Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Located in the heart of Zilker Metropolitan Park is one of the diamonds of Austin, Barton Springs Pool. Today, millions of people from all walks of life benefit greatly as the pool acts as a source of drinking water for many Texans and an amazing location for baptisms, picnics, social gatherings, musical performances, fishing and swimming.

Barton Springs Pool is also the nearest and most visited park by me. Being a person who enjoys the pool so much, I decided to do my part to pick up trash, ranging from cigarette buds to beer bottles. I end up picking five gallons of trash at this park in just twenty minutes. I have never noticed that there is trash almost everywhere until this time when I started to look for it. This also brings me to another point. I think that everyone has a part to do to keep this pool and its surrounding clean and enjoyable. If not, it will not only be harmful to the people but also animals such as the Barton Springs salamander, which is an endangered species living in the trash-filled springs. I believe that if everyone contributed to make this earth, we called home, a cleaner place, life will definitely be better.

I know that I am making a big difference with the time that I put in to cleaning up; on the other hand, it kills me to think that somewhere else in the world there is someone throwing trash all over even though the trash can is just a step away. This project opened my eyes and confirmed to me how important it is for everyone to become involved in cleaning up our world. Now that I have taken the initiative to do something about it, I can really understand the importance of not littering. I believe that to those people reading this essay will agree with me that if everyone works together, we will make a difference.