EYE ON THE PROFESSION A CLOSER LOOK AT TRENDS AND ISSUES IN THE PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSION Mission: Recycle, Build, Plants Encourage Kids to Leave Their Mark

William J. M. Wald IPRA Chief Executive Officer

The world has moved into a new millennium. New pages of history are being written about national leaders. Kids everywhere are leaving a mark on their communities by their good works of volunteer service.

Park and recreation agencies throughout the state can assist in the survival of Illinois' environment by teaching three important issues to our kids:

Park and recreation agencies throughout the state can assist in the survival of Illinois' environment by teaching our kids.

1. Habitats
2. Air quality, and
3. Land management.

Focus on the survival of animals, the health of children and the loss of land and natural resources can and will prevent destruction of our environment.

Is it important for us to provide habitats for wildlife, improve the quality of the air and manage land wisely? Well, for one thing, did you know that the destruction of the rain forest and urban development has destroyed natural wildlife habitats leaving many species on the threatened or endangered list? Did you also realize that active children are the highest risk group from ozone exposure? Did you ever stop to think that recycling prevents almost 61 million tons of waste material from ending up in landfills and incinerators each year?

These are just some of the reasons why you and your kids — and the children who use your agency — should learn more about these issues and start doing things to help protect our habitats, air and land.

Recycle: Close The Loop!

Preventing the destruction of our environment should be a top priority for you and your agency.

Have you asked your children about where their homework papers go after they've finished their assignments? Do they simply throw that paper away? Or, have they ever thought about what happens to the old toys they outgrow? Have you ever asked children what happens to the millions and millions of tons of waste thrown out by people every day?

That trash is picked up from our homes and schools and taken to a landfill. A landfill that used to be part of nature's landscape. A landfill that sometimes, if old, seeps toxic waste into nearby water tables. A landfill that entombs a mountain of waste. Unless, of course, we practice and teach recycling.

A recent publication by the American Forest and Paper Association showed that "recycling helps conserve natural resources, reduce litter and save landfill space... fortunately, Americans recycle much more paper than we send to landfills." And, while over the past few years, the activity of recycling has been increasing, the act of recycling is just part of the picture for the entire recycling process. According to Melissa Poe, the founder of Kids For A Clean Environment and spokesperson for the 100% Recycled Paperboard Association, "Any student knows that you don't get an A on a term paper if you turn in the term paper half finished. Americans would never have walked on the moon if they turned the spaceship around half the way there. That's why it is so important to complete the recycling process — to not just recycle but to also reduce, reuse, and purchase recycled products as well as products packed in recycled materials!" This is the concept behind the "little r & r"

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program, which has an emphasis on closing the recycling loop by purchasing products made from recycled materials such as paper. "This is a very important step," explains Poe, "because you can recycle all day long but unless someone is putting to use the material you recycled then it is just going to sit there until it is eventually thrown away."

Closing the recycling loop is very simple. First, you can recycle such items as paper and aluminum soda cans at home and at your agency. You can also reuse items. Look for ways that you can reuse things around your home, for example an old milk carton can be cut up to make an outdoor bird feeder. And when you are shopping, look for the "chasing arrows" recycling symbol. This symbol has been created by the paper industry to help you identify the 100% recycled paperboard products and packaging. Remember, just because you throw something away doesn't mean it has gone away. You have just moved it to a different location. So put it to good use, recycle it.

Build: Helping Habitats

You might not realize that as our world population grows, the population of other species is threatened. When we build more houses along the lake shore, or clear rain forests for farming, or harvest the fish from river beds without replenishing, we set into motion events that can threaten the survival of other species. This threat, if not addressed, can mean the extinction of some species of wildlife.

Why does our growth hurt the survival of other species?

When we clear land or change the natural landscape by the building of houses and such, we destroy the natural habitats of the wildlife that were living there. We destroy the places where they nest and sleep. We destroy the places where they go to find food and water. We destroy the safe places for them to have and raise their young.

The good news is that there are things that we can do to prevent the loss of natural wildlife habitats. Did you know that right now in Florida there is a group of school children raising money to buy land next to their school so that the birds that live in those trees will not lose their habitat? Developers have gone in with bulldozers to clear the land of mangrove trees on property close to the school. The school children were upset that the birds that make their nest in those trees would lose their natural habitat if they didn't do something. So they got to work and started raising money. With the money they raise, they hope to buy four acres of land next to their school, which will be left undisturbed for the birds. Sometimes, that is what it takes to protect natural habitats - raising money to buy the land and then having that land set aside as a preserve.

But we can also work to reestablish natural habitats. When we plant trees, we provide food and shelter for wildlife. Fallen branches and leaves provide shelter and homes for snakes and other crawling creatures. Even discarded Christmas trees can be used to provide natural habitats.

Plant: Think About Air Quality

Most of the time when we think about air quality and air pollution, we think about the outdoor air, and that is important. But there is more to air quality and air pollution than outdoor air. Air is also indoors - it is the air we breathe in offices, rec centers, schools and homes. If we focus our clean air efforts only on reducing such harmful pollutants as car exhaust and smoke stacks, then we are overlooking a major cause of illness.

Indoor air quality is a growing concern because, according to recent studies and reports compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asthma has reached epidemic proportions with almost one in 13 kids having asthma, a condition that can be aggravated by air pollution and ozone. The EPA also considers indoor air as one of the top environmental health risks in America. In addition, a U.S. Government Accounting Office report has indicated that over half of the schools have problems with indoor air quality. Plus, our homes are being built with more insulation to keep out the cold air, but this means there is no ventilation or exchange of fresh air inside the home.

The good news is that there are things that we can do to help both outdoor and indoor air pollution. Organizing car pools or riding your bicycle to the park is one step in the right direction. Planting trees also cleans our air of pollutants, and this goes for indoor air also. You don't have to plant a tree indoors. You can, however, put potted plants in your entryways and offices. These potted plants clean the air of indoor pollutants just like trees clean the air outdoors.

Make Environmental Concerns a Teaching Priority

Kids are the future. Preventing the destruction of our environment should be a top priority for you and your agency. Teaching kids about recycling and the use of recycled products, building eco-friendly habitats and maintaining clean air both inside and outside will make a considerable difference. Actually implementing a project with the kids at your agency to help improve the environment will make a world of difference. Make a difference today.

www.ilparks.org May/June 2005 9