BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Valentine’s Day has been observed in the United States for over 200 years. The holiday signifies a time dedicated to love, cupid and, of course, heart-shaped boxes of cheap chocolates.
This year, a local organization is using the holiday of love to educate the public about the Salish Sea and the life that lives in it.
Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum (GSSC) is an organization based in Whatcom County that educates students of all ages about their surrounding environment and natural resources that are found in it. According to the GSSC website, the Salish Sea is a trans-national watershed that hosts a rich intertidal ecosystem that produced an important source of food for both wildlife and humans. The organization uses shellfish, specifically oysters, to educate the public about the Salish Sea.
Founded in 2012 by Julie Hirsch, the organization has partnered frequently with Drayton Harbor Oyster Company with their education efforts.
“[Hirsch] wanted to tie ocean education in with water quality; she found that oysters are the perfect intersection of that because oysters really improve water quality in the ocean,” said Piper Olsen, program manager for GSSC.
After creating activities for local elementary schools to implement into their curriculum, Hirsch started the organization and began receiving funding and grants from local entities. Since then, GSSC has hosted events with schools across Whatcom County.
“Our curriculum is based on field investigation, so we host field trips where students use our curriculum, have a series of lessons and take them to Birch Bay State Park,” said Olsen.
The GSSC is hosting a Valentine’s Day-inspired beach cleanup event starting on Feb. 14 and ending on Feb. 21. The main community event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Locust Beach from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. where members of the community can come together and pick up trash on one of Bellingham’s most trafficked beaches.
“Our goal is reducing the waste that goes into the Salish Sea because it is a pretty delicate ecosystem,” Olsen said. “We really need to step in and take responsibility and stewardship for this area.”
Cleanup participants can keep tabs on their progress throughout the week with a marine debris tracking app. The event will cap off with a random drawing, where the winning volunteer will receive a pound of oysters from Drayton Harbor Oyster Company.
GSSC’s beach cleanup is just one of a few volunteer opportunities coming up around Whatcom County. RE Sources is hosting a Valentine’s Day beach cleanup of their own from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Maritime Heritage Park. Participants can grab cleanup supplies and refreshments before getting to work at the mouth of Whatcom Creek.
Bellingham Parks and Recreation is also continuing their series of winter work parties with an event at Forest and Cedar Park on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Participants can join a team of volunteers from Western Washington University and the Whatcom Million Trees Project to remove invasive plants and add native shrubs and trees to the park.
Valentine’s week caps off with another community work party from Parks and Rec, this time at the new Cordata Park. Volunteers will take part in riparian restoration efforts near Bear Creek from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Bellingham’s Parks Volunteer Program will continue these winter work parties each Saturday morning through April 13. Find a full schedule of events here.
