In the beginning, I used to volunteer because it was a requirement of a club that me and my friends joined at our high school. Thus, we decided to go pull ivy at Behrens Woods; a park in the Bella Vista neighborhood in Vancouver, Washington.
When we arrived, I half-expected to see a small playground structure with few benches in a mostly flat land of grass. What I ended up seeing was a small forest of trees encapsulated in the middle of asphalt roads and quaint houses. It was a pleasant surprise! After a warm welcome by the event organizers, we were led on a trail of dirt into the foliage and mossy rocks.
Life is brimming everywhere in Behrens woods. Bigleaf maple leaves scattered on the ground. Mighty Douglas fir trees standing tall. You can see the white fruit of the snowberry among the green or feel the prickling leaves of the Oregon grape. However, what caught my attention was the huge sea of English ivy that had made itself comfortable in the homes of native plants. It was everywhere. It was even growing on the trees!
Me, my friends, and the other volunteers spent hours pulling ivy. Root after root was a step closer towards bringing back the nature that one could see in Willamette Valley. We returned each time to finish what we started. Although our hands froze and our cheeks went red as the weather turned colder, it was so much fun talking with my friends as we sat amongst nature, taking in the view, and breathing the fresh air. All the while seeing the literal impact we were making on the world.
Prior to volunteering at Behrens Woods, I did not put much thought into the actions of my everyday life. Then once I began spending more time outside in nature and seeing with my own eyes, I began to truly appreciate what Mother Nature had gifted us.
Now, I volunteer because it’s a small part of the bigger picture of helping the environment. And there are many ways to get involved!
