Students from the Waskowitz High School summer session program worked on Friday, July 9 to improve the Burien environment.

In the morning, students cleared invasive English ivy from the trunks of trees along Miller Creek at Kiwanis Schoenwald Park. Removing the ivy extends the life of the trees and improves streamside ecology.

In the afternoon, the students marked storm drains to increase awareness about storm water pollution. Storm water runoff is not cleaned before flowing into local streams and Puget Sound.

The plastic markers and painted stencils are intended to remind people that car washing soap, oil, and other pollutants need to be kept out of the storm drain system.

The 6-week Waskowitz summer program is a partnership between Highline School District and King County Work Training's "Stay In School" program.

Students spend the summer outdoors doing service projects, introductory work training, and outdoor challenge. They can earn school credit in Outdoor Leadership and Physical Education.

Friday's student work in Burien was organized by the Miller/Walker Creek Stewardship Program, another partnership between the Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac, the Port of Seattle, and King County.