the joy of clean water
Thanks to everyone who wrote in with stories about their lists! It was a tough pick, but this one from Rory in Massachusetts took the cake:
Hey what’s up,
so here’s my deal- I am 16 and have big dreams in life but just a little trouble knowing were to start. I want to start a large group called (well I’m not sure, yet) but its gonna be a group that goes around from town to town and finds filthy water areas and cleans them up. Things like creeks streams, ponds and so on.
i first got this idea cuz there’s a creek in my back yard that helps supply the town with water. Now when I first moved here the creek was teaming with all kinds of life but now 12 years later there are things like car parts tires chairs- so many thing polluting it and the lake it come from.
at first I tried to clean it alone but it was just to big for me to do alone, and none of my friends wanted to spend their days cleaning up streams. I really wanna do this and get a big group with like company sponsor and everything. but I’m having a lot of trouble finding were to start. So if you get a chance (before you die) I could use a hand.
Thanks, Rory (P. S. this is on my List.)
That’s an honorable mission Rory, good on you. Keep up the good fight and we’ll do our best to come lend a hand one day soon. If anyone has any tips or resources for Rory, leave a comment. It all helps. - Jonnie
Wow! Anything I can do from the other side of the country, just let me know.
My suggestions to start:
1. Get a good simple name - perhaps the name of the stream, creek, area, etc. with a twist. Can’t think of anything? Talk to your friends. Kids are creative. Offer a free pizza coupon to the best idea. You’ll get lots!
2. Start an online blog about your project. Add pictures. Do you have any from 12 years ago when it was “clean” and pristine? Update it regularly so folks automatically go there to see the latest that is happening in their neighborhood.
3. Send info on your blog to everyone who might have the slightest interest (friends, family, neighbors, school newspaper, local newspaper, chamber of commerce, local businesses nearby, etc.) Ask for input. I bet you someone out there has some great photos from when it was “clean.”
4. Create your own marketing - for example, go to a local craft store and make a few t-shirts with the “project” name & a picture on it - sell them to raise money for your clean-up project.
5. Open a bank savings account for your clean-up project.
6. Make a flyer on your project at your local copy center. Get local businesses to put them in the window or on their bulletin boards.
7. Invite a middle school science class / teacher to do a project on the changes in the creek - maybe have a “clean-up Saturday.” Kids, parents, teachers.
8. Need more ideas? Reach me through the BL guys . . .
Comment by Co9Mom — April 1, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Ok, here’s number 9. Start small, your own creek. When you get it successfully “cleaned-up” then you will have a “resume” of your accomplishments and you can start expanding to get that large organization together.
10. Do your homework! Learn all you can about cleaning up water, what is being done around the world, what is not and should be, etc. Become an expert! Nobody ever said an expert has to be 100 years old . . .you can become one at 16!
GOOD LUCK RORY! It is a noble goal!
Comment by Co9Mom — April 2, 2008 @ 9:42 am
Hi,
To accomplish clean-up, ask to be on the agenda of your city council or the board of supervisors.
Tell them about the polluted condition of your stream etc and ask for city/county help.
In Napa, California, the city loaned us dumpsters which we filled with stram-side debris and which were picked up and recycled by the city workers….donated time.
We put a notice in the local paper…free..under events…give day/date/time and location for people to meet and ask for volunteers to come and help for a few hours.
We also got donations of water and pop to cheer the workers on.
Call/email the Sierra Club and any other like-minded groups, who will put your ad on their website.
There ARE willing people out there to help do this, monthly or however frequently.
Don’t worry about a title to your project, as you do it, one will emerge.
Bravo! It’s young guyus like you who encourage us all and make a BIG difference.
Hugs, Wendy
Comment by Wendy Ramsay — April 9, 2008 @ 10:35 am