The sun was shining for the third Backyard Collective event of 2014 held Friday, July 18, in Seattle, Wash. The Conservation Alliance and its Seattle area member companies teamed up with Forterra to organize a day of trail work and restoration in beautiful Discovery Park.
More than 100 volunteers representing Conservation Alliance member companies, including: Brooks, Eddie Bauer,Filson, Nikwax, Patagonia, Perpetual Motion NW, REI, Stanley, a brand of PMI; and The North Face came together for a day of intense trail work, while learning about Conservation Alliance grantees, including American Rivers,American Whitewater, Save Our Wild Salmon, The Wilderness Society, and Washington Wild during a lunchtime volunteer fair along with other local organizations Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Washington Trails Association.
“The Conservation Alliance member companies are consistently some of the most productive volunteers we work with all year, and we always look forward to this event,” said Andrea Mojzak, Forterra’s Green Cities Project Manager. “This year the volunteers removed over 5,000 square feet of thick blackberry, spread burlap and mulch over 3,300 square feet, decommissioned 100 feet of trail, created over 30 feet of new trail, and replaced rotting steps. The volunteers accomplished all of this of this with big smiles and most importantly, having fun. A big thanks to all of the volunteers from Green Seattle Partnership, Seattle Parks, and Forterra.”
As part of their Don’t Drip and Drive campaign to test 10,000 vehicles for engine leaks, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance conducted leak testing during the event and provided results to participants with incentives to get their leaks fixed as this is a major contributor to polluted runoff in Puget Sound.
“As the owner of Conservation Alliance member Perpetual Motion NW, representing member companies Black Diamond, Gregory, Farm to Feet and Ibex, it was an honor to participate in the Seattle Backyard Collective last week,” said David Egan. “We had a productive day at Discovery Park, and it was a great opportunity for my staff and me to give back to the local community, and to work alongside other Conservation Alliance member companies. Our collective efforts are an investment not only in the outdoor places where we play, but also in the sustainability of our industry.”
The Alliance launched the Backyard Collective Program in 2008 to connect individuals in the outdoor industry with the work of organizations that receive financial support from the group. The Backyard Collective moves that action to the field, and gives people a venue to get their “hands dirty” for the sake of conservation.
“As first time attendees, Eddie Bauer was thrilled to be working alongside our peers in the Seattle outdoor community,” said Damien Huang, Senior Vice President of Design and Merchandising for Eddie Bauer. “The Conservation Alliance Backyard Collective event series reinforces everything positive about the outdoor industry and our commitment to maintaining open spaces for people to enjoy.”
The Conservation Alliance plans to organize additional Backyard Collectives this year in Bend, Portland, and Boulder, Colo. For more information about this event, please contact events coordinator, Brook Hopperbrook@conservationalliance.com, or 805-340-5034.
Photo Credit: Rick Meade/Nikwax
