By Kat Hall
It has been a busy October!
Last month, we officially launched Venture Outdoors! — our new community-based, outdoor adventure challenge for students and families. For the rest of 2020, we will choose 4-5 local Outdoor Adventure Destinations each month and post information, highlights, map, and directions on our website. Students (or families!) choose one or more destinations and follow the adventure. They share a “selfie” holding a sign that says “Venture Outdoors with The Lands Council!” and post their photo on social media. Incentive prizes will be awarded to students in December based on the number of outdoor adventures safely accomplished and shared (this project is on students’ own time and at their own risk). Students are highly encouraged to take appropriate COVID precautions (e.g. wear a mask, limit group size, and practice social-distancing). The first five outdoor adventure destinations are posted on our website and ready for students to visit!
In partnership with USFWS/Turnbull NWR, TLC planted over 1,000 seedlings as part of our Marshall Creek wetlands and riparian restoration project! We are grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who braved the wind and rain to help us during our annual Reforest Spokane Day. Thank you to the students, parents, and teachers from the Pioneer School who planted with us and to those who participated in our Tuesday Tree Planting events, the last of which took place in 4 inches of snow! We look forward to continuing work on this project in the spring.
TLC’s field restoration tech crew and the Zag Volunteer Corps planted 240 seedlings at the Hangman Valley Golf Course. This riparian restoration project will provide bank stabilization and water quality benefits to Hangman Creek. It will also educate golfers on TLC’s joint restoration efforts in partnership with Spokane County. The project has received much positive feedback so far!
And lastly, thanks to those who joined us on our October Thursday afternoon hikes to Dishman Hills and Liberty Lake Regional Park. We hope to facilitate more trips like this in the future!