Adopt a Park: Safe Cleanup and an Improvement Proposal
The class cleans a nearby park in crews following a safety protocol, then uses the data to write an improvement proposal for the city. It's real community service that links caring for the environment with civic participation.
How to play
- Protocol: gloves on at all times; never pick up needles, broken glass, or biological waste by hand (mark it with a cone and tell the teacher); stay out of fountains, ponds, and the street (5 min).
- Crews of five by park sector, with a vest for the crew lead: pick up and sort into recycling, paper, trash, and cigarette butts separately (20 min).
- Assessment: each crew notes three problems in its sector (trash cans, water fountains, shade, benches, accessibility) and takes photos with no people in them (8 min).
- Proposal: each crew writes a paragraph for a joint letter to the city council or parks department, with the amount collected and one prioritized improvement (10 min).
- Final count and bags dropped in the right bins (2 min).
Rules
- Hazardous items are only marked; the teacher or city crews remove them.
- Each crew stays in its sector and within the teacher's sight.
- Treat everyone using the park with respect and don't ask them to move.
- Peel gloves off inside out and throw them away at the end, before washing hands.
Variations
Easier
One small sector and no letter, just the list of problems.
Standard
Sector cleanup, assessment, and a written proposal.
Harder
Present the proposal at a city council or youth council meeting and plan a follow-up cleanup.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a crew on paved paths with a long-handled picker, or the recording and photo role.
- Allergies or dermatitis: nitrile gloves and sorting tasks instead of picking up.
- Visually impaired: works with a guide partner and holds and ties off the bags.
Learning goals
- Carry out community cleanup service using safety protocols.
- Assess a green space using data and criteria.
- Write an improvement proposal addressed to local government.
Equipment for a class of 25
- gloves: 30
- litter pickers: 10
- trash bags: 20
- safety vests: 6
- cones: 6
- recording sheets: 6
Teacher tip
Contact the city's sanitation or parks department first: they often lend pickers and collect the bags at an agreed spot. You'll need signed permission slips. The usual mistake is dumping everything into one bag in a rush.
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