make informed decisions while shaping the future motorized trails.

Take the Survey
Go online and take the survey today at http://bit.ly/ReiterSurvey

Trail construction at Reiter continues year-round.
Photo: DNR/Jessica Payne

Survey results will inform trail planners and land managers as they develop future recreation opportunities in the Reiter Foothills Forest.

Help us get the word out. Share the survey with your friends and family.

Reiter Foothills Forest Motorized Trail System
The motorized trail system at Reiter Foothills Forest is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Want to learn about the history and planning process? Need directions to Reiter? Or just want to know the nitty-gritty on the new trail systems?

Visit the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Planning webpage and get maps, trail guides, and details on the area.

Volunteer at Reiter
February kicks off a new series of volunteer work parties at Reiter Foothills Forest.

Join DNR staff and other volunteers to build and maintain motorized and non-motorized trails at Reiter. Photo: DNR/Toni Droscher

These parties will focus on trail maintenance for the motorized trail system and trail construction for both the motorized and future non-motorized trail systems.

To get started, join DNR staff at the Deer Flats Mainline gate at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, to work trail maintenance on the ATV and single-track motorcycle trails.

Learn more and get directions on the DNR Volunteer Calendar.

Follow DNR on:

Eight reasons DNR is thankful for volunteers

Year-round, volunteers help keep DNR-managed rec sites clean, safe, and healthy. Photo by: DNR/Rick Foster

Each year, volunteers of all ages put in hundreds of thousands of hours helping DNR.

Their dedicated efforts and skills help us maintain and improve recreational sites, trails, natural areas, and other outdoor volunteer opportunities on the state trust lands we manage.

Some volunteers devote time every month; others pitch in a few hours here and there.

At DNR, we’re thankful to all of those who:

1. Spent countless hours battling blackberries and scotch broom from overtaking trails and natural areas.
2. Volunteered for the Forest Watch Program.
3. Provided information and nature interpretation to school children and other forest visitors.
4. Trekked out in the field to collect data or monitor plant species — providing valuable information to staff scientists.
5. Helped us maintain and build recreational trails.
6. Organized volunteer work parties.
7. Provided clerical assistance.
8. Helped DNR keep campgrounds open to the public by becoming a volunteer camp host.

Rain or shine, DNR’s volunteers are always happy to show up and lend a hand. Photo by: DNR

…and the many other activities that relied on volunteer efforts in the past year.

To all of you, our sincere thanks! And a Happy Thanksgiving.

The gift that gives back
Did you know that volunteers can earn vouchers toward a complimentary Discover Pass for their service?

By putting in 24 hours of time working on eligible projects on recreation lands managed by DNR, Washington State Parks, or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Get details.

Check out our Volunteer Calendar to learn about opportunities for you to get involved.

Follow DNR on:

Rec Alert: Seasonal Tiger Mountain trails close for winter season

Mountain Bikers enjoyed the natural and rugged terrain at East Tiger Mountain this summer. Photo: Sam Jarrett, DNR

Did you have a chance to ride Tiger Mountain’s new stretch of trail, which opened to mountain bikers last summer? This weekend will be your last chance to ride them this season.

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will close the East Tiger Summit trails for the winter season Tuesday, November 12.

Washington’s rainy fall and winter months leave trails vulnerable to environmental and structural damage. Seasonal closures are a way for DNR to help protect the landscape and make sure the trail will be around to play on for many years.

Help your favorite trails
Several volunteer work parties will be scheduled to work on Tiger Mountain’s Preston Railroad Grade Trail. Stay tuned to DNR’s volunteer calendar to find out when you can come out and lend a hand.

Looking forward…
Seasonal closures are bittersweet for recreation enthusiasts. Why? They mark the end of summer sports, but also the approaching fun of winter recreation!