 Taking environmental consciousness to next level
By Amy Tetreault/ Green scene
Fri Aug 08, 2008, 03:03 PM EDT
Salem -
We’re always told that small steps help create big changes,
like recycling or bringing your own bag to the grocery store or
bicycling to work.
Sure, they’re great habits to fall into during your everyday
life. But what about when you’re looking to go that extra
inch? Consider volunteering with a local environmental organization.
It’s summertime and the weather is gorgeous, so why
not spend an afternoon outside cleaning up your local river or
trailhead? Organizations like Salem Sound Coastwatch and Appalachian
Mountain Club are almost always looking for volunteers to help
out. It’s a perfect combination of environmental stewardship,
community activism and good old-fashioned fun.
Not sure where to start? Well, lucky for you. Salem, along with
the rest of the North Shore, is absolutely teeming with great nonprofits.
The Trustees of Reservations, Cape Ann Habitat for Humanity and
Northeast Animal Shelter are the big ones. But, of course, there’s
also the Essex Country Greenbelt Association, North Shore TMA and
the Salem Sound Coastwatch (as mentioned before). Plus about a
million other nonprofits. The Environmental League of Massachusetts
keeps a fairly comprehensive list of local environmental organizations,
check it out online.
Now, I realize I don’t need to tell you that volunteering
is a great idea. After all, numerous studies have already acknowledged
that the baby boom generation, along with their kids, is the most
volunteer-driven generation in decades. But sometimes all we need
is a simple reminder about what we, as individuals, can do with
our power.
It’s just like recycling — a little goes a long way.
Amy Tetreault is a recent graduate from Emerson College and the
manager of Crunchy Granola Baby. Her column, Green Scene, will
appear regularly in the Gazette. E-mail her at crunchygranolababy@verizon.net.
return to news & press
|
