Like hiking, state and national parks? Then do something about it!

You know that classic Seattle look - a North Face fleece, maybe some cargo pants or shorts and, of course, the hiking boots. Nowhere outside of the Australian Outback has outdoor gear become a mainstay in fashion. Now, don't get me wrong - I am not advocating this as fashion advice. I have a personal vendetta against this REI take-over. However, hiking and Seattle are a match made in city culture heaven.

Face it, you can't live in this city without feeling a genuine need to get out there and explore the wild national forests, modestly tamed state parks or at least the neatly groomed city park down the street. Seattle is one of the few cities graced by green - everywhere you turn it's green and beautiful.

Perhaps you took a stroll through the day trails of Mt. Rainier this summer, hiked the Olympic Mountains or discovered one of the U-District's beautiful forest mirages somehow hidden in the urban landscape (Cowen Park, anyone?). But have you ever thought of how those trails are maintained?

One word: volunteers. That's right, fellow hikers who love the trails and want to keep them strong are out there working all year round. Volunteers help maintain everything from Seattle Parks to National Parks.

They are called work parties... and really are just that! Volunteers work to repair the trails, but work party leaders ensure that the volunteers have a good time as well. The Washington Trails Association states, "Saftey first, Fun second and work third." They want you to keep coming back, so they treat you right! After volunteering at two work parties, you receive an annual Trail Park Pass free. These work parties usually include a two mile+ hike with a bit of physical labor.

If you want something a bit more metropolitan, check out Seattle Park's Trails Program. They offer volunteers three different categories to sign-up under: Trail Steward (weekly maintenance), Trailblazer (a few Saturdays a year), or events staff (staff booths, promote, canvass, phone bank, etc). They've got something for anyone with a bit of interest in helping keep Seattle beautifully green.