Family and friends gathered on the boardwalk overlooking Maxwelton Creek May 7 to honor the memory of a young environmentalist who died last year in a hiking accident in Grand Teton National Park.
A small plaque honoring Lori Ann Sievers was unveiled during a ceremony at the Outdoor Classroom on Maxwelton Creek.
Tears were shed on the damp day as her parents, Jim and Mary Jo Sievers of Langley, remembered their daughter’s dedication to conservation issues and her commitment to teaching others about the importance of preserving the environment.
The idea for a memorial started with nine couples, friends of the Sievers, who wanted to create a memorial to Lori Ann Sievers. The couples refurbished the small trail system at the Salmon Adventure, placed new informational kiosks and placed roofing material on the bridges and boardwalks on the Salmon Adventure property.
The plaque, designed by Ron Norman of Langley, honors her contribution to society, especially on environmental issues. It was placed on the boardwalk that overlooks the creek and along an old trail restored to full use by the Sievers’ and friends of the couples daughter.
“It’s a terrible loss for us. This is the perfect way to honor her,” said Mary Jo Sievers.
Nancy Waddell, director of Maxwelton Salmon Adventure said the Sievers wanted to honor their daughter with something tangible where they could bring family.
And some young members of the family, including Lori Ann Sievers’ nephews Jack and Parker — ages 5 and 3 — were already calling the winding path along the creek “Lori’s Trail.”
“The group also wanted to involve young people, as Lori was passionate about teaching others the importance of our environment,” Waddell said.
From there it became a marriage of community and student effort. With a grant from the South Whidbey Community Engagement Center, the Salmon Adventure hired South Whidbey graduate Kristin Hoelting to work with teacher Jay Freundlich and a group of seventh-graders on the project.
The students updated the brochure which was out-of-date since it was originally written in 1998, which describes the self-guided loop trail at the Outdoor classroom
The trail and its explanatory brochure were originally developed in 1998, but it became outdated as conditions changed. The tour has eight kiosk stations which explore different facets of the forested wetland and creek. There is also a bit of history of the Maxwelton Watershed and some actions visitors can undertake to improve the well-being of any watershed
As part of their science studies, the students learned about watersheds and then came to the Outdoor Classroom site to study, reflect and help repair parts of the trail. They did projects based on their studies, including some brochures on specific aspects of the watershed. The donor families also moved posts, cut brush and placed safety strips on the boardwalk.
Once all that was completed, it was time to dedicate the restored trail system to a young woman who loved the outdoors.
“When you visit the trail, think of her and of all the young people who are ready to make a difference in our world,” Waddell said.
The Maxwelton Salmon Adventure is a non-profit corporation working with the community to promote stewardship and to preserve and protect salmon, wildlife, habitat and water quality through outreach and education.
