December is a month for getting cozy by the fire and sipping hot chocolate, and at South Sound GREEN it is also the perfect time for tree planting field trips! This month we met students on the west bluffs of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and planted native conifers and deciduous trees with them. It was great fun and students worked hard to plant their trees correctly, giving them the best possible chance at survival. The bluffs are owned by the refuge and are currently undergoing a long-term restoration project. We were delighted to work with BFJNNWR, teachers, and students and assist in the reforestation of the area. Many of the students who came out to the bluffs also joined SSG for water quality testing and chum salmon field trips which offers the great opportunity to talk about how each of these experiences connects to one another. We were able to discuss how planting trees on the Nisqually bluffs improves the riparian zone, water quality, and salmon habitat in the estuary below the bluffs. These planting trips were the last outdoor field trips for SSG in 2023 and we think it was a pretty wonderful ending.
Before we head into the new year, South Sound GREEN would like to say a huge THANK YOU to our community partners, volunteers, teachers, and, of course, students who helped with and participated in our programs this year! We had more than 6,200 student interactions in 2023 and we would not be able to do what we do without all of you.
South Sound GREEN has a lot to look forward to in 2024 and we can’t wait to see you all in the new year! We are getting excited for, among many other opportunities, the 31st Student GREEN Congress and the South Puget Sound Regional Envirothon competition. We have plenty of field experiences planned for the coming year and of course there will be some great Teens in Thurston events to come. Happy New Year!