Trail Tales - looking back...and forward

By Betty Carteret, Friends of Skagit Beaches Board President

It's hard to believe the end of our first two-year Public Participation Grant is coming up on June 30th. We've accomplished a lot and WA Ecology has been very pleased with the work we've done. In a recent meeting Ecology shared that they have seen an increase in public participation and more sophistication in the comments submitted during their formal comment periods. Well that's exactly what we were hoping. Our program is a new innovation from the type of projects they've funded in the past and they like it. In addition, this program increases the general literacy of residents about local history and ecology, and creates a personal connection and sense of stewardship in protecting the health of our shoreline and marine ecosystems.

Since June 2011, we've trained over 20 docents who are providing fun and interesting interpretive programs along the Tommy Thompson trail on a variety of topics. Attendance has been great (an average of 22 attendees at our trail walks) and audience feedback shows the docents are doing a great job offering interesting presentations.  Our walks are open to all ages and the trail is handicap accessible.

In addition we've designed, created and installed fifteen interpretive signs along the trail between 34th Street and March Point. They are arranged in groups of three at "Discovery Points", with an additional eelgrass habitat sign out on the trestle. I hope that you'll take the time to walk out to see the signs and learn more about our history, ecology, and the Fidalgo Bay cleanup projects. Each of the signs has a corresponding webpage where we are in the process of adding more content about the subject. Visit the Trail Tales website and find out about our calendar of walks.

Because of the success of this program, we expect to have our grant renewed  for two more years until June 2015 for more walks and an extension of the signs and activities. If you're interested in getting involved as a volunteer with Trail Tales, you can contact Docent Coordinator, Nancy Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We also encourage you to become a member of Friends of Skagit Beaches, the sponsor of the Trail Tales program. Enjoy your summer and we hope to see you out on the trail!