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They resumed old habits in a new year Saturday, holding their first work party in 2012. They removed English ivy and holly from Priest Point Park, as well as beer and soda cans and other forms of litter. Niehuser and Baker were joined by about 50 Olympia High School students and about 20 adult volunteers. The city’s Volunteer in the Parks program was created in 1998, Niehuser said.
The students participate as part of classroom requirements, such as for biology class or to meet other high school standards. Duncan Malone, a freshman at Olympia High, said he was working his way toward 300 health-leadership points, but still has a ways to go.
“I procrastinated,” he said as he cut through some English ivy.
This time, the city provided an added incentive to the student volunteers: members of the group that removed the biggest pile of English ivy received T-shirts showing a silhouette of Bigfoot holding a shovel, likely removing English ivy, too. The city received a $10,000 seed grant from REI to pay for the T-shirts and work tools, Niehuser said.
English ivy is an invasive species that spreads quickly and can damage trees.
Winners in that group – Group No. 3 – included brothers Parker Jarman, 14; Kaleb Jarman, 12; and Dekker Jarman, 10, of Olympia. Parker said volunteering accounts for 5 percent of his grade in honors biology at Olympia High; his brothers were helping out to secure merit badges for the Boy Scouts.
Adult volunteers also pitched in.
Brian Stafki of Olympia joined a friend, helping out in the park for the first time, he said. Not only was he doing something beneficial, he got a little exercise, too.
“It’s good to come out and feel like you’re helping,” he said.
Last year, about 1,200 volunteers participated in the city’s Volunteer in the Parks program, Niehuser said.
Volunteers again will meet Jan. 21 at Priest Point Park to remove more English ivy, then will replant native species Jan. 28, she said. Anyone interested in volunteering can call Niehuser at 360-753-8365.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403
rboone@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/bizblog
