One of the best things we can do is adopt. No, I am not referring to the adoption of a child, but to a different kind of adopting. I am talking about a much easier and simpler form of adoption, and that is adopting your environment.
There are so many organizations that let you adopt your world in order to improve and preserve it. Some of these include adopt an acre, adopt a highway, adopt a watershed, and adopt an endangered species (such as adopt a manatee). This is just a sampling of the many different organizations out there with which you can get involved to help protect our planet.
Through contributions and donations, these organizations continue in their efforts to help ensure the protection of our environment - and we can help through our assistance to change our world for the better. These adoption programs can also make for great gifts, too, especially for children!
My family and I have participated in adopt a manatee several times over the years and we have enjoyed it every time. I even adopted a manatee for my third grade class which made a great gift for everyone. My experience with adopt a manatee taught me so much about the endangered animal, and I felt good about my contribution to preserving the friendly sea cow.
The company for which my father works participates semiannually in adopt a highway. Twice a year, company employees clean about three or four miles of road. My dad is amazed by some of the interesting items he finds alongside the highway. He has found money, car parts, shoes, and unfortunately a lot of fast food wrappers. Adopt a highway is a great organization that helps to make the United States more beautiful.
I strongly suggest getting involved with one or more of these programs because not only will you help a worthy cause, you also can take pride in doing something good for the environment. In addition, if you give it as a gift, you can bond with the people that you share the experience with, such as friends, family, and other groups.
Kim Parry is a journalism major and sociology minor at Penn State University and will be entering her senior year in the Fall of 2009. She aspires to be a photographer or writing editor one day, and is a Tonic writer program intern.
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