Bark Alert: Spring is Almost Here (and So Are Volunteer Events)!
Happy start to your March! I’m Suze Stapler, Communications and Volunteer Engagement Organizer at Bark. My role recently shifted to include a focus on the Bark volunteer community, and I’m absolutely stoked to meet those of you I haven’t yet. Starting with Radicle: Volunteer Orientation, our calendar is filling up for the months ahead. I look forward to hearing what interests you about Bark’s work for the protection and restoration of “Mt. Hood National Forest” in alignment with environmental justice principles. Over the past twenty years, Bark has brought people together for everything from celebrations of lichen to rallies for climate action.
The possibilities are endless, and I can’t wait to see what directions the Bark community pursues in 2023.
If you’re not sure where you want to contribute at Bark and in the wider environmental justice movement, I recommend this resource from the incredible Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Whether getting outside and exploring the forest is your jam, or you’d rather contribute public comments from the comfort of home, Dr. Johnson’s article is a great reflection tool for finding where your joy and skills intersect with the needs of the world. I’d love to know what comes up for you!
Come to the Bark Office on Wednesday, March 29th, for Radicle: Volunteer Orientation to learn more about our work to protect the incredible ecosystems of “Mt. Hood National Forest.“
Bark’s Coordinating Director, Courtney Rae, and I will host a meeting from 6 – 7:30PM designed to help interested individuals become new volunteers. Whatever your reasons for following Bark, your energy and knowledge are vital to strengthening our work!
You can also mark your calendar for Radicle: Intro to Forest Policy on April 20th. Bark’s Forest Watch Coordinator, Jordan Latter, will lead a 101-level workshop on how the legal and political history of federal forest management affects the remarkable forest, waters, and wildlife surrounding “Mt. Hood.”
These are just two of the upcoming events I’m excited to help bring together. Feel free to reach out any time with your ideas for future opportunities. I look forward to seeing you around the office (or the forest!) this spring.
Stay rooted!
Suze Stapler, Communications and Volunteer Engagement Organizer
P.S. What you have been reading about environmental justice and conservation this winter? We’re always looking for new recommendations for the Bark library.