DISPATCHES Mount St. Helens hosts weekends for volunteers
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, will host a Friends of the Forest volunteer weekend Saturday and July 8.
Volunteers have a choice of work projects in which to participate on Saturday, ranging from trail work to refurbishing kiosks to clearing brush at recreation sites. All projects will be along state Route 504 on the west side of the monument, between the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater and Johnston Ridge Observatory.
After the work is done Saturday, volunteers are invited to the first evening concert in the inaugural Music on the Mountain series, which will feature two Portland bands playing at the new Johnston Ridge Observatory outdoor amphitheater. Following the concert, volunteers can join a star-party, hosted by the Vancouver Sidewalk Astronomers.
On July 8, volunteers who participated Saturday will be able to join a free guided hike or guided paddle trip on Coldwater Lake.
Interested volunteers can find details and pre-registration information at
nationalforests.org/connect/volunteer/event/421/signup.
