I love all animals, no matter how tall or small. Not just animals but plants and fungus, yes even fungus. The structure of everything around me puzzles me. Everything living around us is as complicated as it can be. From evolution to it’s survival habits. But evolution did not prepare the wildlife for an inexplicable horror called trash. It’s everywhere now, from plastic to oil spills. It’s killing wildlife everywhere. I had to do something, even if I can’t save every animal or plant, it doesn’t matter. I at least would be saving some animals from destruction. This is why I did the Apprentice Ecologist project. It’s a perfect way to accomplish what I want to do and to show other what they could do in return.
The area I worked in is called Kollar Park. It’s a park filled with a playground, a pond, and an eating area. The police station is situated right next to it. I would always play here when I was a little boy. It was fun to chase the geese, run up the slide and eat in the benches. But I was blind at first. Then as I grew up I noticed the amount of trash that accumulates in the park. Theres a couple of trash cans, but they are always full. There is trash in the pond, the playground and all around the park.
My main objectives where to rid the park of the trash infestation. You would think having a police station next to the park would keep it in better shape. Other objectives where to identify animals, plants, and fungus. I also took soil sample of the pond. I made a website to illustrate all of my research as well as pictures https://sites.google.com/site/environmentaldiscoveries/ . I cleaned every part of the park that I could. Sadly, I was unable to clean the pond due to lack of equipment and money. I recorded all of my findings in my website. I even found a syringe bag, but no syringe. I pictures and documented animals and plants. I documented a fungus called Laetiporus sulphureus. I found Crayfish. I identified a wolf spider. I accomplished all of my objectives with ease.
I find it very important that I cleaned the park especially considering last week I found can of oil on the edge of the pond. As I removed it, some of the liquid spilled out. But my work was not done in vain. I salvaged some of it out with a cup I found by the pond. Condoms, syringes, and loads of chemicals in a child’s park? What would have happened if a child played with a syringe or with a can of oil. Just imagine the diseases It carries. The park was filled with trash. I am a Teen Dad, and I would not like my son to be playing in an area full of trash. It poses health risks, and it’s just dirty. One day I was cleaning and these two little girls helped me. I inspired them to help. The next day I found them again this time with their parents. To my amazement, the parents were helping them. It was a ripple effect that Apprentice Ecologist did. I want to teach the younger generation to be clean and green.
This project has made me rethink my life. Where does trash go after we throw it away. It made me more determined to be a biologist. I am still deciding what kind of biologist. Maybe a Mammologist. Either way I will change the habits of some people. I just hope that my line of work will help create awareness. I have also been inspired to create my own group, still undecided on what name. This opened my eyes to what a green Earth could look like. Where trash is obsolete. Only hard work, and proper habits will create this. I have begun to raise awareness in my school. My Environmental Science teacher use to play in the same park I did. I told him about the waste and he was shocked. I will change the course of trash’s future.
· Date: December 30, 2011 · Views: 5580 · File size:20.2kb, 4686.8kb · : 3072 x 2304 ·
