The Thurston County Glacial Heritage Preserve is on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people, whose ancestors managed and tended here since time immemorial.
Thank you EVERYONE for all the donations for the Thurston County Food Bank
You overflowed the barrel and had bags stacked around it by noon
Thanks to all the volunteers and partners for a great day. Almost 1300 people came out to enjoy and learn from your efforts.
Post event note from Gail Trotter, Chairperson, Friends of Puget Prairies:
The thirtieth year of Prairie Appreciation Day was one of abundance. We had clouds and dashes of rain making it not so scorching hot as the days before and the flowers and people welcomed the change. The Camas was blooming but also great flourishes of Golden Paintbrush, Lomatium, buttercup and amazing annual flowers were out. The next flush of flowers were starting to bud like Oregon Sunshine, lupine and goldenrod.
97 Birders started the day at 7:30 and relished in the sights and sounds of the diversity of birds on the prairie oak savanna. We had an abundance of visitors and volunteers with the count being 1263. There were 20 learning stations where volunteers shared about geology, plants and animals of the prairies along with restoration and what you can do to enhance the land to support the diverse ecosystems of the region. The hayride crew took visitors out to the far corners of the prairie and oak woodlands and was a delight to all. Many took advantage of the long walk through the prairie, oak savanna and riparian ecosystems of Glacial Heritage Preserve.
Abundance also came for the Thurston County Food Bank as there were a record amount of food donations.
A special thanks to all who came, participated, and donated to this special day on the prairie.
This year with the push by Jennifer Colvin, Thurston County proclaimed May Prairie Appreciation Month. We also want to celebrate Colvin Ranch’s 20 years of conservation easements which include their prairie land.
We did have a loss this year as many federal government employees including AmeriCorps who work on the prairies lost there jobs to brutal cost cuts of staff and funding which will have a long term ripple effect. But I hope we will learn from the resilient prairies and support groups continuing the renewing work on the prairie oak savannas.
As always, we need lots of VOLUNTEERS to help pull this off. No special knowledge or skills are necessary. Please contact getrotter@comcast.net
Please leave your pets at home. This is not an appropriate event for them. Scatter Creek is a wonderful alternative prairie to take your dog for a great on-leash experience and some nice prairies.
Handicapped Accessibility: Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve includes a paved 1/2 mile ADA accessible interpretive trail. Discover passes are required.
You’re welcome to bring a picnic lunch to the event. Alternatively, we anticipate having a Food Truck available at Glacial Heritage again this year. Plan on bringing your own food and refreshments to any of the alternate locations. For the Littlerock area, the nearest food and beverages for purchase are located at Hillbilly Beans, Littlerock Tavern, Taqueria La Esquinita, and the Chevron gas station.
Of the 150,000 acres of prairies originally in this area, there are less than 15,000 remaining, most in poor condition. As more and more people and warehouses move into the area there is continuing pressure to develop them. Come join us in celebrating this unique ecosystem and learn what you can do to help save it! Glacial Heritage is the best prairie off JBLM, so come out and enjoy it!
