Volunteer Reflections for Earth Day 2023

Kim H.

Nature is an anti-anxiety medicine. I go outside to collect myself, to calm myself, and to be one with my surroundings. My motivation for volunteering is at its heart, selfish. I need the natural world to be there and intact so that I can be intact. I brought my children into this beautiful world and I need it to remain - for them. This world is their birthright and it’s my job to protect it as well as protect them!

I enjoy volunteering with ACWA because my hands are dirty and my mind is clear. We live in a beautiful world but need to protect that beauty for generations. From the water we preserve to the trees we plant, to every spec of trash we clean up - This is our planet and we must take care of it!

Brian B.

To be perfectly honest, I was jealous of how much fun my wife was having being covered in dirt and grinning from ear to ear at the first trash cleanup she participated in.  I was instantly struck with the urge to help others, get dirty, and have some fun!  As I have spent more and more time with ACWA, I have come to appreciate the reach and depth of the work that we are performing and how we were helping the community. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing how a small non profit citizen science group can positively shape the environment we live in. Whether we are cleaning up trash in a stream or street, planting or trimming trees. You get to make the world a little better with each event. So it started out selfish but has grown into a long term commitment I take pride in.

Bruce B.

I was asked what motivates me to help mother-nature. Maybe it began 1/2 century ago.  As a kid growing up in Anne Arundel county our community mounted a protest to save some mature Oak trees that lined the road that led back to our neighborhood.  Because of my youth I was both fascinated by the efforts and not real sure why such a big deal and naively drawn to the crusade simply due to loyalty to the neighborhood. I fear that had it not been mentioned and the trees were indeed cut down out of my sight, I may not have noticed. Anyway, with some coverage in the Baltimore Sun, the neighborhood won, at least for time being. 

My childhood neighborhood was surrounded by the water fingers of the Magothy river and abundant forested areas.  As kids do, we had names for our tree plots.  One very significant section was what we referred to as the Pine Forrest.  Several acres that had been planted many years before we moved in. Some years later, we witnessed planting of more pine trees so we felt we were watching the expanse of our playground. The trees did wonderful but many years later development encroached on both the mature pine forest and the recently planted pine trees. The landscape was 'rearranged', in the name of “progress”.  When I moved away from what was a wonderful place to grow-up, I was just starting to recognize how this development spoiled the 'climate' we were treated to.  More years later, I became more aware of how the science of healthy forestation works to filter water, provides shade, regulates temperature and creates an environment for wildlife diversity. 

Fast forward to this Century, watching Society become even less responsible in caring for our environment and the reckless development, I asked the question all good causes ask, if not us, then who will. I stumbled upon an organization, ACWA and the core leaders who not only give the environment a voice but also back it up with action.  Obviously their focus is local but their efforts have far reaching effects, some of those simply by influencing our local population and offering educational opportunities for people wanting to participate.  I am hopeful these grass-root organizations continue to make the right kind of noise to encourage everyone to take little steps to turn the tide.  Maybe eventually, helping to direct activities and policies that recognize our pursuits of healthy environments that can manage themselves.  Through ACWA, I've had opportunities to make a difference.  Have a look and give it a try.  Some hard work but you'll not only feel better for participating, but can take pride in the accomplishments that ultimately give the earth a better chance to keep us happy. 

Clifford M.

What motivates me is Nature.   I was around for the first Earth Day and while my first compost pile was not an unqualified success, it was a start.   Everything we need to survive is provided by plants.  Civilizations that have lost their arable soils have collapsed time after time throughout history.   Since we are rapidly approaching the carrying capacity of the planet, if we do not as a society and individuals at least try to preserve the eco-system that makes human life possible on this plant, we as a race may not make it to the stars.   As a supposed Chinese proverb states, The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best is today!