Service project?

Question

To help improve my chances of getting into a competitive college, me and a friend of mine have decided to start a service project over the summer. Me and my friend are both avid environmentalist, so I figured I would like to do a service project that will help the environment in some form. If you could, please offer suggestions of what the project should be and how to get started with it. Thanks.

Answer 1

First don't do it just for college or you won't have fun like you should.  The type of your project depends on the size and location of your community.  Try something basic like picking up litter in a park (with disposable gloves, of course).  You could hold informational meetings about what people could do to help or start a letter-writing campaign to your Congressman.  Maybe you could collect recyclables in your area to make it easy for people to recycle.  If your state offers deposit on cans and bottles like mine (New York), donate the money to Greenpeace, the National Wildlife Federation, or another environmental group.  Whatever you do, have fun!

Answer 2

In USA, almost half of the total energy consumption is in space conditioning (heating and cooling). Using programmable thermostats, there is a HUGE HUGE potential to achieve conservation.

Even if a small fraction of people switch to programmable thermostats, a giant amount of energy can be saved, and this will result in coal fired power plants burning less and thus good for environment.

If you can raise awareness, educate people, do presentations, that would be a great project.

Also people will save significant amount of money. So they win-win situation.

Answer 3

You can offer to be the Block Recycling Leader in your neighborhood. You help the neighbors learn how to recycle more efficiently and remind them when the recycling days are going to happen.

Answer 4

Service Projects are a great way to pad your resume and offer someting to the community. I am a girl scout leader of senior level girl scouts. So these are questions that I ask the girls when they need to decide on their gold award service project. What are your interest? You say you're avid envionmentalist so that is definitely a good way to start. You need to first decide who you are going to service. Since I do not know you're community - you need to decide. Are there parks or water area that need service. Projects need not be huge to actually offer service. Look around and see the needs. Schools,nursing homes,hospitals and usually town camps or parks can always use the help. Offer to plant a garden, clean up an area, establish recycling cans and then figure out how they will be picked up. Lead a summer program teaching children to recycle, love nature or have nature walks. Contact your town recreation department. If you live in a big city go to a smaller community in the city for example your local church or temple.

Some good resources for ideas are boy scout and girl scouts or 4H groups, church communities .

Good luck !