Earth Day "Be a Litter Getter" at Shelby Farms Park

Had the privilege of cleaning up Shelby Farms :)

This was a fun and peaceful experienceThrough this experience, I was able to improve my time management and organization skills by planning a route that would most efficiently get me through the designated areas of the park and ensured that I had the correct supplies (multiple sets of gloves in case some tore, a large trash bag, walking shoes, and clothing that I could move easily in) to collect the trash effectively. Seeing all the trash in the water and especially near sitting areas and taking just a moment to pick each item up allowed me to realize how everyday actions like littering can combine to have a serious impact on public spaces and wildlife. This increased my awareness of the importance of taking care of the environment. I did this experience alone, which is something I thought about during my hours in the park. I don't spend a lot of time in nature by myself, and it was a serene experience to serve surrounded by greenery and be alone in nature. Shelby Farms has a goal to pick up 25,000 pieces of trash, and every piece I picked up allowed me to assist Shelby Farms reach their goal. Shelby farms also has a goal to maintain a clean and welcoming environment for visitors and local wildlife in contribution to their sustainability goals. My trash pick up helped these efforts. In the future, I would bring my own garden gloves to further support Shelby Farms goal of maintaining sustainability. I would bring a trash picker to make the process safer and more efficient.