by Maddie Snook

Campers explore the outdoors at Swan Creek Park.

School programs may be over, but learning never stops! This July the Enrivonmental Education team at Pierce Conservation District held an eco-summer camp at Swan Creek Park for the Salishan Neighborhood. Campers experienced the great outdoors right in their backyard park! Each day campers hiked the park trails and learned about the natural elements of the park. They pondered questions like: How do owls fly so silently? What does western red cedar look like? And the most pressing question from campers was, of course: how many blackberries can I pick and eat? 

How many blackberries can campers eat? The answer: a lot!

Pierce Conservation District has hosted this camp alongside Tacoma Housing Authority and Salishan Association since 2018 with the goal of introducing elementary age students to the outdoors. In local spaces like Swan Creek students can find the perfect place to play, explore, and learn. PCD staff enjoyed playing in the creek and meeting new creatures with the campers and we hope to continue this program in future.