Earth Day Community Work Party at Squalicum Creek

Celebrate Earth Day alongside more than 1 billion people worldwide by joining the City of Bellingham, the Salish Sea Institute at Western Washington University, and many other community partners for our annual Earth Day Community Work Party on Saturday, April 20th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. along Squalicum Creek. Together, we will remove invasive species to improve fish and wildlife habitat, help water quality, and restore an urban forest near the Squalicum Creek Re-route project. This important ecological restoration project was constructed in 2020 to benefit salmon and other native species.

• You need: Weather-appropriate clothing, long pants, closed-toe shoes, snacks, and a full water bottle.
• We provide: Tools, gloves, instruction, and light refreshments, including free Woods coffee and free pizza from Zeeks and Pizza Time, which were generously donated for this event. Participants who live in Bellingham can also get a free tree to take home as part of our Community Tree Programs.

Volunteers should be aware that the work party site includes uneven terrain. Volunteers assume all liability for conducting volunteer work within the project area. Additional information will be emailed to registered participants. Please register early, space is limited. All ages, abilities, and experience levels are welcome.

Donations for Lydia Place

We are partnering with Lydia Place to accept donations for their organization at our event. Lydia Place is a local non-profit working to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and promote sustained independence for current and future generations. Their highest needs for their client closet currently are cleaning sprays, cleaning wipes, and dish soap (sealed products only!). Please bring an item or two from this list to the work party to donate to Lydia Place if you can.

Location and Directions

This event takes place at the Squalicum Creek Re-route site near where Squalicum Parkway and Birchwood Avenue meet, just north of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.

• Where to meet: Please meet at the Birchwood PeaceHealth Parking Lot located off of Birchwood Avenue. Parking, a free bike valet, and the sign-in tent will be located here. Event staff will then lead groups of volunteers to the work site. Thank you to PeaceHealth for providing access to this parking lot for our event!
• Travel by bus: Several Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes serve the area. The closest stop is located along Birchwood Ave at Squalicum Pkwy. Find your route using the online trip planner at ridewta.com. 
• Travel by bike or foot: The work party site is accessible by bike or foot. Find your bike route by visiting cob.org/bike and your walking route by viewing the outreach map below. A free bike valet located near the sign-in tents in the Birchwood PeaceHealth Parking Lot will be provided by Let’s Bike Bellingham!
• Travel by car: Parking is available in the Birchwood PeaceHealth Parking Lot. Carpooling is encouraged!

All registered participants will receive more information via email about accessing the event site the evening before the work party.

Additional Earth Week Events

This is one of many events hosted by the City during Earth Week. Find a full list of events.

More Information

Please contact us using the information below to learn more or request accessibility or language accommodations.

​Phone: (360) 778-​7105
Email: pkvolunteers@cob.org