By Brian Straniti, Central Cascades Community Coordinator

Claire Kurlychek motivates volunteers. ©TNC

I could hardly believe it. Memorial Day weekend, in the rain, almost a dozen volunteers showed up to plant tree saplings along the hillside in the Central Cascades Forest where the 2017 Jolly Mountain Fire scarred the land.

This altruistic miracle is mainly due to persistent volunteer recruitment by our AmeriCorps staff member Claire Kurlychek. One volunteer told me “I though Claire was using some sort of algorithm to address me personally. Then I realized she is reaching out to me personally, she knows who I am, I had better show up!”

Our Central Cascades volunteers are charged and ready. These folks planted around 450 trees in just under three hours and enjoyed the endeavor. I have since received e-mails thanking us (wait, don't we thank them?) for the enjoyable opportunity and anticipating more events.

Volunteers after a successful tree-planting day in the rain. © TNC

We will be putting these folks back to work soon, helping to build the new multi-use up-track and mountain bike down-track out of Ronald as a part of the Towns to Teanaway Trails Project and providing event ambassador opportunities throughout the summer. I am energized to be a part of the refurbished Volunteer Coordination Program here in Central Washington, which would not be possible without our wonderful AmeriCorps staff members!

Volunteer with us!

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Trustee Lobby Day 2022

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Members of our all-volunteer Board of Trustees trekked to Virtual Olympia for an action-packed day of discussing our legislative priorities. It’s more exciting than it sounds!

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Board Statement Supporting Climate in Federal Legislation

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Our volunteer Board of Trustees issued a resolution calling on Congress to protect the climate-change mitigation and resiliency provisions in the infrastructure and budget reconciliation packages currently under debate in Washington, DC.

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Swiftwater Students Seed Native Grasses on Cle Elum Ridge

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Amongst the spring beauties, glacier lilies, arrow leaf balsam root, and occasional trillium, you cannot deny spring is in full swing on the Cle Elum Ridge. What better way to celebrate than planting native grass seed with local school students from Swiftwater Learning Center in Cle Elum.

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Photos: Washington's Spring Bird Migration

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One of our photo volunteers, Ken Salzman, is an avid birder and photographer. His photos showcasing the many colors of spring migrations are truly gems to behold.

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Sweethearts on the Prairie

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Colleen Shannon and Jeff Osmundson have been volunteering for The Nature Conservancy in Washington for the past 13 years. As Volunteer Stewards they serve as our eyes and ears on TNC preserves. As a couple they have dedicated over 300 hours to help preserve the natural beauty of Port Susan Bay and Fisher Slough. They’re now taking their dedication to Zumwalt Prairie, a Nature Conservancy p[reserve in Eastern Oregon.

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A shining star for nature

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We celebrate one of our stellar volunteer leaders who has shown extraordinary commitment and dedication to The Nature Conservancy for more than thirty years.

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Volunteers Plant Trees on Cle Elum Ridge

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Our Central Cascades volunteers planted 450 trees in just under three hours. Soon they’ll be working on other projects such as trail-building and staffing tables at outdoor events int he region.

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Meet Alfonso Orozco, Volunteer and Field Experiences Manager

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Volunteer programs are a great way to introduce new audiences to the work The Nature Conservancy does and tothe environmental field in general. Volunteers are also mission critical for The Nature Conservancy to accomplish our work.

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