Information Warfare Training Site (IWTS) Pacific Northwest Sailors volunteered to help beautify their community at Anderson Landing Preserve, July 27.

Anderson Landing Preserve is a 66-acre park, nestled in the east bank of Hood Canal, just south of Naval Base Kitsap Bangor. The park boasts wildlife, views of the Olympic Mountains, beach access, and couple of miles of walkable trails. Many of the parks there are maintained by volunteers, and trail maintenance and invasive plant removal are ongoing tasks.

IWTS Pacific Northwest Sailors got involved in the Kitsap County Adopt-a-Park program in March of 2018, choosing Anderson Landing Preserve as their park to help beautify, and committed to spend one day there each quarter.

Since then, Sailors from IWTS Bangor have spent one day each month spreading gravel and removing holly under the guidance of Kitsap County Parks Steward Bob James, a retired Navy captain. According to James, "Volunteers from Information Warfare Training Site Bangor have been tremendous in helping maintain the trails at Anderson Landing Preserve this year!"

Volunteering in the Adopt-a-Park program was a no brainer for the Sailors at Pacific Northwest. The outdoors there have so much to offer and are a huge part of everyday life in that part of the country, but the Sailors here will tell you that the work isn't always a "walk in the park".

"The park has some heavily sloped areas which channel rainfall and cause some extremely wet, muddy and hazardous conditions on the trails," explained James. "Brandon, Jon, Raymond, Ian and Dale have been fabulous clearing downed trees from the trail and hauling heavy buckets of gravel a long way to some remote areas which were mud pits that needed attention. In one circumstance, we had to be creative and transport gravel across a creek. We did get a little wet and sweaty, but everyone enjoyed the challenge."

Sailors from IWTS Pacific Northwest enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to get out and enjoy the summer weather while doing good within their community.

"It's nice to get a break from the office and get outside," said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Raymond Hanning. "It's hard work on the trail, but it's truly rewarding knowing we're helping protect our natural resources and create a better environment for ourselves and for future generations."

Thousands of Kitsap County residents are able to visit Anderson Landing Preserve each year thanks to the hard work of all the volunteers in the Adopt-a-Park program. According to James, "Their dedicated efforts have gone a long way in making the park a safe and enjoyable hiking experience for the public."

IWTS Pacific Northwest is a learning site under the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) San Diego. IWTC San Diego, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

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