OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — With the doors and gates to Olympic National Park back open, the Friends of Olympic National Park is also back in business, and two events originally set in October are now scheduled this week.
The park was shut down from Oct. 1 to Oct. 16 because of a partial federal shutdown that ended with last-minute Congressional approval of a budget deal.
On Thursday, the group will conduct its annual membership meeting at Olympic National Park Visitor Center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road.
The meeting will start at 7 p.m. Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum provide a brief “state of the park” report, to be followed by a program featuring longtime employee Clare Donato.
On Saturday, the group will host a volunteer work party at the visitor center.
They will do landscaping, pruning, exotic plant removal, and general clean up of the park visitor center and Living Forest Trail behind the visitor center.
Participants will gather in the visitor center parking lot at 9 a.m. and then get back together for brown bag lunches and socializing when the event ends at noon.
Volunteers are asked to bring small tools, gloves and a lunch.
The Friends of Olympic National Park will provide refreshments.
“This event is designed to address real park maintenance needs and bring together the Friends membership and park volunteers,” said Friends President David Morris.
“We hope that this will be the first of a series of biannual work parties that can spruce up specific sites in the park.”
Members of Friends of Olympic National Park, National Park Volunteers, and the general public are invited to attend both events.
For more information, email David Morris at aaakwacha33@yahoo.com.