Land kept open for good along the Alder River · since 1991
Two Saturdays a month, all year, on the land you walk.
Planting, trail repair, pulling invasive grass, clearing culverts before the rains. No experience needed: a steward leads every day, and tools, gloves and coffee are ours.
Places left, day by day
Full days stay on the list: if you would like to come anyway, write to us and we will add you to the list for dropouts.
Clearing winter blowdown from the ridge trail
Tarrow Ridge Forest · 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sturdy boots, work gloves if you have them, lunch.
Full · 16 of 16 places taken. We keep a list in case someone drops out.
Planting willow stakes on the floodplain
Salmonberry Flats · 9 a.m. to noon
Boots you can get wet. Gloves, tools and coffee provided.
14 of 20 places taken · 6 left
Boardwalk repair: replacing worn deck boards
Heron Slough · 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed-toe shoes. Adults only near the power tools.
4 of 10 places taken · 6 left
Collecting prairie seed for next spring
Kettle Prairie · 10 a.m. to noon
A hat and water. Good for families.
6 of 25 places taken · 19 left
Trail drainage: clearing culverts before the rains
Mill Creek Woods · 9 a.m. to noon
Boots and rain gear.
3 of 12 places taken · 9 left
Planting native shrubs along the river terrace
The Bend · 9 a.m. to noon
Boots, gloves. Hot soup at the end.
5 of 30 places taken · 25 left
Live-stake planting, second round
Salmonberry Flats · 9 a.m. to noon
Boots you can get wet.
0 of 20 places taken · 20 left
What to expect
Meet at the trailhead at the start time. A steward walks everyone through the job and the tools, and works alongside you all morning.
Young people are welcome with an adult. Some jobs, like the boardwalk repair, are adults only because of the power tools; the listing says so.
Weather
We work in light rain. If a day is cancelled for storm or high water, everyone signed up hears by 7 a.m.
The hours add up
In 2025, 240 volunteers gave 3,900 hours: planting the Flats, rebuilding boardwalk and keeping all 14 miles of trail open.