Volun-beering? Being Green Can Be Fun

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​As I begin to immerse myself into the local green community I am surprised at how much overlap there is. One site or preserve will call out for volunteers and folks from different parks, universities, land services or communities will show up. We all have our favorite places where we invest the majority of our time. However, we all appreciate the variety of programming and events and especially the diversity of nature that is offered by all of the sites.
 
My main focus at this time is the Little River Wetlands Project and specifically Eagle Marsh. I love all the very different trails, the diversity of plants and animals and the stark contrast of the seasons. However, I also love the nearby environs; Fogwell Forest, Fox Island, Oubachie State Park, L.C. Nature Park, and Lindenwood Preserve. So just like my growing number of green friends, I have a favorite site but I am not exclusive. This helps me stay in a state of wonder and get excited about the next new experience.

So why have a primary focus? To know a place, to listen to it, learn from it, to let it become a part of you takes time. To have something to give back to a place takes practice, patience, and growth. I now know where to go to watch the mink, I know where the swan nests are, I know the changing contour of the land. I am learning from Eagle Marsh and I will have something to give back to others visiting the wetlands.
 
One of the things I am learning is that service and education does not happen exclusively at a park or preserve. Some time you must force yourself to go to a Brewry! The first Wednesday of each month volunteers for LRWP gather at Hop River Brewing Company. Again, I was not surprised to see folks from other parks and services gathering to help. This is an evening of Volun-beering. Some of us gather outside and planted native plants to give away at tours and for the upcoming Eco Fest. Others gathered inside. They projected photos from the iNature app site. This past weekend was the City Challenge in which 200 cities around the world capture photos of plants, animals, insects and then work together to identify the photos. Our group had folks who were experts on plants, insects, and fungi. We did not have any bird folks tonight. We confirmed a number of identifications. I was surprised to see six of my photos as part of this global effort. That is a very modest contribution, but it is also a beginning for me. If you are interested in supporting the environment but really do not want to go out into nature then this might be a compromise you could enjoy. You can also bring your children because there is a child menu and the focus is on getting your hands dirty, planning for a healthier environment, and having fun learning.