Watershed Hero, Julie Lawson @srfrjulie: Reducing Litter Through Policy

      In the spirit of Alima, the watershed hero in Watershed Adventures of a Water Bottle, I will highlight the heroic activities of one person who is making a difference to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. One voice, activism and motivation can inspire us all to make a positive impact in our local and global world.

What is the Trash Free Maryland Alliance?

The Trash Free Maryland Alliance is a group of environmental organizations, community groups and individuals committed to reducing trash in Maryland’s environment and waterways. Brent Bolin, Laura Chamberlin, and Julie Lawson founded it in 2010.

How have you helped your community?

I have educated people through presentations and conversations about trash in their neighborhoods and communities, how it gets there and that they have the power to do something about it. I help them with the strategies to engage and enact, such as formulating articulate arguments to engage in conversations with their neighbors, friends and elected officials and write letters to the editor. It is empowering to see their name in printed journalism. During my conversations with people in community groups, I listen and hear them stewing over how much trash bothers them in their neighborhoods but they often explain they don’t have the confidence or specific language to confront and challenge the source of trash. I help them create that elevator speech or conversation starter to feel confident and proactive to combat littering in their communities.

What have you accomplished?

In 2009, I developed and led the grassroots campaign to pass the DC bag bill, entitled the Anacostia River Cleanup andProtection Act. Much of the campaign to pass the DC bill was then modeled in Montgomery County to pass its bag bill. Since 2010, I have been working with organizations from around MD to pass a state bag bill. Each year, the coalition gains more success toward its passage. During the 2013 legislative session, the House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee passed the legislation with a 17-4 vote. The bill never made it to the House floor because it was defeated in the House Economic Matters Committee.

What are your goals for the future?

I would like to:

• Reduce plastic bag consumption
• Eliminate the use of Styrofoam
• Increase recycling of bottles and cans
• Pass the MD bag bill
• Pass a MD bottle bill (legislation for a bottle return refund)
• Raise the profile that trash is a quality of life issue, not just a problem in our waterways (I have already witnessed positive press and more legislation introduced regarding trash in our communities, such as legislation to impose a $500 fine for stealing shopping carts)

Who inspires you?

My dad inspires me. He taught me at a young age to leave things better than I found them and modeled that standing up for what I believe in is important for forward and positive progression and solutions in a community. He was a community activist in my hometown in Florida and always took action on issues that were important to him. He also was a Marine Biologist who worked to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals.

Watershed Hero: Nathan Harrington, DC Teacher and Community Activist

      In the spirit of Alima, the watershed hero in Watershed Adventures of a Water Bottle, I will highlight the heroic activities of one person who is making a difference to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. One voice, activism and motivation can inspire us all to make a positive impact in our local and global world.

1.  What is the Shepherd Parkway Community clean-up?

            Shepherd Parkway is a neighborhood in the Congress Heights community. This neighborhood is adjacent to the northern section of 205 acres of National Park land in Washington DC that runs along Interstate 295. The National Park Service acquired it in the 1920’s to protect the Potomac River, the wetlands in its floodplain and two Civil War forts, Fort Carroll and Fort Greble that sit upon the ridge.

            The Shepherd Parkway Community clean-up started in 2010. Since then, the Shepherd Parkway Committee, part of the Congress Heights Community Association, has held 15 clean-ups. We will have 6 more this year. Volunteers are removing trash and invasive species, in particular English Ivy that is strangling the 100-year old tree canopy. Since 2010, we have focused our efforts on 30 acres in the northern section of the National Park, between St. Elizabeth’s hospital and Malcolm X Avenue. Our goal is to finish this section by the end of 2013, then clean-up south of Malcolm X Avenue to South Capitol Street. The ultimate goal is to remove trash and invasive plants like English Ivy and Kudzu from all 205 acres and build a 3-mile hiking trail from LeBaum Street to Oxon Cove and Oxon Run Parks in Maryland.

2. How have you helped your community?

           I love that DC has large tracts of parkland; a lot of which is east of the Anacostia River. When hiking and exploring DC’s parks, I noticed the huge discrepancy between the recreational opportunities, such as trails, and the management of the parks west of the Anacostia versus east of the river.  A majority of these parks have been covered in trash for years, creating a barrier for residents to recreate in their local green spaces.

            After moving into the neighborhood, I began cleaning-up the trash on my own. I also attended community meetings to learn what bothered residents about their parkland. The resounding voices stated trash. Therefore, I was asked to co-chair the Shepherd Parkway Committee to lead the effort to clean-up the National Park land in the Congress Heights community.

            Hundreds of volunteers from DC, the US and Canada have removed 80% of the garbage in between Malcolm X Avenue and St. Elizabeth Hospital, in addition to all of the English Ivy. The Shepherd Parkway committee has partnered with organizations, such as the Luther Place Memorial Church’s Steinbruck Center on Urban Studies, the DC chapter of the Sierra Club, Washington Parks and People and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. While many young and old from around DC have volunteered, my goal is to engage more residents from the Congress Heights community.

3. What inspired you to start the project?

            I was inspired to start this project by the work that Washington Parks and People has done to restore two major parks, Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park and Watts Branch/Marvin Gaye Park. Both parks were grossly neglected and riddled with crime. Now they are central to the life and recreation of both communities.

            While studying to become a licensed DC tour guide, I became inspired by the history and beauty of the architecture and natural landscapes in Washington. I want to help bring back that natural beauty to the parks east of the Anacostia River.

4. Who inspired you to be a watershed hero?

             I have been inspired by some of my neighbors who have removed trash from parkland across from or adjacent to their homes. In addition, I am deeply inspired by Phillip Pannell, a longtime community leader in DC’s Ward 8. Pannel has been President of the Congress Heights Community Association for many years. He has championed issues such as environmental justice, gay rights and school improvement in Anacostia. Phillip is a shining example that one voice can make a difference. He inspires me to be another voice making a difference in Shepherd Parkway.

Nathan's voice, activism and motivation make him a watershed hero.

Archeology of Trash

 Archeology connects the dots to tell a story of past cultures and unearthed histories. Does litter have a history? Does it uncover a mystery behind a culture? For the past year, residents in and out of DC's Shepherd Parkway have gathered off Malcom X Boulevard to rid National Park land from years of neglect due to dumping. Last Saturday, under blue skies and brisk temperatures I joined the clean-up party for the second time along with more than a hundred of my brothers and sisters, young and old. 
     We sifted our fingers through dirt to free the forest from drowning in layers of litter, exhuming decades of dumping. As my feet gripped the steep ravine, my hands pulled, brushed, scooped, sifted and grabbed uncommon and common litter such as, straws, chips bags, soda cans and bottles, styrofoam food containers and lots of plastic bags. Some bags were still in tack holding contents but most were shreds of plastic ensnared in tree root hairs strangling them from the rich nutrients of the loamy soil. As I collected uncommon litter, such as silverware, I wondered about the stories of the people who owned these items.

Plastic toy phone rings

"Hello" pigtails scream happily

Phone eyes jiggle joy

Spoons clinking brewed beans

Communion hats on Sunday

Etched mugs gleaming praise

High heel calluses

Severed bra yields violence

Dull, rusty steel blade

Street-side Ford jacked up

Four discus throws down ravine

Towering old tires

        

My Love Letter to Nature

Dear Nature,

    I should have written you this letter for Valentine's Day but I don't believe in this Hallmark holiday. Rather, I believe in showing you my love as often as I can through my stewardship and showing you off to as many kids as I can take into your sanctuary.
    I didn't know you as a kid. My daddy loved you but I couldn't get past your many bugs and my fear of your snakes. So I didn't get to experience you like so many other children did in the 70 and 80s. They came home from school and ran free in the fields near the school or built forts in the woods behind the town water tank.
     I discovered you through the eyes of my students: watching their carefree minds and bodies explore and question you, seeing their smiles of happiness, witnessing their burgeoning relationship with you because they have discovered you are not that scary after all and observing their self-esteem rise even if for but a short period of time. Through their eyes, I discovered your inspiration to learn that you offer endless possibilities to explore your sanctuary.

Why Hike as a Family?

Graves Mill Trail, SNP

AT to Annapolis Rocks

These are my top five reasons why all families should hike:

1. Hiking allows families to spend quality time together away from the responsibilities and distractions of home. Nature provides a relaxed environment where families can share meaningful conversations.
2. Hiking enables parents to play and be carefree with their children on the trail, allowing kids to see a sillier and relaxed side of their mom and dad.
3. Hiking in nature instilles curiosity and creativity in children and provides many teachable moments. Creativity leads to the development and implementation of ideas that help children navigate the world, locally and globally.
4. Hiking is healthy. A combination of hiking and being in nature provides physical, mental and emotional benefits for parents and children.
5. Hiking is low cost and easily accessible. It's simple; put on a pair of shoes and head to the nearest trail, usually in a local park.

The Meaning of My Life

     We all have a desire to understand the meaning of our lives and why we are here on Earth; whether we ponder it occasionally or are on a quest. This month my book group read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen writes about her year long quest to set and follow a series of resolutions to find more happiness, "to change her life without changing it". While I applaud her for fulfilling her quest, I don't agree with her method. Many of her resolutions were about improving her relationships with family, friends and people, while others were about broadening her "self". From my perspective, it often felt forced and unnatural. I found myself asking "why?" many times. After all, it was her life and not mine; I was just a voyeur. However, she helped me think about a few things, like my own "Twelve Commandments". Things I know to be true about living my life. I had never thought about these subconscious principles but they flashed like photographs at different times over the last month. I came up with ten.

1. No complaining; only solutions.
2. Perseverance and hard work pay off.
3. Can't change people; I am the only change agent.
4. Being good at what I do requires a desire to learn.
5. Challenge creates nervousness but adrenaline and exhilaration.
6. Just do it.
7. I want to do everything but it often creates stress; therefore, I must choose.
8. The glass is half full.
9. What you give is what you get.
10. It's easy to be distracted and hard to remain focused.

    The subject of happiness became a theme this month; not intentionally but I noticed a Diane Rehm podcast of her recent interview with Sonja Lyubomirsky about her book The Myth of Happiness and a January article in The Atlantic entitled "There is More to Life Than Being Happy." This article in particular made me think more critically about The Happiness Project and happiness' role in my life. The article compares and contrasts seeking happiness as an American cultural "meism" to developing meaning and purpose that "transcends and endues" ones lifetime. Meaning enables happiness. 

     I know my purpose - a teacher and a mother. This is why I am present on Earth and which gives my life meaning. I am here to model, guide and facilitate my students and children to discover, question and engage with the natural world, to help them create a relationship with nature and to encourage their stewardship of the environment. This is my passion. This is what sustains me. This is my purpose. This is my happiness.

Questions to Ask When Planning a National Park Vacation

Great Sand Dunes NP

        I have mentioned a few times in my blog that one of my lifetime goals is to visit at least one new national park each year with my children. I started this goal three years ago when my kids were nine and five. At five years old, my son had stopped napping, could sustain attention, had a lot of energy and could do more outdoor activities without constant adult intervention (like being carried in a backpack while hiking). Each year, I choose a new park or two and amp up the adventure scale. In 2010, we played on the sand dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park; in 2011, we camped, rock scrambled, hiked and biked in Acadia National Park; and last summer, we camped, kayaked, rafted and did long hikes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.     It's winter; tis the season to be thinking about the opposite season, summer, and planning our family's next national park adventure. This year, we are road tripping to camp in Sleeping Dunes and Isle of Royale National Parks in Michigan. So as I begin my internet search for information to formulate a plan, I thought I would develop a list of questions that I need answered.

1. What is the travel distance from home to each destination?
2. How do we get to each destination? 
3. What is the cost of getting there? 
4. What is the transportation schedule?
5. How long does it take?
6. What is the park entrance fee?
7. How many campgrounds does the park have?
8. Where are the campgrounds located?
9. How does the location of the campgrounds compare to the proximity of activities available in the park?
10. What is the cost of a campsite?
11. Is there a minimum night stay?
12. How do I reserve a campsite? First-come, first-serve?
13. If first-come, first-serve, how fast do the campgrounds fill?
14. What facilities are offered at the campgrounds: flush toilets, pit toilets, showers, water pumps, firewood, tent pad, picnic table, fire ring and bear boxes?
15. Where is the closest store for food and supplies?
16. What activities are available in the park: boat rentals (kayak, canoe, row, small motor), fishing, outfitters, horseback riding, tours, ranger programs, mountain biking, rock climbing, rafting, hiking, backpacking and swimming?
17. How do I obtain a backcountry permit to backpack?
18. What are the bear regulations? Can I rent a bear canister ?
19. Where do I buy camping fuel?



Grand Teton NP

20. What are the campfire regulations?

     Of course these are general questions. Depending on your destination, you will develop more specific questions related to your family's needs and goals. Planning though is necessary to ensure your family's safety during its outdoor adventures, to decrease your impact on the natural environment and to increase the fun-factor for your family vacation.