If I could come up with an interesting quip, every time I wrote this blog, honestly I would. But I don't think I'm punny enough to integrate one into everyday. So I'm sticking to the old stand-by for now.
Today, we met with the Hermann Park Conservancy Volunteer Coordinator in the hopes that she would help steer our project in a way that we could be successful and actually reach people. But that's the exact opposite of what happened. She shut us down, almost immediately, and we were all disappointed. She said the idea for signs would be too difficult because they contract with a city contractor to do the signs and they are very specific about each sign. So we would have too much trouble trying to please them if we did our project on them. And even though this project is based on us gaining knowledge and experience from forming a proposal, we still want our idea to be valid and actually have the chance of succeeding, and we all work so much better together if we are excited about what we are doing.
So we nipped the sign idea in the bud, and had time to talk about it in the second half of the day, but I'll get to that. So besides going over to Hermann Park to talk to her, we also were helping with whatever volunteer work she needed done today. We were tasked with digging 99 holes in one portion of the park where we would put a native plant that would thrive and help soil conditions. And then, the 9th graders came. They were helping us out by actually planting the plants, and cutting their roots so they learned to grow in the right way. And there were 24 of them, and 10 of us, and things got done quickly. We had dug to many holes, we were so on top of it. And I tried to help facilitate the work, but usually when that happens, I end up doing all of it myself. And guess what happened? No, I didn't do all of it myself, but I would find odd jobs and see where people needed me and ended up helping a lot of things coordinate well. By the end of the hour and a half, we were all done, with 99 plants planted, and exhausted teenagers all around us.
Our next project was putting mulch all around it. Which was simple enough, but with everyone not feeling the need to work any more, and too many bodies all in one place, most of them gave up while I and three other girls kept digging through the mulch pile and filling wheelbarrows to transport the mulch. Eventually we were told to stop, well, mostly I was told to stop because I was the only one left working, being the overachiever I am. We headed back to the Zoo, sweaty, and dirty and gross. Again.
This time though, we didn't have a presentation to get ready for. We were just hanging out with each other, talking about the project. Well, I use the word "talking" lightly. People can get pretty adamant when they want their opinions heard. But that's beside the point. Arguing, and brainstorming with ten people is probably one of the hardest things you can ever do. Even when they all come from the same viewpoint. It's difficult because we so badly want it to succeed, but we have to accept that it won't reach the entire population at the Zoo even though that's what we all hope for. So we had to take a step back and see that anyone we reach is important, and education is like that, you only really teach the people who want to learn. So we came up with an idea....
A poster/passport activity chart for families with kids who can get involved in conservation at home, and go out to state parks, learn about nature and be in nature, etc. We wanted a poster instead of a brochure because it's less likely to be thrown out, or disregarded. We figured we would put a bunch of activities and how they relate to urban wildlife on the back of it and when they complete one, they can stop by the Swap Shop (a kind-of trading post) at the Zoo and receive points for their activities, so they can end up buying something in the Zoo. We talked to the Swap Shop ladies about it and they apparently were very excited. They thought it could really work, and over the years they had seen their attendance increase so we would be facing a viable and engaged audience. Which also helped us out because we were able to reach families that include all sorts of different age groups. And while we already want to expand, we have to remember to keep our goals attainable and achievable. And I'm glad because already this plan seems much more intricate and involved than the signs and I think it's really reaching an audience that will care.
All the time in conservation, your dreams, your plans, your hopes are completely crushed, but you have to learn to keep your head up, keep dreaming, and of course, keep trying. Tomorrow we're talking more about the project, so it might no be that entertaining, but I'll post something anyway, and Saturday we're going bird banding! (Whatever that means)
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