• to help promote preservation, and protection of the wildlife, and the scenic and recreational resources of State and County Parks and Washington State D.N.R. lands located on Camano Island.
• to assist with stewardship activities which would include implementation of park improvements, maintenance and educational programs compatible in a natural area.
• to advocate for acquisition of appropriate Camano Island property for the purpose of State, or County parks or DNR lands for trust/preserves .....whichever shall maintain property for purposes stated above.

This group of community volunteers had its origin in the fall of 1992. The original group was incorporated as Friends of Cama for the purpose of promoting the acquisition of the Cama Beach property by Washington State Parks and Recreation. Members engaged in a variety of activities including a letter writing campaign, creation of a save Cama brochure, speech and slide presentations, petition/signature gathering among local residents and assistance in open house tours of the Cama property.

Their efforts were rewarded with the decision by Washington State Parks and Recreation to begin acquisition of the Cama property beginning in 1993.

The membership voted at the June 17, 1993 general meeting to broaden their focus and provide volunteer services to all of Camano Island, county, state parks and DNR. lands, The new name, Friends of Camano Island Parks was adopted at that time.

Principle areas of volunteer activity taking place three to four times a month, year round, include: STEWARDSHIP activities in the Island County Parks, the State Parks and the DNR Island County Preserves; EDUCATIONAL projects focused on the natural environment through displays, publications and programs; and promotional projects for ACQUISITION of new park/preserves on Camano Island. Projects and activities related to these three goals are designed to improve recreational services for the visiting public and local residents. Some specific examples of FOCIP involvement and activities are:

FUNDRAISER ACTIVITIES

• Firewood and Recycle aluminum cans at State Parks
• Grants
• Membership dues and other donations
• 2000-2001 - a successful major fundraiser for Four Springs Lake Preserve acquisition

• Volunteer work party days at Camano Island State Parks and Island County Parks: painting, park and campsite maintenance, elementary school and adult educational nature programs; interpretive Boards; amphitheater/interpretive programs; trail construction and maintenance; other park improvement projects.
• The Carp Lake and Elger Bay DNR, Island County Preserves: trail construction and maintenance.

• Participation in local Chamber events
• Promotion of community conservation projects, Trust Land Transfer, and Conservation Futures acquisitions: English Boom, Dry Lake Road Trailhead, Iverson Spit Preserve, Four Springs Lake Preserve
• Camano Island Non-Motorized Trails Project
• Guided nature and winter walks
• Educational programs: elementary beach days, interpretive programs, clamming education days
• Partnership activities with related local organizations: Stanwood/Camano Historical Society, Audubon, C.A.R.E., Native Plants Society

• Membership Drives
• Local media notices
• Five or six newsletters a year to membership
• Social activities for members: two potluck dinners, picnics, nature and winter walks, birding outings and speakers

Membership donations are used for postage and office supplies, brochures, newsletters to members, and the purchase of maintenance tools, supplies and other necessary items to carry out volunteer tasks in the parks.

OTHER DONATIONS: Group or individual donations other than membership are beneficial toward major restoration or land preservation projects.

FOCIP welcomes membership inquiries and contributions. For more information write to:

Friends of Camano Island Parks, P.O. Box 1385, Stanwood, WA. 98292 or: