Camp Long Offers Free Marshmallows for Earth Week Volunteers

Want to make your Saturday sweeter while making your city greener? Camp Long in West Seattle has the perfect combo this weekend.

The beloved park invites volunteers to join a cleanup event Saturday from 1 to 3 pm. After the work wraps up, the Camp Long Advisory Council will fire up the marshmallows for a well-earned treat around the campfire.

The event builds on momentum from earlier in the week. Girl Scout troops and the volunteer group A Cleaner Alki already pitched in for Earth Week, hauling away debris and sprucing up trails throughout the 68-acre nature preserve.

Camp Long supervisor Matt Kostle shared photos of the midweek cleanup showing young volunteers filling bags with litter and clearing overgrown paths. The park serves thousands of visitors each year who come for hiking, nature programs, and overnight camping right in the heart of the city.

The Ripple Effect

Community cleanups do more than beautify a single park. When neighbors gather to care for shared spaces, studies show it strengthens social bonds and increases civic engagement long after the trash bags are tied up.

West Seattle residents have shown up in force for Earth Week, with multiple groups coordinating efforts across different green spaces. That kind of grassroots momentum often inspires city officials to invest more resources in park maintenance and programming.

For families looking to teach kids about environmental stewardship, events like this offer hands-on learning that beats any classroom lecture. The marshmallow incentive doesn't hurt either, turning a service project into a celebration.

Saturday's two-hour window makes it easy for anyone to drop by between errands or other weekend plans. Registration takes just a minute online, helping organizers plan for supplies and refreshments.

Camp Long's entrance sits at 5200 35th Avenue SW, easily accessible by car or bus. The park provides a rare slice of wilderness in urban Seattle, with old-growth forest and wildlife viewing opportunities minutes from downtown.

Earth Week may be winding down, but the volunteer spirit it ignites can last all year.