It’s no surprise that nature-based causes are close to our hearts here at Getaway. It can feel overwhelming to think about helping our favorite natural spots, to ensure that they’re still as beautiful and vibrant as we remember them to be. However, taking action locally in small, but consistent ways, is one of the best ways we can have a larger impact on those causes that are most important to us.
Here are some ways you can get involved in some of our favorite nature-based causes in your local community.
Plant a tree.
Planting a tree is a great way to support the natural ecosystem in your neighborhood. In fact, one of the best ways to counteract some of the effects of climate change is to plant more trees as they filter air, absorb carbon dioxide, and reduce ozone levels. They also help our mental health—and for many of us, we have memories of climbing trees as kids, reading books under their shade, or swinging below their branches.
This is why we partnered with One Tree Planted, so that every time you Getaway, one tree is also planted, meaning that our planet gets more trees and more people can have nature in their lives.
Support local parks.
Make it a point to support your favorite local park. There are a few ways to do this. The easiest way is to simply spend more time at your local parks, and use the parks responsibly by respecting any policies or rues like “carry-in, carry-out” that are intended to keep the park clean and safe for everyone who wants to spend time there. You can also do some research to see what boards or recreational committees make decisions about your favorite local park, and you can get involved by either joining those committees or simply voting in town hall meetings and local elections to make sure your voice is heard and considered.
Buy a national park pass.
It’s no secret that during peak seasons there’s a fee to enter many national parks. These fees are important because they help pay for the people and programs that maintain our national parks, but if you live close to one, or you go to a national park pretty regularly, you can consider buying a national park pass. This will be cheaper in the long run if you do go to national parks regularly, but it will also encourage you to make time to go to national parks more since you’ve already paid for a pass if you don’t feel like you go to any parks enough.
Look for a community garden near you.
Community gardens are becoming more popular, especially in urban areas. These are typically vacant lots that are transformed into spaces that provide everyone access to fresh produce, increase property values, and build a stronger sense of community. Sometimes the produce is even sold at farmers’ markets to raise money for community initiatives. Once you find a community garden you can get involved by signing up to help plant new seeds, water plants, and harvest any produce.
Ride your bike or walk.
Spend some extra time outside by riding your bike or walking rather than driving for five or ten minutes. Not only is this always a great option for your physical and mental health, but it’s also great for the environment.
Clean up your favorite trails.
Bring along a small garbage bag on your hikes, and pick up any trash or litter you find along the way. Pulling it from the trail will make the trail more beautiful, and it will keep things that take a long time to decompose like plastic away from any animals that might live there.
Check out a local farmer’s market.
Support local farmers in your area by heading to the farmer’s market instead of the grocery store. When you buy produce or a product directly from the farmer, you can be sure that your food is not only fresh but that the money you’re paying for it will directly help those who harvested it.
Ready to reconnect to nature? Book your Getaway today.