Earth Day volunteer and student event set for April 19  in Thurston County

The 2025 Earth Day Volunteer Event & Student Challenge takes place on Saturday, April 19, through a partnership of the PARC Foundation and Lions Clubs. 

The event gathers students, teachers, families and the community to engage in environmental stewardship across Thurston County parks. 

“Earth Day is one of our favorite days of the year,” stated Danielle Westbrook, PARC Foundation consultant, in a news release.

“We love seeing students, families, and neighbors come together to care for the places that matter most to our communities — and have fun doing it!” 

All park events occur from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 19 for the cities of Olympia, Tumwater and Tenino, as well as Thurston County. 

The schedule for the City of Lacey is on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..  

The organizers clarified in the event poster that the event is not a school-sponsored activity, as it was neither reviewed nor approved by the Olympia, Tumwater, North Thurston, and Tenino school districts.  

Student challenge 

A $1,000 grand prize will be awarded to the school with the most volunteer turnout, and a $500 runner-up will be awarded to the second highest turnout.

Participants can register, select a park and learn more by visiting the event website.   

“We hope to see strong participation again this year,” said PARC Foundation President Ashley Chander in the news release.  

“It’s a great opportunity to connect with community members while making a real difference in our parks and public spaces,” Chander added.