Party in a picked-up park

September 23, 2009 Written by:

Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has named this Saturday, September 26 National Public Lands Day. Show some love for your favorite local spot by hosting a park appreciation party.

Before you venture out, have everyone decorate bags that they'll use for litter. Supply everyone with fabric paint and reusable sacks and have them give their receptacles a personal spin.

Design t-shirts for everyone to wear during their volunteer efforts, but encourage participants write their names on the back using their own style. Split the group into teams devoted to a particular type of trash or recyclable material to ensure you keep everything separate and color-code the shirts accordingly.

Once you arrive, turn your conservation efforts into a competition. See who can collect cans the quickest or fill their bag first. Reward everyone with a potted plant as a trophy and artfully display the name of their award on the pot.

After you've picked over your park of choice, settle in for a group picnic of natural treats, such as granola bars or fresh-squeezed juice in a biodegradable cup. Make sure everyone picks up their trash!