Cleare grew up in Chimacum, where she was homeschooled and attended elementary school in a single room schoolhouse on Marrowstone Island. She attended high school in Victoria at a boarding school called St. Michaels, which had a laboratory that catered to her interest in science. Later she got a degree in Biological Anthropology from Western Washington University. After graduating, Cleare worked for various local businesses near Chimacum, including a nonprofit in Port Townsend called the Boiler Room, which was a social-service orientated coffee shop that offered a creative space for all ages, where Cleare did Outreach work. When the Boiler Room closed, Cleare found herself with some extra time to volunteer with the Salmon Coalition. She has since been helping us survey for summer chum and coho salmon, plant native trees and shrubs, and assist with our Real Learning Real Work education program.
How did you first hear about or get involved with NOSC?
Cleare developed a curiosity for salmon through various childhood experiences. In the 90’s she participated in a game called
Tracking the Dragon
, which was conceived by Wild Olympic Salmon, as a way for people to learn about water in the Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and the sea. She grew up near Tom Jay, the creator of FIN, the giant migrating salmon. Tom Jay was one of the neighborhood elders whom everyone revered. As a kid, Cleare participated in
Salmon in the Classroom
, where she helped raise salmon eggs and release them into Chimacum Creek. She remembers eating salmon at the Wild Olympic Salmon cookouts in Chimacum. She learned more about who NOSC is through mutual projects and events with the North Olympic Land Trust, and she initially started volunteering as a summer chum surveyor in Chimacum Creek.
What is your most memorable experience volunteering for NOSC?
Cleare’s favorite volunteer experience with NOSC has been surveying for summer chum in Chimacum Creek.
It was good to see all of the wildlife utilizing the Barnhouse section of Chimacum Creek, which is practically in my backyard
.
While surveying for summer chum, I saw great blue herons, beavers, ravens, otter scat, and all sorts of things you don’t see everyday. It’s good to see that the fish are utilizing the habitat and having 15+ huge fish making their way upstream right below your eyes is quite an experience.
Cleare has also volunteered with our Real Learning Real Work education program where she helped 7
th
grade Chimacum students plant native trees and shrubs. Cleare had fun telling the students her story of releasing salmon into Chimacum Creek when she was their age and planting trees with Chimacum students to ensure that salmon have a healthy place to come back and spawn in. Cleare is happy to see that programs like Real Learning Real Work are still going strong in the schools, considering that releasing salmon into the creek as a kid is still something she remembers today.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
Getting to see it all in person and to spend time with other NOSC volunteers
. She spent time surveying with NOSC board member, Jim Pearson, who was very enthusiastic, even about the scat they came across along the banks. She also surveyed with a volunteer that worked in ecological restoration in California, who was very familiar with the interplay with forestry and salmon health.
It really became fun to be in the river and to constantly be learning new things.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
If you like being outside, I encourage you to figure out how to come participate. A little bit of help goes a long way. There are volunteer opportunities year round, on the weekends and weekdays, catering to many different schedules.
THANK YOU Cleare for the work you are doing with NOSC. We are fortunate to have a volunteer like you at our events!
