The Lopez Island Conservation Corps (L.I.C.C.) has made amazing progress since last summer. Not only has this program taken the National ‘Take Pride in America’ Award for 2008, but the L.I.C.C. has started evolving and now has a board. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this Conservation Corps, we are a team made up of youth and adult members, who participate in habitat enhancement projects and trail maintenance. All of our work has been accomplished with the help of some amazing organizations and wonderful people, but we cannot do it all alone. As some of our volunteers have moved on or cannot stay, we hope to find others who will join us in our efforts to better the environment and its accessibility. We hope to form partnerships with local organizations and individuals. If you are between the age 13 and 18 years old you can become a L.I.C.C. youth member, if you are an adult we would love your help. Anyone one can join us in our trail and land preservation work. We have a great time every year, working at spectacular locations all over the San Juans. Last summer our work was focused on Lopez (Watmough Bay, Iceberg Point, Chadwick Hill, Shark Reef, Point Colville and Upright Head Preserve) but we were also able to work on Patos, Victim and San Juan Island.

Our partnerships and sponsors made that possible by supplying the L.I.C.C. with transportation, food, supplies and helping hands. These organizations include the Bureau of Land Management, Lopez Island Senior Center, San Juan County Parks, Blossom, Lopez Island Thrift Shop, Friends of the Patos Lighthouse and the American Hiking Society. Our most recent partnership was formed with the Lopez Island Family Resource Center (L.I.F.R.C.). We are working with them constantly, trying to push this work forward. If you are interested in working with or donating to the L.I.C.C. please contact me by email at aneaglescout@gmail.com, or by phone (360) 468-4934. Any contribution is greatly needed and greatly appreciated.