Cleaning up a creek bed for Earth Day
Abstract
For people who work 9-5 jobs, it might not be that easy to attend an Earth Day event. At a small nonprofit in Scotts Valley, California, one of the staff members organized an Earth Day project that could be implemented during the lunch hour. Fifteen staff members cleaned up garbage in and around nearby Carbonero Creek. Approximately 250 pounds of trash were removed with this effort.Issue
Organizing an event for Earth Day that is meaningful yet fits into the constructs of an organization's lunch hour takes some creativity and planning.Action
A staff member of a small nonprofit organization wanted to organize an Earth Day event. She decided to focus on cleaning up the trash in the nearby creek bed. Steps to take when planning and implementing this type of event included:
Planning
- Asking the Human Resources and Operations Department of the organization if it was okay to conduct a service activity at the work site, and if they wanted to collaborate on this type of event.
- Putting together a creek clean-up kit with large bags for recycling and trash, gloves and a scale to weigh the garbage.
- Gathering some background information on creek wildlife and uses from the county.
- Sending an all staff e-mail a few weeks in advance to let colleagues mark the day on their calendars.
- Making signs to hang in the building to publicize the event.
- Soliciting donations as incentives and rewards for participation.
- Sending a reminder e-mail to let staff know the cleanup would happen rain or shine, and to caution them about appropriate attire for the event.
- Sending an e-mail reminder the day of the event.
- Fifteen members of a staff of approximately 100 turned out for the clean up.
- These 15 formed teams of two or three people.
- During their lunch hour, staff collected garbage from in and around the creek, as well as in the parking lot area surrounding the building.
- Prizes were given in the categories of "most trash collected," "most unusual item" and "largest item."
- Prizes included organic chocolate bars, homemade cookies, plants, and coffee beans. These came from other staff members and a local coffee shop.
- The most commonly collected items were plastic — sheeting, bags, bottles, and coffee cup lids.
- The largest items included a tire, a chunk of metal, and a stuffed bear.
- Several items competed for "most unusual," including a plastic set of vampire teeth, a boom box, toys, and a deflated exercise ball.
- All participants received refreshments immediately following the event.
- The organizer of the event sent a follow-up email to let all staff know about the positive outcome, to recognize participants, and to increase general awareness about the creek and Earth Day.
Context
ETR is located alongside Carbonero Creek, which is part of the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed. According to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board, benefits of Carbonero Creek include its function as:- Agricultural water supply
- Cold freshwater habitat
- Groundwater recharge
- Aquatic species migration waterway
- Municipal and domestic water supply
- Home to rare, endangered, or threatened species
- Spawning, reproduction, and/or early development area
- Wildlife habitat
- Maple, alder, willow, sycamore, oak, sedges, fern, and mugwort
- Crayfish, turtles, frogs, ducks, steelhead trout, and salamander
Outcome
Staff at ETR collected approximately 250 pounds of garbage from in and around Carbonero creek.
Staff who participated experienced a sense of camaraderie and the satisfaction that with minimum effort, they were able to do their part on Earth Day.
With projects such as this, ETR continues its reputation as a conscientious and responsive community member.