WES is very pleased to have adopted Portal Run. We look forward to cleaning it twice a year. We also have begun a tradition of A Walk in the Park, which occurs after Sunday service twice a year to give participants a chance to experience Rock Creek Park. This activity, together with clean ups of Portal Run, are deepening our connection with the Rock Creek watershed.

On Sunday, October 15, we had a very successful clean up of Portal Run by the SEEK Classes (Washington Ethical Society Sunday School) and volunteers today. We worked in two shifts. The first started at 9:30am and ended at 10:45pm. Twelve students and five adults participated by cleaning the south side of the stream. The second groupstarted at 11:30am and ended at 12:45pm. Eleven students and six adults participated by cleaning the north side of the stream. Both shifts worked upstream as far as the wooden bridge.

Three adults participated in both shifts, so the head count of total number of participants was 31. Total number of volunteer work hours was 42.5.

We collected 8 bags of trash and 3 bags of recyclables, leaving our collection around the tree at the bottom of Portal Drive. We found lots of plastic bottles, plastic bags, and food wrappers; also some badly rusted car keys, a cell phone, a silver belt, and a tiny flashlight.