Our Programs include Educational Workshops – Community Service – Habitat Restoration – Advocacy for Environmental Issues.
There’s something for every volunteer, area of interest, and level of commitment!
Student and adult volunteers participate in projects that positively affect the environmental health of their local neighborhoods and public areas.
We invite all ages to participate. To volunteer or participate in a project or event, see How to Volunteer. To support our mission, see Donate.
- “Arbor Day Tree Planting” Supports Wildlife by Planting Native Trees and Plants in Public Parks
Participants learn how to correctly plant a tree, facts about native trees and their function in the ecosystem. This is an opportunity for kids to give back to their community and help the environment. The event takes place in a public park or open space.
- “ Art in Nature” Connects Kids to the Nature through Art and Culture Activities
Students discover the connection between art and nature with engaging activities in and out of the classroom that inspire environmental stewardship and an appreciation for nature. Activities include various art and culture workshops ranging from crafts, collage, theater, music and video.
- Birds, Butterflies and Bees for Burien
This program about pollinators and their habitat is funded by the Port of Seattle’s Airport Community Ecology “ACE” small grants fund.
We’re partners with the City of Burien, the National Wildlife Federation, New Start Academy in the Highline School District, the New Start Community Garden and other non-profits to deliver this program on pollinators. We’re installing native plants that provide important habitat for pollinators and native birds in a Mathison Park, hosting classes and a workshop in the Spring on birdhouse making which will be open to the community, presenting information at booths during the Burien Farmers Market in the summer, and working with New Start Academy for a unit on birds and pollinators.
- “Boots on the Ground” Encourages Environmental Stewardship
This program encourages and hosts volunteer stewardship activities in public places. Youth and adult Weed Warrior volunteers have the opportunity to get their gloves dirty and make a difference in their local parks and public places. Stabilized weed infestations are often large and economically unfeasible for cities and communities to control successfully without assistance from non-profit organizations like the Nature Stewards. Projects include invasive weed assessment, removal, and habitat restoration using native species plants and trees that stabilize the environment after removing the invasive weeds.
- “Climate Outloud” Discusses Climate Change
Climate Outloud is a facilitated panel discussion about climate, focusing on what the youths and local organizations are doing to secure a livable future. This program is currently in partnership with King County Library System, in the “Everybody’s Talking About It” series. “When everybody’s talking about it we can make a difference.” We discuss the youth’s court case against the federal government for not establishing reasonable carbon reduction targets that would secure their future on a livable planet. We’ve held three of these in Partnership with KCLS and Humanities WA.
View a short video is about youth plaintiffs.
- “Earth Week Celebrations” Offers Tree Planting Opportunities and Classes on Backyard Wildlife Habitats
See our calendar for current events.
Past tree planting events took place in Burien’s Mathison Park. In Newcastle we hosted a full day of celebration in Lake Boren Park other environmental non-profits and “green,” Eco-friendly businesses shared their environmental sustainable practices and products. We plant trees, offer activities for kids and workshops on various topics related to the environment. We’ve also hosted Earth Day Celebrations in local neighborhoods. We produced Newcastle Earth Day for 10 years when the Nature Stewards Program first began. Events focus on the many ways to make a positive difference for the environment, both locally and globally.
- “Earth Heroes” Awards Students for their Earth Friendly Classroom Activities
We host award ceremonies for students of elementary schools. Today’s youths are tomorrow’s leaders and environmental stewards. A connection to the environment while young helps youths shape positive engagement in their adult lives.
- “Garden for Life” Explores Sustainable Gardening Practices
The Weed Warriors are honored to serve as the fiscal sponsor for the New Start Community Garden on the New Start School Campus of the Highline School District. Students and participants from the community learn about healthy garden environments that are beneficial to humans and wildlife, and experience hands-on activities and techniques for sustainable gardening. Our Sustainable Gardening community workshops include topics like incorporating edible natives in your veggie and flower garden, using organic fertilizers, composting and worm bins. Participants have the opportunity to volunteer at two local community gardens, the New Start Community Garden and the Burien Community Garden. They learn skills and principles that are relevant and can be used throughout their lives as environmental stewards and sustainable gardeners.
- “Get Your Earth On!” Offers Workshops and Classes on Sustainable Gardening and Backyard Wildlife Habitats for Adults, and Youth Classes Connect Kids to the Natural Environment through fun and engaging activities.
Youths of all ages experience fun, learning activities in the classroom and out of doors. Participants discover how a wetland works, where storm water goes, what lives below the water in Puget Sound, the life cycle of the salmon, native plants and noxious weeds, and more…. Activities include learning about the life cycle of the Pacific Northwest Salmon, gardening, building a butterfly or bird habitat, learning about electric vehicles, having fun with crafts, art, music, and theater.
- “Knights of the Living Forest” Develops Advocacy for Causes in Support of the Natural Landscape and Wildlife
Participants learn about chivalry as it pertains to the environment. The program empowers today’s youths who are tomorrow’s citizens and civic leaders, to become environmental stewards who stand up for a sustainable, healthy environment. We encourage everyone to get involved and help shape the environmental health of their public places. Participants experience activities in their local community while learning what it means to be an environmental steward.
- “Living in Harmony with Nature” Encourages the Use of Native Plants in Landscapes to Support Wildlife
This includes our work as the Newcastle Community Wildlife Habitat Team Leaders and Burien Community Wildlife Habitat Team members with National Wildlife Federation. See our past projects here.
- “Making Burien Awesome” Inspires Environmental Stewardship to Address Climate Change
Burien residents take steps to mitigate the local impacts of climate change that benefit the environment. Participants learn about the effects of carbon emissions on the planet, how to a establish wildlife habitat in their backyard or apartment balcony, and take part in restoration and tree planting events. This program is funded by the Port of Seattle’s Airport Community Ecology small grants fund, “ACE,” working in partnership with the City of Burien and the National Wildlife Federation.
- “National Trails Day” Connects Kids to Nature with a Walk/Hike on a Local Trail
Take a Walk on the Wild-Side as we explore a local trail. Learn about the local flora and fauna found along the trail. - “Sacred Grounds” Sacred Grounds™, a Program of the National Wildlife Federation, empowers congregations of all faiths to connect to the Earth by gardening for wildlife and studying the teachings and texts of their faiths. With Sacred Grounds™, people, the planet, and spiritual foundations all flourish. Places of Worship become Wildlife Habitats and incorporate Sustainable Gardening Practices in their grounds management.
- “Up-Cycling Native Plants” Stewards Rescue Native Plants
Volunteers rescue plants from demolition in areas slated for development, transplanting to parks and backyard habitats. Many beautiful native plants can be up-cycled to our nursery and used in our “Boots on the Ground” restoration, Rain Garden projects, and fundraisers.