Volunteer to Pick Up Trash from Parks and Other Green Places

There are many good reasons to volunteer, and teaching your kids the value of giving back to the community is very near the top of the list.  Over the past decade, researchers have compiled some pretty interesting facts and figures revolving around litter, which are both scary and meaningful reminders of why we should work to pass on eco-friendly tendencies to our children.

Litter and Wildlife Littering does not just cause an unsightly mess; it is also harmful to the world we live in.  Animals that happen upon small jars, cans, glass bottles, and random pieces of plastic can be seriously harmed or even killed.  In fact, it is thought that more than one million birds and more than one hundred thousand sea-bound animals are killed as a result of humans tossing trash aside rather than disposing of it properly.

Litter and Our Livelihood It isn’t just the animals that have reason to fear litter and pollution.  Garbage that is thrown on the side of roadways has a tendency to be blown around.  Each year numerous accidents result in injury or death as a result of litter being hit, causing distraction, or causing damage to a vehicle.  Furthermore, litter has gotten so out of control in some areas that kids are finding it and getting injured or sick as a result of stepping on it or picking it up out of curiosity.

Yet, it is not just the physical presence of the trash that should cause people worry.  This litter can also cause problems with our water supplies.  Hazardous waste – including certain inks, coolants, medications, etc. – can make its way through the ground and into the water that we drink, bathe in, and clean with.

Attitudes Must Change Before the Situation Will Get Better Despite all of the knowledge we have gained in recent years, more than seventy-five percent of Americans admit that they have littered within the last five years.  One must stop to consider the fact that this might be one lesson that cannot be taught with the “do as I say, not as I do” mindset.  This is exactly the reason why picking up trash with your child can set him or her on a lifelong path to clean, considerate behavior.  Though the prospect might not sound like the most exciting thing to do on a weekend or day off, there are ways to make it an enjoyable and rewarding event.

Involve Others Like it or not, kids don’t want to feel alone in anything.  If you suggest that just you and your child head out to do your own trash collection, it is likely that he or she will not react well.  However, if you make efforts to make it a group activity with other kids his or her age, the tune will most likely change.

To involve others in your planned patronage, you might begin with a crafting project involving your child. Consider making posters by hand or designing smaller flyers on the computer, which name a place, date, time, and objective.  Use this opportunity to suggest proper attire for the day, ask for donations from those that would rather not attend, and, as always, promote what you are doing.  Promotion is key to getting others involved.  It is also the best way to gain exposure on a large scale.  Drawing the attention of a local newspaper or news program can alert others to your project and potentially draw in a larger crowd, which would make the job easier and prove further to your child that others do feel the same urge to keep their surroundings clean.  Also, consider handing the posters or flyers out to local schools and organizations, which usually encourage student involvement in volunteering projects.  It might be possible to turn the parent-child activity into something worth school credit, something able to be listed on a future college application, or even a wonderful addition to a resume.

Picking up trash can be far more than just that.  You might also consider making it a type of fund raiser.  Organize it as an all day event with a picnic to follow and charge participants a small fee for the meal, or aim to collect cans and bottles to be returned for the deposit.  Any proceeds can be donated to a similar cause or can be re-invested in the community in some other fashion.  People like to work for a good cause and this might just give your project the extra punch it needs to draw in swarms of other individuals who feel the same way you do about cleaning up your community and teaching lifelong messages to children.

Finally, do remember, before you arrive on the day of your event to have the goods you will need to get the job done.  This includes protective gloves, garbage bags, and possibly pokers designed to pick up trash without touching it.