PGAVIA Tackles Operation Clean Stream
This month, more than 30 PGAV staff, friends, and family joined The Open Space Council’s Operation Clean Stream efforts, and spent a day helping clean up the Meramec River in Ballwin, MO. The staff’s efforts contributed to the inaugural year for PGAVIA, our new volunteer program to jump in and help out with conservation, wildlife, and environmental causes when we’re not designing exhibits to teach about them!
Despite the rain, many designers’ kids were thrilled to jump into the muck and mud to go searching, and yanking out, garbage of all sizes, shapes, and years, and spirits and excitement were high.
Catalog of “Strange Stuff” Found:
- Tires
- 12’ plank
- Barrels
- Various small garbage
- Two shoes, one with located owner
As garbage started to become scarce with the keen eyes and elbow grease of the volunteers, the zoo and aquarium designers led an educational nature walk for the children and partners throughout the forest surrounding the banks of the river. They located deer, dog, and bird footprints and discovered live frogs, toads, giant millipedes, carpenter ants, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, worms, and more!
As the rain came down, it provided an excellent opportunity to teach about water and river cycles, and also fantastic moments to teach about habitat, conservation, and forest life cycles, as the children discovered a decomposing tree filled with life!
In total, our volunteers helped collect and dispose of a 40-yard dumpster-full of garbage!
Thank you everyone who came out to volunteer and we can’t wait to see you at the next event!
