THE FINANCIAL LIFELINE FOR
WSU EXTENSION'S
CITIZEN-VOLUNTEER TALENT POOL

henever there's a need for environmental education, citizen science or boots-on-the-ground service in Island County, chances are good you'll find the volunteers of Lighthouse Environmental Programs – the Washington State University (WSU) Beach Watchers, Friends of Admiralty Head Lighthouse and Waste Wise Volunteers.

In the last 15 years, hundreds of LEP volunteers have received expert, intensive training in the classroom and in the field from resource managers, researchers, educators and other authorities. In turn, they have made a commitment to give back 100 hours of service, though most actually do more. In 2004, these volunteers gave about 20,000 hours of service at no cost to Island County taxpayers – a $250,000 gift when valued at $12.50 an hour.

It's a phenomenal story of grassroots citizen involvement that started with the realization that talented people were eager to help save and enhance the natural environment of our islands, if only they were asked and shown the way.