Nicodemus Wilderness Project
Nicodemus Wilderness Project
About Us Projects Education Links Volunteers Membership  
Nicodemus Wilderness Project

 
 

NWP Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists - Matthews, North Carolina, USA

« ++ ·
http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/data/500/thumbs/7137713771377137713771377137713771377137ecology1.jpg
<<
http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/data/500/thumbs/7122712271227122712271227122712271227122PC160373.JPG
<
http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/data/500/thumbs/7116711671167116711671167116711671167116tree_essay.jpg
·
http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/data/500/thumbs/6554655465546554655465546554655465546554100_00061.jpg
>
http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/data/500/thumbs/7101710171017101710171017101710171017101river.jpg
>>
· ++ »

Matthews, North Carolina, USA
(Click on photo to view larger image)

erinai



Registered: December 2009
City/Town/Province: Matthews
Posts: 1
View this Member's Photo Gallery
Hello, my name is Erin. I am currently 13 years old and am homeschooled. I have been a tree lover for as long as I can remember. From when I was younger than eight I would go out to the park and hug trees. I’d name them and talk to them. I’m proud to say that I am a treehugger.


It hurt me when I would see land being developed for apartment buildings or business offices or yet another pharmacy. When I saw trees lying on the destroyed ground, I cried. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to destroy a tree. I learned that trees provide us with oxygen and give animals food and shelter. They shade houses and absorb carbon dioxide and car fumes. Why would someone remove something so beautiful and useful?


My love for trees grew and I joined the National Arbor Day Foundation. I read about my town’s upcoming Arbor Day celebration in a newspaper. I was very excited. My mom took me there, and I saw with dismay that I was the only child there. In fact, there were only nine people there total. I was saddened by this, and I told the people there how I felt. How was it that hardly anyone in my town cared enough about trees to attend the celebration? I was then invited to be on the planning committee for the 2006 Arbor Day celebration.


All year I planned activities and spread the word about the celebration amongst several homeschool groups I was involved with. I prepared a speech for Arbor Day. When it was finally time for the celebration, I gave my speech to over 80 children and teens and even more adults. I spoke of the importance of trees and my favorite tree, the White Oak. That day we celebrated the saving of a one hundred year old local White Oak that had been in danger of being cut down.


I felt joy from bringing all of my homeschooling friends together to raise awareness about trees. I spoke at the next two Arbor Day celebrations and gave an environmental awareness speech at an elementary school. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the 2009 celebration because of my involvement with the Science Olympiad, but I continue to plant, celebrate, and hug trees.


For my most recent project I bought trees from the National Arbor Day Foundation and my friends, family, and I planted them in my suburban backyard. We planted maples, magnolias, and apple trees. I did this project because I don’t believe in talking about the environment. I believe in talking about AND caring for it. Many people say that they care about the Earth, yet they don’t do anything about it. In fact they usually do bad things to the Earth instead. I want to change that. Every Spring I order trees and plant them all over the yard. I recycle, use compact fluorescent bulbs, and use rechargeable batteries. I believe in taking action, and I urge my friends and family to do the same.


When we planted the trees I felt as if we had accomplished something. We had given life to the future home of a bird or squirrel, given back much needed oxygen to the atmosphere. It may not have been a big awareness event like the Arbor Day celebration, but it made a difference, no matter how small.
· Date: December 18, 2009 · Views: 5416 · File size: 19.5kb, 55.6kb · : 448 x 269 ·
Hours Volunteered: 25
Volunteers: 5
Authors Age & Age Range of Volunteers: 13 & 13 to 30
Native Trees Planted: 5
Print View