Newsletter

Spring 2001: Community Programs - Pacific Rim

Volunteer Opportunities
By Sheilagh C. Byler

Au Sable-Pacific Rim has been blessed with the location of its new Smith Prairie campus on Whidbey Island, Washington. The community we are a part of is environmentally active, and therefore grateful that Au Sable was able to "save the prairie" from development.

Much of the work needed to establish the Au Sable-Pacific Rim campus involves getting to know individuals in this community, and letting them know more about Au Sable. While many people are enthusiastically supportive of Au Sable for its role in preserving this piece of land, not everyone knows what we are about. We want to build on their initial support by involving them in what Au Sable is doing here through volunteer opportunities on Smith Prairie.

Volunteer opportunities on Smith Prairie. Working on the prairie for an afternoon is a wonderful way to contribute to Au Sable's mission. Volunteers have removed fencing, restored pheasant coops into cabins, and helped with recycling demolition materials. They include people from school groups, churches, and environmental groups - Audubon Society, Beach Watchers, Waste Warriors, Washington Native Plant Society.

Another means of outreach are community programs that teach natural history and model environmental stewardship. This spring we will begin environmental education field trips for local schools - offering prairie walks, restoration education, and prairie and forest inventories. In May when Smith Prairie is in full bloom, we will host a Spring Prairie Celebration and Open House. A workshop on water quality taught by Dr. Bill Deutsch will also be offered in May.

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