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The Restorative Power of Alki Point
By Stephanie Raymond
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Stephanie Raymond is a 37 year resident of the Puget Sound area who teaches teachers about how to and the importance of planning beach field trips with min9imal impact.
Stephanie Raymond, Seattle, surrounded by eager learners at Alki Point, April 2007 [photo courtesy Amy Hale, People For Puget Sound]
I grew up here and for all my 37 years, I've been in love with Puget Sound. I live in West Seattle south of Alki Point, around the corner from Duwamish Head and my favorite place is the nearby Emma Schmitz Memorial Viewpoint/Mee Kwa Mooks Park beach.
When I go there, I love to watch the herons and ospreys that feed there, and every Spring I look forward to the migratory brants returning. I love listening to them while they're working the shoreline. Every so often I'm lucky enough to see the southern resident orcas go past, and there are often sea lions, harbor seals or river otters offshore. I like to listen to the waves, beachcomb, and just sit and relax there. The sunsets and moonsets over the Olympics from that beach are spectacular. If I'm ever in a bad mood, taking a walk there always makes it better.
One of my jobs is to teach adults and youngsters about the wonders of Puget Sound. We all love to go down to the beach, so I teach teachers how to plan beach field trips with minimal impact. I will show anyone who will listen what lives in and around Puget Sound and how it's all connected to everything else, including us.
At home, I manage my home gardens organically, and grow native plants in my garden. I'll do anything to plant native plants in shoreline parks, with or without permission. I drive my SUV only when I really need to, and I maintain it carefully to prevent leaks. I wash my car at a carwash instead of on the street where the chemicals can run off into streams and the Sound. And, as much as possible, I avoid toxic products.
--Stephanie Raymond, Seattle
When I go there, I love to watch the herons and ospreys that feed there, and every Spring I look forward to the migratory brants returning. I love listening to them while they're working the shoreline. Every so often I'm lucky enough to see the southern resident orcas go past, and there are often sea lions, harbor seals or river otters offshore. I like to listen to the waves, beachcomb, and just sit and relax there. The sunsets and moonsets over the Olympics from that beach are spectacular. If I'm ever in a bad mood, taking a walk there always makes it better.
One of my jobs is to teach adults and youngsters about the wonders of Puget Sound. We all love to go down to the beach, so I teach teachers how to plan beach field trips with minimal impact. I will show anyone who will listen what lives in and around Puget Sound and how it's all connected to everything else, including us.
At home, I manage my home gardens organically, and grow native plants in my garden. I'll do anything to plant native plants in shoreline parks, with or without permission. I drive my SUV only when I really need to, and I maintain it carefully to prevent leaks. I wash my car at a carwash instead of on the street where the chemicals can run off into streams and the Sound. And, as much as possible, I avoid toxic products.
--Stephanie Raymond, Seattle