It's easy to see how people can fall in love with Washington state. The beauty and diversity of the local environment can be overwhelming on a summer day. There are not many places in this country that allow you to experience ocean shorelines, mountain meadows, and alpine peaks all in one day. I feel the people in Washington also have a strong sense of community. Having lived in many states this is the only place where citizens really take ownership of the surrounding wilderness and organize to protect it. Through People For Puget Sound I had the opportunity to work with communities to improve their beachfronts and protect native species while removing spartina. The sense of pride in looking out over a beach and seeing a group of people united in a common goal really brought home the feeling of belonging to a community and not just living in a city. I think that it the greatest lesson I took away from People For Puget Sound. If you can teach and encourage a group into action you can accomplish so much more than if you only take action on your own.