Like most toddlers, our little Jack loves to make a mess! And I have to admit, on most occasions even mommy has fun getting in on that mess-making action. But this month, I was excited to teach Jack the importance of cleaning up in honor of Earth Day. Today we all have the opportunity (or should I say responsibility) to give back in honor of our environment. Whether you decide to start a composting project at your local school, visit a recycling facility with your family or plant a tree seedling in your yard, both adults and kids, we can all give back.
Goose Creek Park Cleanup Crew
One great opportunity is to participate in a community cleanup. The Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association held their 8th Annual Chester Creek Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday morning at four locations in the West Chester area. At the family-friendly Goose Creek Park, we met a group of volunteers including area residents, college students, baby-wearing moms and dads with strollers. After checking in with the site coordinator, we grabbed a pair of work gloves and trash bags and set off in different directions to clean the park and surrounding waterways. We collected just what you’d expect…plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers…but I’m very happy and proud to say that the area we covered was overall pretty clean. Proud as a Chester County resident to live in a community which values our environment, even getting a “thumbs up” from a motorist driving by who saw our team cleaning the park. And I know it’s because of organizations like the CRCWA and their commitment to host these community cleanups, that our creeks and streams are clean enough to enjoy recreation, sustain wildlife and provide safe drinking water. The CRC Watersheds Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the protection of water resources and the natural environment of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Valleys, and the health, recreational, and quality of life benefits they afford the residents of this region. Supporting organizations like the CRCWA is a great way to teach our children the importance of cleaning up after ourselves, not only at home, but also out in our community. Visit their website at www.crcwatersheds.org for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Get outside today, enjoy this magnificent planet with your family and create your own act of green. Even if it’s something as simple as a litter collecting game where your kids spend the last five minutes at the park seeing who can collect the most trash…we can all make a difference! To learn more about Earth Day and how your family can get involved, visit www.earthday.org
Jack thought picking up litter at our local village cleanup was a super fun game:)
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