Self Organizing - Clean Up, Spiff Up

Overview
This neighborhood cleaning project is a great opportunity for families to pitch in, roll up their sleeves and beautify their community. Adopt a park, beach, roadside area, local cemetery or any public space that looks like it needs beautification.

Goals

To beautify and improve the quality of life in the community, by removing trash and/or planting flowers
To address environmental needs in your community

Supporting Organizations

Local nursery
Garden club
Public Parks Service, Botanical garden or Arboretum
Local environmental group

Materials

Trash bags, gloves, masks
Shovels, required gardening tools and soil (if needed)
Water
Optional: Paint and painting tools for benches, lamp posts, fences, etc.
Optional: Flowers, plants, garden items

Instructions

Decide where you want to complete your project and get permission, if necessary, from the chosen location. If possible, make arrangements for the area to be cared for afterwards or “adopt” the spot as your own special family responsibility.
Connect with an appropriate organization and tell them about your project. A cooperating group might donate, deliver and provide funds or materials..
Collect trash in the trash bags, pull weeds and replace dead plants and bushes, if needed. Clean up, spiff up and beautify the chosen public area, and enjoy the results!

Additional Resources

Environmental Fact Sheet for Kids at www.HandsOnNetwork.org/FamilyVolunteering/ServiceLearning

Theo and the Giant Plastic Ball by Carole Douglas
Theo needs a soccer ball and decides to make one out of discarded plastic bags. This is one of several stories available from the United Nations Environment Programme's Tunza Environmental Series for children. Download the story.

The Greening Book - Being a Friend to the Earth by Ellen Sabin
This book is full of hands on activities and ideas on how you and your family can help our environment.

Reflection
After your volunteer project, it is important for families to reflect on their experiences. Choose one of the Reflection Activities from the list below.

Magic Wand – This activity uses the concept of a magic wand to help children talk about and reflect on their volunteer experience. Have your family sit in a circle. Tell everyone that you have just found a magic wand that allows you to grant wishes, and pose the questions, “If you could grant a wish to one person, who would it be, and what do you think he or she would wish for?” “How do you think what we did today will make someone feel, and how do you think that is similar to granting a wish?”

Family Pictionary – Have each member of the family take turns drawing something about their volunteer experience and how they felt about it. While each person is drawing, have everyone else try to guess what the picture represents. After each picture is drawn, the artist should talk about the picture and why they chose to draw it.