GPC Cares! Eco Crew at Tryon Creek on May 18, 2019

Friends of Tryon Creek, in partnership with Oregon States Parks, are committed to supporting the ecological restoration of the park through volunteerism. Through an ongoing series of stewardship events, over the last forty years, volunteers have hand pulled more than 250 acres of English Ivy and other invasive plant species in the park. Eco Crew Volunteers (that’s us, on May 18th!) continue this tradition of stewardship. 

Eco Crew volunteer tasks alternate between trail maintenance and invasive plant removal. Trail and park maintenance task include spreading gravel, digging small ditches, brush cleaning, and raking. Invasive plant removal task include, plant identification, hand pulling, and using small hand tools. Eco Crew work days are led by Friends of Tryon Creek and/or Oregon State Parks staff. Instruction, gloves and tools are always provided. Volunteers should come dress for being outdoors in all weather conditions. We will be hiking off trail, so sturdy shoes and long plants are a plus. Volunteers will learn basic park restoration and maintenance practices, proper use of tools and invasive plant removal practices.

Besides dirty gloves and muddy feet, at the end of each event, it is our hope that Eco Crew volunteers take home a feeling of accomplishment for the work they’ve done and a sense of belonging to a larger community of park stewards.