Stream Team offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year -- all of which are free and open to the public.
Stream Team is cooperatively sponsored and funded by the storm and surface water utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater and Thurston County. Stream Team began in 1990 as a way for local governments to involve citizens in the basin (watershed) planning process for a few local creeks. After the plans were finished, Stream Team found a niche in South Sound for providing free quality environmental education programs and activities and hands-on action projects.
“Joining” simply means getting our quarterly newsletter and/or e-mails announcing upcoming activities. You participate as your time permits and in the activities that you are interested in. As an added bonus, Stream Team incentives are available for attending Stream Team volunteer programs.
Stream Team action projects are great for high school students needing service learning hours; civic, religious, and youth groups looking for something to do outside to help our local environment; or a group of friends or family wanting to get outdoors and learn about and help our local habitats.
The Seasons of Stream Team Activities
| Winter | Rain Garden Workshop* Winter Speaker or Field Class Amphibian Monitoring |
| Spring | Shorebird Monitoring Tree Planting – Revegetation/Restoration Naturescaping Class & Field Trip* |
| Summer | World Oceans Day: Sea Cinema** Trees of Washington Workshop* Macroinvertebrate Monitoring (26 streams) East Bay Purple Martin Monitoring Marine Creature Monday Sound Stewards Salmon Stewards |
| Fall | Salmon Stewards Watershed Tour Tree Plantings – Revegetation/Restoration Rain Garden Workshop Naturescaping Class |
*with Native Plant Salvage Project
**with local EcoNet
Volunteer Facts:
- Over 45,000 hours tallied from 1990 – 2010
- Over 5,000 storm drains marked
- For 10 years, volunteers have collected stream bugs from local creeks
- Since 1998, Salmon Stewards have talked with over 12,000 people at the 5th Avenue Dam.
Stream Team’s mission: to protect and enhance the water resources, associated habitats, and wildlife of Thurston County through citizen education and action.