Join Blue Mountain Land Trust, Blues Crew, Confluence Project, Whitman Outdoors Program, and community members to gather together to tend the Story Circles at Sacajawea State Park. The park is located at the confluence of the Columbia River and the Snake River.
Our collective restoration work is an expression of mending and expressing our commitment to relearning, listening, and making changes within ourselves and our organizations to acknowledge the impacts of colonization. Restoring the shoreline beside the Story Circles is a meditative reflection of gratitude and honor for those that tended this land since time immemorial. Join us and our Blues Crew team for this volunteer opportunity.
About the Stories Circles & Work Party
The Stories Circles were created as part of the Confluence Project and designed by Maya Lin. The seven granite circles tell the tales of people, place and the connection between them in text etched into stone, some raised above and some lowered into the ground.
The area in proximity to the installation is overgrown with blackberry, tall grasses, weeds, brambles, and small volunteer trees that obscure the view of the river and make ongoing maintenance difficult. Our goal is to clean out invasive plants and restore views of the confluence and clear the circles for visitors to have full access to the site, while making ongoing maintenance easier.
Volunteer work to accomplish:
Cutting of numerous small trees less than 10” in diameter, requiring hand and power saws.
Removal of wire cages around previous plantings, requiring pliers and wire cutters.
Removal of blackberry canes, requiring shovels, hoes, hand clippers, machetes/hooks
Limbing and trimming of trees to improve sight lines, requiring hand and power saws.
Removal of weeds, tall grasses, brush to improve walkability and appearance
Removal of dead shrubs that foster blackberry regrowth, chipping woody materials.
General cleanup of leaves and debris.
What it takes to do this work party:
No experience is necessary—bring a great attitude for working with a team! Blues Crew leaders and park staff will provide training and tools as needed.
Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 5 hours each day
Recommended for ages 14 and older; participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult with a signed parental consent form
Trip Notes:
Pets are not to accompany volunteers on a Blues Crew work party due to work safety concerns.
Blues Crew follows state and federal guidelines which are constantly changing. At this time, Blues Crew requests that all participants are vaccinated. Masks are optional.
Schedule:
9:00 a.m. - Arrive Sacajewa Park
9:15 - 11 a.m. - Work summary and safety briefing
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Work site activities
Noon – 1:00 p.m. - Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Work site activitie
What to bring:
Lightweight day pack
Water bottle
Warm clothing for wet/cold weather
What to wear:
Boots – no sneakers or sandals
Long pants and long-sleeved shirt
Rain gear
Work gloves and eye protection (glasses, sunglasses)
Ticks can be present: bring DEET for self, Permethrin for clothes
Blues Crew Supplied: Safety gear, first aid kit, hard hat, tools
Contact info:
For more information, contact us at blues-crew@bmlt.org or 509-525-3136. Please reach out if financial assistance is needed.
