Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

APPRENTICE ECOLOGIST INITIATIVE

My name is Kalee and I am a Senior at Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount, Virginia, but that is not what this essay is about. This is about the epiphany that happened to me in the middle of the James River while paddling a canoe: The earth is becoming a mess and I am not doing anything to help prevent it!

Let me back up a little. I have also been chosen to attend the Roanoke Valley Governors School. My favorite class has become my Ecology Class. Our semester field trip was scheduled to analyze micro-organisms in the waters of the James River. It was a glorious day; we were out of the school building; the sun was shining; I was in a canoe with my best friend; and life was good. It was only after studying these tiny organisms that we pulled out of the water and the pollution, did it hit me that we as the worlds population can not continue along the path we are following.

As with all things good, they need to start at home. I was able to start small, but conscious, changes that have now spread to my immediate family, and have started with my aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

1. We have a separate trash can in the laundry room for plastic bottles (keeping them off of the shoreline and roadways, and allowing them to be taken to the garbage centers for plastic recycling)
2. We have a separate trash can in the laundry room for aluminum cans (for the same above reasons)
3. We have a separate area for the newspapers (think of the trees we can save by recycling these)
4. We think we are cold, but have turned the thermostats down by 5 degrees
5. We consolidate all trips to include school, groceries, library, banking and general errands if possible instead of just running into town three times a day.
6. We have changed light bulbs to the fluorescent type and plan to discard them as instructed
7. We make a conscientious effort to turn off all lights, TVs, radios, etc. not being used
8. We try not to wash clothes or dishes unless there is a full load
9. We wash our vehicles less frequently, and then only in the grass to prevent runoff and water the grass at the same time
10. We mulch our beds with the yard cuttings instead of putting them in the landfill
11. We pick up any trash or floating debris that wash up on our shore of the lake
12. We watch what is used on the yard, boat or dock that may get washed into the lake with the rain or any runoff
13. We used silt fence to prevent any erosion during our construction process
14. We use the back side of used paper in the printer for drafts or notes
15. We have planted fruit trees and bushes along planted areas that will not only help with the landscaping and help with the global warming, but will also allow us to have apples, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, and even kiwi drizzled in honey for breakfast!

These fifteen things may be a small step, but I feel that they are small steps in the right direction. My goal is to make sure that everyone I know, starts to think about the little things they can do. The next time I am in a canoe, at least I can enjoy the sunshine and the feeling of playing hooky knowing that every little bit helps!