As outlined in the April issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine, NRPA staff organized a full week packed with events to celebrate Earth Day and give back to our natural environment. Planned and executed by the NRPA’s newly formed Green Team, the goal of the week was to encourage staff to take the extra step in terms of conservation and Earth-friendly practices.
The week kicked off Monday, April 21, with a Zero-Waste Lunch on the patio behind the association’s headquarters. Prior to this event, the Green Team provided tips for how to prepare a trash-free lunch (pack a cloth napkin, buy snacks in bulk and pack them in reusable containers, eat snacks [like fruit] that come in their own biodegradable containers, etc.). During the lunch, Green Team members spoke with others at their tables about plans for the rest of the week. Zero waste was created by participating members, and a staff survey reported an overall 37 percent decline in waste from the previous week.
On Tuesday, April 22, 22 staff members trekked out to Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, operated by Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services and supported by the Friends of Banshee Reeks, to provide volunteer landscaping and trail maintenance. Accomplishments included loading and moving approximately 100 junipers to prepare for mulching, removing invasive plants and weeds from several gardens, conducting almost two miles of trail maintenance and more. Park Manager Ron Circe’ followed up to express his thanks for the volunteer efforts and his appreciation to meet so many NRPA staffers who “walk the walk” as well as “talk the talk.”
Wednesday, April 23, was Staff Carpool Day, and three carpools were organized that reduced the number of individual trips staffers took to the office. This opened up several successful discussions for future carpools and provided the association with extra points toward the 2014 Loudoun County Green Business Challenge.
On Thursday, April 24, staffers spent time out on the trails surrounding NRPA’s headquarters, cleaning up trash, planting 26 new trees and shrubs, and installing new bluebird boxes. The cleaned-up trails will offer an improved user experience for the many staff and community members who walk the paths each day, and the new plants will provide local wildlife with new sources of food and shelter.
The week wrapped up Friday, April 25, with a presentation on creating healthy landscapes using native species by Gem Bingol, field officer with the Piedmont Environmental Council. The Green Team provided a Low-Waste Lunch for the staff and shared plans for future conservation measures at NRPA, including the installation of a community garden and a wildflower/butterfly garden.
All in all, it was a successful week, and the Green Team looks forward to making continued progress at NRPA in the future.
Danielle Taylor is the Senior Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine.