Photo: L. Weikel
Climate Change Advocacy & Awareness
Sorry to say it, but I dropped the ball here: I should’ve announced this event at least a week ago, but didn’t.
On the off chance you may be a last minute pick-up-and-go type of person and in the mood for a drive to the Poconos tomorrow, there’s a program being offered that could help you get your climate change advocacy groove on. (Phew – that was a long sentence.)
Three advocacy and educational organizations, Brodhead Watershed Association, PennFuture, and Brodhead Trout Unlimited will be co-hosting “A Day for Environmental Advocacy and Awareness” tomorrow. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., three different workshops will be offered at the Brodhead Creek Heritage Center, 1539 Cherry Lane Road, East Stroudsburg.
Advocacy 101
In the first session, from 10:00 to noon, a workshop will be offered on Meeting With Your Legislator. All the little things that cross your mind when you contemplate actually making your position on climate change known to your local, state, or federal representatives will be covered.
It’s one thing to rail against what you know to be true about climate change, feel the pain of reading about its effects on birds and animals (including humans), or experience the anxiety and fear engendered by extremes in weather, an increase in wildfires, and rising sea levels. But it’s a whole other thing to effectively, coherently, and cogently bring those concerns to the attention of those who actually make policy.
A second session, aimed at honing your ability to write an effective ‘letter to the editor’ will take place from 1:30 to 2:30.
During a lunch break between those two sessions, there will be an opportunity to get a close up look at a variety of ‘clean cars’ – from hybrids to electric.
Birds and Climate
The day concludes with a third session, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.: a “Birds and Climate” Walk and Talk. This program, which I’m particularly looking forward to attending given my recent angst over the disappearance of the birds from my feeders as noted here, here, and here, will be led by Darryl and Jackie Speicher of the Pocono Avian Research Center. The Speichers will be teaching about how climate change is impacting bird populations, their migration, and of course, their habitats.
Follow the Links
If you’re interested in learning more and are up for a road trip to the Poconos, I urge you to follow the links provided and register for the sessions you wish to attend. It may be late notice to them, but it will give them a heads up that you’re coming.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
I’ve heard from a local up there that this weekend will probably be prime for ‘leaf peeping,’ thus the roads will be rife with tourists. (Technically, I guess we might qualify?!) All the more reason to attend this event! We all need to do what we can to preserve and protect our amazing earthly environment for generations to come.
Again, my apologies for not sharing this information with you sooner. But if it works out that you can attend, I hope the organizations involved will welcome some last minute attendees.
I don’t know if anyone will answer on such late notice, but there is a phone number for the Brodhead Watershed Association: 570-839-1120 and an email address: info@brodheadwatershed.org.
Maybe I’ll see you there!
(T-763)