On January 31st, students from Roots & Shoots at Global Idea School in Redmond, Washington volunteered with Whale Scout. Endangered Southern Resident killer whales depend on salmon as a critical food source from watersheds throughout Puget Sound and beyond. The Sammamish River serves as an important migratory corridor for salmon, and improving water quality in the river directly supports both struggling salmon populations and orcas.
During the volunteer event, students helped care for new native plantings at the former Wayne Golf Course. This vegetation will help shade, cool, and clean a small stream that flows into the Sammamish River. Healthy riparian forests also prevent riverbank erosion and provide insects that young salmon need during early stages of life. The former Wayne Golf Course, now the largest park in the City of Bothell, features nearly a mile of shoreline.
Students enjoy restoring the site to help endangered orca whales in the region. By removing invasive berry plants and spreading mulch in the area, they are helping to restore the habitat and support a healthier ecosystem.
Students learn that by working as a team, we can accomplish a great deal and make a positive impact on the environment.
One thing I hope to see change is for more people to get involved in actions like these, so we can work together to protect the environment and, in the end, help ourselves as well.
My favorite part of the project was seeing everyone involved and doing their best to contribute. In the end, everybody felt proud, happy, and accomplished because of what we achieved together.
Just try to help as much as you can by participating in activities like this as a family in your area, once a month.
