Earth Day and Salmon Release - 2012

Join us for a day celebration of Earth Day at Carkeek Park!






In honor of Earth Day, Seattle Parks and Recreation are teaming up with the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project, Seattle Public Utilities and the Carkeek Park Advisory Council to host the 32nd Annual Earth Day Celebration at Carkeek Park.  The party


Volunteers will work to clean up the park, stencil storm drains, and provide information to the community about the park and its surrounding watershed.


The work party will be from 8:30 AM until noon.  For more information or to volunteer, call 206-684-0877.


Then, at 7:00 PM, the celebrations continue with the annual release of chum salmon fry into Puget Sound.  The baby chum have been maturing in the Les Malmgren Memorial Imprinting Pond and will be release into Venema Creek, which connects to Piper's Creek, and then onto Puget Sound.

"Heaven and Earth" Returning to Carkeek Park

The Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA), in collaboration with the Carkeek Park Advisory Council and Seattle Parks and Recreation, will once again present an exhibit of outdoor art at Carkeek Park.


"Heaven and Earth 3:  Cycles of Return" will be on display throughout Carkeek Park from July 9, 2011 to October 9, 2011.

An Opening Reception will be hosted this Saturday, July 9, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, at Carkeek's Environmental Learning Center, 950 Carkeek Park Road, Seattle, WA 98177.  The public is invited to meet "Heaven and Earth" artists and organizers and to tour the exhibit.

Additional funding from 4Culture's Site Specific program and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs allows this year's exhibit to return with an expanded roster of artists -  a total of 20 to 25 displays of artwork from 21 individual artists.

A walking tour of Carkeek's "Heaven and Earth 3" takes about an hour and a half.  Some works can be seen in less time, including a variety visible from the access road.  Maps can be downloaded for free at CoCA's website beginning July 9.

As in previous years, "Heaven and Earth" focuses on our natural environment in a world of change. Participating artists present their interpretations of art and nature, leaving "no trace" following removal of their installation.  The artwork is constructed of mostly natural materials and is designed to have minimal impact on the park.  Installations will either decompose organically or will leave the park in the same state it was prior to installation.
Carkeek is widely considered one of Seattle's premier urban forests.


Sunset Magazine recently named Carkeek Park #3 among America's top 10 urban parks.  Seattle Parks and Recreation estimated that 150,000 people visited Carkeek Park during the "Heaven and Earth" display period last summer.

For more information on this event, contact David Francis at 206-283-4701 or via email at david@cocaseattle.org.

Master Forestry Class Coming to Carkeek Park

Starting July 9th, Carkeek Park will once again host a Master Forester Class to train skilled volunteers as urban forest stewards.

This 12-week course spans through the summer, fall and winter months and focuses on species identification, forest restoration and management, and knowledge of forestry tools.  Hands-on work includes removal of invasive plants, site preparation, planting, monitoring, tool maintenance, and developing a 3-year workplan for a section of the park.

This is the fourth such class offered at Carkeek Park, with previous classes run every other year since 2005.  The course will be led by Master Foresters Lex Voorhoeve and Loren McElvain.  (Loren is a graduate of Carkeek's first Master Forester class.)  Seattle Parks' Naturalist Brian Gay, who directed the first three Master Forester classes, will contribute where possible.

This year's class is full, but there is hope to run another installment in 2013.

Four Master Forestry Volunteers clearing Laurel bushes.

Successful completion of the Master Forestry course gives participants the necessary background to work as stewards in the urban forests of Seattle, support Seattle Parks Department in park maintenance, lead work parties of volunteers, and adopt sections of the park to observe and maintain.  

Click here to see a brochure from the 2009 Master Forestry Class at Carkeek Park. 

Today is Carkeek Park's Volunteer Recognition Day!

Volunteers of Carkeek Park - past and present - are welcome to join the Carkeek Park Advisory Council (CPAC) for a celebration of the collective efforts that better our Park.  CPAC will present information on how to continue improving the ecology at Carkeek Park.

This event takes place Saturday, June 11 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center.

For more information, please call Nancy Malmgren at 206-363-4116.

Volunteers Needed for Work Day Party at Carkeek Park

Volunteers are needed for a work day party at Carkeek Park
Saturday, April 16th


Help celebrate the 31st Annual Earth Day at Carkeek Park and Piper's Creek Watershed by volunteering your environmental efforts at this event.   Youth groups, families and individuals welcome to participate.


8:45 AM to 11:00 AM
Work party includes stenciling storm drains, cleaning up of trash and recycling.


11:00 AM to 12:00
Activities include snacks, release of salmon and musical program.


Sponsored by Carkeek Park Advisory Council (CPAC), Restore Our Waters (Seattle Public Utilities) Carkeek  Watershed Community Action Project (CWCAP) and Seattle Parks and Recreation Department (SPRD).

For more information or to volunteer, call Nancy Malmgren at 206-363-4116.

Carkeek Park's EarthKeepers Summer Day Camp - 2011

EarthKeepers Returning to Carkeek Park this Summer!  

EarthKeepers is a environmentally-based summer day camp for exploring, learning and playing outdoors.  It offers activities for children ages 6 to 12 to foster friendship, learning, creativity and leadership.  EarthKeeper Educators have backgrounds in the natural

sciences/environmental education and experience working with school-age children.

What Do EarthKeepers do at Camp?

On any given day, EarthKeepers may find themselves exploring Carkeek Beach, hiking through the forest, playing in a field, learning about nature or creating art.  Each weekly has a different theme:

      Week 1 (June 27- July 1):  Wet & Squiggly Tidepool Wonders

      Week 2 (July 5 - 8):  Feathered Friends (no camp Monday, July 4)

      Week 3 (July 11-15):  Tidepools - Window to Puget Sound

      Week 4 (July 18-22):   Survivor Island

      Week 5 (July 25-29):  Buggin’ Out

      Week 6 (August 1-5):   Furs, Tails, Tracks & Trails

      Week 7 (August 8-12):   Carkeek’s Incredible Time Machine

      Week 8 (August 15-19):   Survivor Island

2011 Camp Cost:

The cost for each week of EarthKeepers Day Camp is $215, except Week #2 is

$175.00 (as there is no camp on Monday, 7/4). 

Early and Later  Camp Programming:

Parents can enroll children in Early Camp session (from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.) if an earlier starting time is needed.  The fee for Early Camp is $10 for the hour.  

Likewise, Later Camp is an option for families who need an extended day (from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.). The fee for Later Camp is $10 for the hour.

For more information and registration, call 206-684-0877 or visit

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/carkeek/earthkeepers.pdf

Viewlands Elementary Has New Principal

Viewlands Elementary School, located in the Broadview neighborhood of Seattle, is re-opening for the 2011-2012 school year.  Prior to closing, the school had a long and successful history with environmental education, in partnership with Carkeek Park and the Carkeek Park Advisory Council.


Below are letters from Viewlands' incoming principal, Lisa Escobar, and Seattle Public Schools' interim Superintendent, Susan Enfield, Ed.D.


Part of the vision of the "New Viewlands" is to continue environmental education.  More details to come.

A letter  from  Lisa Escobar, incoming Principal for Viewlands Elementary:

Dear families and students of Viewlands Elementary School,

It is with great enthusiasm that I write my first letter to you.  I am very excited about being your principal and I look forward to working with you to create a wonderful learning community that reflects your hopes, dreams and expectations for your child’s educational experience.

I bring many years of experience in public schools as a teacher and an administrator.  I have devoted my life to education as I believe it is the most important work I can do.  I believe in educating the whole child so that we have strong balanced leaders to move us forward into a sustainable future.  My favorite moments are visiting classrooms and participating in activities or teaching mini-lessons.  I am always amazed at the magic created in the classroom through the interactions between a student and a teacher. 

I have a strong background in elementary education, special education and bilingual education.  I look forward to sharing my expertise with an exceptional staff to ensure the success of all children at Viewlands Elementary School.  I am known as a collaborative and compassionate leader and I believe the partnership between families and communities are critical for the success of our children. 

As the mother of four children and the proud grandmother of a 20 month old granddaughter, I can honestly say I understand the importance of having a safe, positive school environment with a strong academic program.  I can assure you that we will work very hard to create the school community we all envision for our children.

I am planning a time that we can get together and actually meet face to face this spring.  Stay tuned for details on our first “get together.”  I look forward to meeting you!

Take care,

Lisa Escobar

A letter  from  Susan Enfield, Ed.D., Interim Superintendent

I believe that Ms. Escobar will make an excellent match for the Viewlands learning community, given her extensive classroom experience and strong educational leadership. Ms. Escobar has been an administrator in the Seattle Public Schools since 2004.  She has been a principal at Nova, The Center School and is currently co-principal at Rainier Beach High School. Her administrative experience also includes an elementary school principalship and assistant principal positions at the middle school level. Ms. Escobar is known as a creative and compassionate leader who is passionate about children. She is a “hands on” principal who believes in educating the whole child.  She is an effective instructional leader that has high expectations yet works collaboratively with her staff to deliver an innovative, child-centered curriculum.  She believes strongly in the involvement of family and community partnerships to create a rich educational program where all students thrive.

In addition to her service with Seattle Public Schools, she has been a classroom teacher at schools in Issaquah and districts in California.  Ms. Escobar taught general, special and bilingual education for several years at the elementary and secondary level and did her administrative internship at an elementary school.  She has a strong background in health, biology and chemistry with a passion for environmental science.  She believes strongly in creating a healthy school environment where students cultivate a love of learning and an awareness of their impact on the world around them.

Ms. Escobar received her degree in health science with minors in chemistry and biology from Chico State University, California.  She has a master’s degree in special education from San Jose State University, where her focus was on engaging Spanish-speaking parents in the IEP (individualized education program) process. She received her administrative credential from Chico State.

I look forward to working with Ms. Escobar to build a positive learning community at Viewlands that supports the success of all students. She will be in touch with you to set up opportunities to meet and get to know her, and to be involved in planning for a very successful program.