The Park Steward program provides opportunities for citizens and groups to care for Bellingham trails, parks, and open spaces. Volunteers complete critical stewardship work to help restore our natural areas to healthy forested parklands as well as maintain trails, stock dog waste stations, cleanup litter, and more. The program seeks to empower our community to have the tools, knowledge, and skills to care for, restore, and protect Bellingham’s parks, trails, and open spaces while instilling a sense of ownership in our park system.
Steward Criteria
Any individual or group may sign on for stewardship of a trail section, park, or natural area with a commitment of at least 6 months. Individuals under age 18 and youth groups are welcome to adopt parks and trails with coordination and support from an adult leader or teacher.
Duties
Park Stewards are given appropriate projects that match their skills and interests. Duties can be as simple as routine litter pickup or as complex as planning and leading others in the restoration of a natural area or constructing a trail. In general, stewards are not allowed to use power tools.
Agreement
Stewards are issued permission to work via a Park Steward Agreement, signed by both the volunteer and the Park Operations Manager. The agreement lists the site, all permitted duties, allowable equipment or techniques, any work limitations, and a liability waiver. Agreements are renewable each year in January unless another date is designated.
Reporting
Park Stewards are required to report their volunteer hours online at the Park Volunteer Hours Reporting page Hours need to be reported at least twice per year though monthly is recommended.
Newsletters
All Park Stewards are automatically signed up for the Parks Volunteer Program newsletter (sent quarterly; includes information on upcoming volunteer work parties, appreciations, naturalist corner, and more), Habitat News (sent quarterly; includes information on habitat restoration projects and events in Bellingham); and Park Stewards check-ins (sent occasionally throughout the year. All newsletters are digital. You can unsubscribe from newsletters if you do not wish to receive them.
Safety
Safety is our top priority. All stewards must adhere to our Safety Protocols for Volunteers, Sharps Protocols for Volunteers, and Safety Guidelines during COVID-19 documents.
Homeless Encampments
Stewards are not allowed to clean up active homeless camps. Report all homeless encampments on the Unauthorized Encampments page.
