July into October was chock-full of “firsts,” work parties, and wildlife sightings across Land Bank preserves.

The Land Bank teamed up with local non-profits to host five inaugural series’: Camp Eagle Rock “Walking Wednesday” held in Driggs Park, Free Guided Painting Sessions with Alchemy Art Center, Free Poetry Workshops with Island Verse Literary Collective (IVLC), the Nature Rx Health and Wellness Walking.

Campers from Island Rec’s Camp Eagle Rock engaged in experiential learning with native wildflowers activities; Islanders practiced plein-air painting with Alchemy and created poetry of place with IVLC; local health care professionals from PeaceHealth and Living Medical Arts PLLC led themed walks including benefits of botanical medicine and Nordic walking. All four series were met with high enthusiasm and the Land Bank hopes to expand series events to Orcas and Lopez in 2025.

Work party volunteers were instrumental in helping staff complete summer projects. Half a dozen volunteers helped construct a 72-foot puncheon in a seasonally wet area where San Juan Island’s Beaverton Marsh Preserve connects to John O. Linde Community Park which was a big hit with attendees of the Redtail Trail opening on August 3rd.  The Lopez Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) completed a beach cleanup following the annual Fourth of July fireworks at the Tombolo Preserve, and while this was expected to be a sweep to remove any lingering fireworks debris, the crew ended up hauling away over 50 pounds of trash! At Watmough Bay Preserve Addition a remarkable amount of invasive thistle was removed and a split rail fence was constructed. On Orcas Island, partners at The Exchange held monthly micro-plastics beach clean-ups at the Land Bank’s Eastsound Waterfront Park, clearing over 13 gallons of plastic in August alone and Orcas YCC helped give fresh plantings a fighting chance by bucket watering during a warm spell at North Shore Preserve.

Additionally, wildlife sightings throughout the summer are an enjoyable reminder of why conserving lands is so important for a healthy community. Salmon fry and other salmonids were observed in Coho Preserve’s lower stretch of Cascade Creek, below the waterfall barrier; a Violet-green swallow took advantage of a nest box placed at Coffelt Farm Preserve; and Great blue herons basked along the shoreline at Third Lagoon Preserve.