Earth Day is over but the spirit of service lives on.
With Earth Day '09 behind us—and with that, a sad farewell to a month of hyped up community service, events, and festivals—it's easy to feel a certain sense of buzz kill. It's sort of like that day-after-Christmas let-down. Most of us are wondering, what's next?
Luckily, Earth Day can easily be everyday for Brooklyn, New York, based greenies. King's County boasts a plethora of volunteer activities that can be enjoyed year-round. Figure out your volunteer personality and then choose from this list of five opportunities. Whether you're a book monger, animal lover, plant extraordinaire or outdoors enthusiasts—there's sure to be something for you.
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1. The Brooklyn Public Library
Love the smell of libraries and burying your nose in the reference section for hours on end? Brooklyn-based book worms can get their fix volunteering at the Brooklyn Public Library. From supporting the library services staff, to helping fellow patrons, there are several positions available—even more specific ones to suit an area of interest. You can become an aid in adult literacy, an after-school homework helper, a computer coach, an English language tutor and more.
Read more: Brooklyn Public Library
Image courtesy of Viorika Prikhodko/iStock.
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2. The Prospect Park Zoo
Do you get amped up spending time around animals? Teens and adults can satiate their inner zoologist putting in some time as a Prospect Part Zoo volunteer. There are three main ways to help. If you're a people person, assist kids and families in the zoo's interactive Discovery Center on weekends. If you want to show off your impressive animal facts, become a Discovery Guide where you'll answer visitor's questions, and direct them around the zoo. Maybe you've always dreamt of being the next Jane Goodall, train to be an animal handler where you can learn how to present live animals to the public.
Read more: Prospect Park Zoo
Image courtesy of Warwick Lister-Kaye/iStock.
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3. The Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC)
If wildlife seems well, a little too wild for your urban outlook but animals still seem appealing, go a bit more domestic by taking a volunteer position over at the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC), a no-kill animal shelter. Established in 1987, the Williamsburg-based not-for-profit has been working hard to find loving homes for stray dogs and cats. If you?ve always wanted a pooch and a little poop doesn't scare you, become a dog walker. If fuzzy felines are your thing, brush, pet and socialize with the kitties in the cat loft. Whichever you choose, you're love won't go unnoticed by these cute and cuddly friends.
Read more: Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition
Image courtesy of Mariya Bibikova/iStock.
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4. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Any Brooklyn-ite knows how celestial the Brooklyn Botanical Garden can be in the spring and summer—from April's Cherry Blossom Festival to June's sea of roses. Aspiring horticulturists or those simply wanting to escape the concrete jungle to contribute to an inspiringly beautiful setting can give back as a volunteer. Choose from administrative tasks, fundraising, educational workshops, garden tour guides, research, field work, hands-on gardening and more.
Read more: Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Image courtesy of iStock.
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5. The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
It would be difficult to find an outdoors enthusiast or cyclist who couldn't agree with the need for more outdoor space and bike paths in Brooklyn. Fortunately, it's happening on Brooklyn's waterfront thanks to the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI). The not-for-profit is creating a fourteen mile path of bike trails, walking trails, and parks running from Greenpoint all the way to Sunset Park. Help fulfill its mission of including more waterfront access, a better quality of life, healthier lifestyles and more eco-friendly transportation options by signing up as a potential volunteer. Choose from assisting in data-entry, greenway planning, or attend a greenway clean-up hosted on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
Read more: Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
Image courtesy of iStock.
