Service with Greenways 3-5-16

Silver Salmon had a stellar day of sunshine and warm temperatures for our service work with Greenways. As we gathered in the parking lot, there was a hum of excitement in seeing one another again after being apart for several months.  Our check-in involved each of us throwing the die and sharing (at least) as many adventures as the number that we rolled; with many of us sharing more!  We had a good discussion about what service is;  and what each of us would bring to our serving.

Then we headed to find Rae and learn our jobs for the next few hours.  We had a special task right away:  the portable tent needed to be taken down before the "Mary Poppins effect" made it fly away, requiring many hands...and well, we had many hands.  Awesome coordination, ladies!

Loaded with bags and tools we walked a short distance to a trail near Cemetery Creek.  There we spent the rest of the day pulling ivy, working with tools, playing by the creek, snacking, and sharing in some serious deep belly laughing. The Silver Salmon brought their usual dedicated selves to this service work and showed awesome determination in their task of freeing the trees! The sunshine and warm temperatures kept luring us to the creek and shady groves to lounge, snack and play in the water, though. Just saying, it was a beautiful day.

Araya bagging the goods

Tatiana LOVES pulling ivy!

The creek provided some fun play as well

So, parents please ask your daughter about how she "showed up", with what kind of attitude.  And if she was able to keep that going.  Ask about the pesky "old growth" ivy crawling 25 feet high in the trees, the creating of islands, and the hauling bags back up the hill. Ask how to play drop and drool, and we dare you to challenge Gracyn to that game. She's a champ. Ask about Walking our Talk, LNT, Our Cups Overflowing, and Widening our Circle.

This should explain the belly laughing!

These girls. They have strength of character in spades. And determination to do it themselves. At least when it comes to completing a project! They looked like wee dirty Santas while trying to balance and haul these big, heavy, awkward sacks of ivy up the hill to the Parks Ops office. They refused help of any kind.

To see the rest of the online album from our photos of the day, click here.

Words of the day:  Ivy, river, mud, drool!