Sunny days at Arness Park in Kingston set the stage for GPC’s Land Labs module focused on the shorelines of Puget Sound. Thanks to the hard work and support from a wonderful team of volunteers, GPC staff, and AmeriCorps VISTA, this summer’s field experiences have been very successful.
GPC partnered with five different youth programs and a variety of age groups to create meaningful field experiences this summer. So far, Land Labs has hosted students from Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, Kitsap Immigration Assistance Center, Marvin Williams Recreation Center, and Port Gamble S’Klallam Middle School. On September 12th, GPC will host the last group of the season, Catalyst Middle School 8th graders. GPC also worked with Olympic Outdoor Center who provided kayaks and knowledgeable staff to get kids from Marvin Williams Recreation Center’s Love Me for Me program out on the water of Appletree Cove.
During each field experience, students witnessed tide fluctuations which demonstrated the value in preserving shoreline ecosystems. Each day began with an outline of the Carpenter Creek Watershed and Appletree Cove, and how these waterways are intertwined. This was followed by an unstructured exploration where students walked along the shoreline to discover the variety of species living in each section of the water. Next, leaders facilitated a crab molt search and a discussion of invasive European green crabs (Carcinus maenas), allowing students to identify different types of crabs including Dungeness crabs (Metacarcinus magister), red rock crabs (Cancer productus), Rough Shore crabs (Cyclograpsus granulosus), and other crabs.
In the afternoon, when the tides have already shifted, students use quadrats to do a habitat analysis and discover the various microhabitats in an ecosystem with constant tidal fluctuations. GPC has been lucky enough to have representatives from NOAA join our field experiences to talk about how they support shoreline preservation, especially their work with orcas. Using a hydrophone, GPC’s Community Engagement Coordinator Gabriel Newton demonstrates how human-made sounds beneath the water, especially from ferries, impact the echolocation capabilities of orcas in the Sound. The team closes out the day with an individual reflection to allow students to connect with the landscape and think about what they learned.
Working in the Kingston community has been a huge success, and GPC is thrilled to be supporting the same watershed that Stillwaters Environmental Center stewarded for nearly 30 years. With the recent integration of Stillwaters into GPC, this was a great first step in honoring the Stillwaters legacy and spreading the word about the great work they did to restore this estuary through culvert removals and community watershed monitoring.
GPC is so grateful to be able to bring youth outside and share with them the magical power of nature, all while inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.
Interested in volunteering for GPC’s Fall Land Labs? Sign up here to learn more!
