|
Environmental
Volunteering
May Improve Your Health
Environmental
volunteering may benefit do-gooders as much as it impacts the trails.
American Hiking Society’s Volunteer Vacations (AHS) offer opportunities
to improve personal and national health with over 100 service trips
across America. In its 25th year, this innovative outdoors volunteer
program continues to bring people and trails into positive partnership.
Last year,
AHS Volunteer Vacationers gave over 25,660 hours of service, trimming,
chopping, raking, constructing, and cutting to improve and maintain
trails in national forests, parks, and Bureau of Land Management areas.
The one-to-two week stints cost vacationers only $80 plus transportation.
You’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast, be on the trail around 8am, work
six to eight hours, and return to camp in time to enjoy the long summer
afternoons. On two-week vacations, you enjoy the weekend off. All vacationers
perform a fair share of camp chores, including cooking, washing dishes,
collecting firewood, and maintaining tools. Some projects require a
hike into a remote camp with primitive camping, others offer improved
or drive-in camping, a bunkhouse, or cabin accommodations. "When
you volunteer, you think you are giving, but in reality you receive
much more than you give…the experience is memorable and lasting,"
one volunteer said.
An added
benefit of service work is improving one’s health. "Those
who volunteer on environmental projects are nearly three times more
likely to be meeting recommended levels of physical activity,"
according to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. To participate, you must be in good physical condition,
at least 18 years of age (or accompanied by a parent or guardian), able
to hike five miles or more in a day.
With national
obesity and general health levels worsening, many government and health
organizations are realizing the value of trails and recreation in the
lives of Americans. Through programs like Volunteer Vacations, opportunities
for physical activity are increasing, which will result in elevated
physical activity levels in communities, according to research by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Volunteer
vacationers will find themselves and their nation impacted through their
gift of time and effort.
American
Hiking Society is a national recreation-based conservation organization.
Its members include hikers and environmental organizations. The group
organizes Volunteer Vacations in partnership with the USDA Forest Service
and Bureau of Land Management. Support is provided by the following
outdoor industry leaders: REI, Backpacker’s Pantry, Thorlos, and
Columbia Sportswear.
To find a list of 2004 trips, logon to www.americanhiking.org
or call Shirley Hearn: 301-565-6704 ext. 206.
|
Cut
the Blooming Ivy Day
Join the de-berry de-ivy event and celebration
on October 23, 2004. This event features work parties on public
places and private property throughout western Oregon and Washington
to nip ivy flowers in the bud, major public education activities,
tons of publicity, and a very de-berry, jubilant celebration.
English
ivy is no friend of trees — or any other plant species indigenous
to the Pacific Northwest. It simply out-competes and overwhelms
every native plant species, thus destroying the diverse habitat
necessary for wildlife.
Rats
and other vermin nest in ivy, but desirable wildlife won’t
eat it or live near it. Birds like starlings and stellar jays
eat the berries and spread the seeds into pristine natural areas
and the ivy berries are toxic to most native birds. For more information
call 503-823-3681 or logon to www.noivyleague.com
|
|
