press release:
As a part of the launch of In Motion, individuals are invited to attend fun and engaging walks focused on the intersection between the built and natural environments in their community. The West Seattle Walks Series steps out with the first walk beginning on Saturday, October 6.

Join Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors Chas Redmond, Bryan Fiedorczyk, and Cathy and Jake Jaramillo on guided walks that will inspire, connect, and inform participants about unique features in West Seattle. Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors help promote safer, more walkable communities by leading neighborhood walks inviting groups to connect with their surroundings and share knowledge while improving personal and environmental health. The first two walks in the series will educate walk participants about the natural ecology of the Fauntleroy and Longfellow Creek Watersheds while taking time to enjoy the beautiful natural environment and wildlife that inhabits it. The third walk in this series gives participants a bird’s eye view of West Seattle’s beautiful landscapes from the tops of Alki’s outdoor stairways.

Feet First Executive Director Lisa Quinn said, “The Neighborhood Walks provide an enjoyable opportunity for people to learn about the relationship between their actions and a healthy environment and vibrant neighborhood. Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors share their knowledge and experiences of the natural and built environments with their neighbors in a different, more intimate way.”

Fauntleroy Creek Watershed Walk
When: Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 1pm to 3pm
Where: Meet at Original Bakery, 9253 45th Avenue SW

What: Join Chas Redmond, Board Member of Feet First and Sustainable West Seattle, on an adventure through Fauntleroy Park, a 28-acre wooded ravine on the western slope of the West Seattle peninsula. Travel through time to experience a remnant of the coastal forest environment that one stretched across the Puget Sound region, and learn about the native plants, fish, and birds that still make their home here.
RSVP at: http://feet-first.ticketleap.com/watershed-walk-fauntleroy-creek-/
This is a family friendly walk. Space is limited, reserve your spot today!

Longfellow Creek Watershed Walk
When: Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 1pm to 3pm
Where: Meet at Longfellow Creek P-Patch at 25th Avenue SW and SW Thistle Street

What: Join Feet First Watershed Walks Ambassador Bryan Fiedorczyk on an urban hike through one of Seattle's most beautiful watershed environments. The Longfellow Creek Watershed drains almost 3000 acres of West Seattle, and is one of only four waterways left in Seattle which flows freely year-round. While walking the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail with Bryan, you will see wetlands, native meadows, conifer forests, a beaver dam, and large-scale public art installations. This walk will also demonstrate how Seattle residents' everyday activities can impact the natural environment in their own backyards, and what you can do to help preserve the health of our urban watersheds. Don't forget to keep an eye out for salmon!
RSVP at: http://feet-first.ticketleap.com/watershed-walk-longfellow/
All walking participants will receive a free Feet First Watershed Walks Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail Walking Map. This is a family friendly walk. Space is limited, reserve your spot today!

“Alki from Above” Stairway Walk
When: Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 1pm to 3pm
Where: Meet at the Metro 57 Bus Stop, near 49th Ave. SW and SW Spokane St., 49th Avenue SW and SW Spokane Street, Seattle, WA 98116

What: Join Cathy and Jake Jaramillo, Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors and authors of "Seattle Stairway Walks," coming to bookstores early next year, on this panoramic survey of Alki and Schmitz Park which will open your eyes while exercising your mind and body! On this walk, you’ll wind down the narrow, tree-lined lanes of North Admiral before reaching our first flights of stairs above Alki Beach. You’ll pause to take in views of Alki, the Sound and the Olympics before heading down a final stairway to the waterfront. Eventually, you’ll turn back from the beach and back up the bluff, to find a set of tucked-away stairs that lead past a tiny pocket of charming homes and back toward Admiral Way. On the other side of Admiral, you can look down from a 1920s-vintage bridge into Schmitz Park Preserve before switch-backing down timber stairs into the Preserve itself. Schmitz Park Preserve is one of only two places in Seattle with remaining old-growth forest, and you will use its winding trails to get up-close views of its towering trees and lovely creek.
RSVP at: http://feet-first.ticketleap.com/alki-from-above-stairway-walk/
This is a family friendly walk. Space is limited, reserve your spot today!

For more information, contact Darcy Edmunds by emailing darcy@feetfirst.org or calling 206-652-2310, ext. 5.

These West Seattle Walks are a collaborative effort by Feet First and InMotion.