Alex Brown
Port Townsend High School Student
4H Stewardship Program Member
2012 Fall Work Crew
Challenge Course:
This day was a team building day where we did a number of activities. The first activity was where we had a ball and we had to get it around in a circle by everyone touching it. The next one was where we had to take a piece of PVC pipe that was cut in half and get a marble from one place to another, but if you had the marble on your pipe you couldn't move your legs. The one after that was called "spider web" where we had to get everyone through a hole, but two people couldn't go through the same hole. The one after that was called "Nitrous" where we had to get everyone from one place to another either by using the swing, or getting some nitrous to the other side which allows everyone to come. Next activity we had to carry a ball that looks like the world and get it from one place to another and set it down. The way we had to carry it was by everyone having a string and all the strings are connected to a metal ring. After that our last activity was where we had to move everyone from one place to another by using four wood planks and setting them on wooden stumps coming out of the ground. Overall the activities were fun and really build the team together.
Noxious Weeds:
For this work day we went up along a road going to Mt. Townsend and pulled noxious/invasive plants. For this we mainly used our hands, but occasionally had to use a tool to pull out a scotch broom that had a really big root. The plants that we were targeting were scotch broom and tansy ragwort.
Trail Work:
We worked down a trail near the little Quilcene river. We focused on cutting back brush and picking up any garbage. We also obliterated a trail that had been washed out. Obliterating meaning that we made it look like a trail wasn't there. Also along the way back to the vans we encountered a bee's nest where myself, Kieran, and Andy were stung.
Watershed Clean-up:
On this work day we split our team into two groups. The group I was with went up the road that heads to Mt. Townsend and started going back down checking the sides of the road for trash. We found about six tires that day.
Elk Habitat Restoration:
On this day we went to a man-created elk habitat and helped preserve it by clearing trees that were trying to grow back. Also we went into the forest a little bit and girdled some trees so they would die and create life for plants and animals.
Campground Clean-up at Seal Rock Campground:
We came here twice, except the second time we only worked in the morning. Here we scrubbed tables, raked leaves off of trails, shoveled out the campfire pits, and cleaned off the board walk.
Mt. Walker:
On the afternoon of the second day we were at Seal Rock Campground we went up here. Here made sure the trail for wheel chair access was clear.
I think the most memorable event from this whole thing was from the first day where that activity we had after lunch was hackey sack. It was really funny to watch ourselves try and keep the thing going where as for most of us, that was the first time ever doing it. By the end we were getting better but still not great.
What I took away from this valuable experience was that with teamwork and a common goal you can accomplish anything set in front of you.
Port Townsend High School Student
4H Stewardship Program Member
2012 Fall Work Crew
Challenge Course:
This day was a team building day where we did a number of activities. The first activity was where we had a ball and we had to get it around in a circle by everyone touching it. The next one was where we had to take a piece of PVC pipe that was cut in half and get a marble from one place to another, but if you had the marble on your pipe you couldn't move your legs. The one after that was called "spider web" where we had to get everyone through a hole, but two people couldn't go through the same hole. The one after that was called "Nitrous" where we had to get everyone from one place to another either by using the swing, or getting some nitrous to the other side which allows everyone to come. Next activity we had to carry a ball that looks like the world and get it from one place to another and set it down. The way we had to carry it was by everyone having a string and all the strings are connected to a metal ring. After that our last activity was where we had to move everyone from one place to another by using four wood planks and setting them on wooden stumps coming out of the ground. Overall the activities were fun and really build the team together.
Noxious Weeds:
For this work day we went up along a road going to Mt. Townsend and pulled noxious/invasive plants. For this we mainly used our hands, but occasionally had to use a tool to pull out a scotch broom that had a really big root. The plants that we were targeting were scotch broom and tansy ragwort.
Trail Work:
We worked down a trail near the little Quilcene river. We focused on cutting back brush and picking up any garbage. We also obliterated a trail that had been washed out. Obliterating meaning that we made it look like a trail wasn't there. Also along the way back to the vans we encountered a bee's nest where myself, Kieran, and Andy were stung.
Watershed Clean-up:
On this work day we split our team into two groups. The group I was with went up the road that heads to Mt. Townsend and started going back down checking the sides of the road for trash. We found about six tires that day.
Elk Habitat Restoration:
On this day we went to a man-created elk habitat and helped preserve it by clearing trees that were trying to grow back. Also we went into the forest a little bit and girdled some trees so they would die and create life for plants and animals.
Campground Clean-up at Seal Rock Campground:
We came here twice, except the second time we only worked in the morning. Here we scrubbed tables, raked leaves off of trails, shoveled out the campfire pits, and cleaned off the board walk.
Mt. Walker:
On the afternoon of the second day we were at Seal Rock Campground we went up here. Here made sure the trail for wheel chair access was clear.
I think the most memorable event from this whole thing was from the first day where that activity we had after lunch was hackey sack. It was really funny to watch ourselves try and keep the thing going where as for most of us, that was the first time ever doing it. By the end we were getting better but still not great.
What I took away from this valuable experience was that with teamwork and a common goal you can accomplish anything set in front of you.
