Supporter Spotlight: Jackson Varzali
In this month’s Alpiner e-newsletter, we’re excited to spotlight Jackson Varzali, a senior at Issaquah High School and one of our dedicated youth volunteers. Jackson has invested countless hours this summer working with our Green Issaquah team on the restoration of Park Pointe.
photo courtesy of Jackson Varzali
By Jackson Varzali
Located behind Issaquah High School (IHS) and Issaquah Middle School (IMS), Park Pointe is a popular hiking trail enjoyed by local joggers, hikers, and mountain bikers. I’ve spent many hours on the trail while hiking with my IHS PE classmates and running with the IMS cross country team.
Unfortunately, the wilderness surrounding a section of the trail is consumed by invasive Himalayan blackberries that inhibit native plant growth. The Issaquah Alps Trails Club spearheads work parties to remove the blackberries and clear the space in time for the autumn planting season. The shared goal of the City of Issaquah and the Issaquah Alps Trails Club is to increase tree canopy coverage in Issaquah from 51% to 55%.
Invasives cleared during a recent work party at Park Pointe this summer, courtesy of Matt LaBelle
I have previously cleared blackberries in my neighborhood with my dad. With the two of us, progress was slow. But when I signed up for my first restoration work party, I was amazed at the quick progress we made working as a large group. While the digging and removal is laborious, at the end of each work party it’s satisfying to explore the area we cleared while collecting our tools.
Uncovering a cable buried in the middle of Park Pointe, courtesy of Jackson Varzali
The expanse of the clearing, the height of the piles of blackberries loaded onto rafts, and the “thanks” shouted out by passing runners are visible reminders of the impact our group made in a few short hours. The physical, repetitive nature of the work is my favorite part, I find it peaceful as I can turn off my brain, focus on digging, and spend the hours talking with others without disrupting my focus on the task.
I’ve met and learned from incredibly interesting people from a variety of ages, backgrounds and experience. Conversations while digging have ranged from mountain biking to college advice from graduates. One conversation that stands out was with a person I met who worked as a software engineer. After talking about my high school for a few minutes, we started talking about how he used artificial intelligence (AI) in his work. He asked if I used AI in programming classes in school. When I told him I didn’t as schools were against the use of AI in classwork, he predicted that would change in the future. Hearing how he was never allowed to use calculators while he was in school, I thought about how I use a scientific calculator for almost every math and science test, and I wondered if he was right.
Group photo of an incredibly hard working volunteer team at a recent restoration event, courtesy of Matt LaBelle
The two forest stewards who run the restoration events, Matt LaBelle and Anne Newcomb, were the first people I learned from. Matt taught me how to build “rafts” by crisscrossing sticks on the ground to form a latticework that elevates uprooted blackberries. By disposing of the blackberries on these natural rafts, they are prevented from reaching the ground so they don’t regrow and will naturally decompose. Anne taught me how to properly uproot blackberries and she also showed me a species of tree growing in the middle of Park Pointe that she used to make and sell medicinal salve.
Photo of author and his father at a recent work party, courtesy of Jackson Varzali
Meeting new people in my community while working to preserve forests in my hometown has been enjoyable and rewarding. As a result of this experience and the knowledge learned, I am organizing and will participate in additional restoration events. I will be encouraging my friends and anyone who enjoys the beautiful trails in Issaquah and the surrounding region to sign up for a restoration work party through Green Issaquah and the Issaquah Alps Trails club. There is no better way to spend a morning and to help make a positive impact in our community.
The Issaquah Alps Trails Club empowers generous volunteers like Jackson and his family to make a meaningful impact on the Issaquah Alps and its habitat.