Plastic bags invade Santuary

They came.. they saw... they "scared". And the scared hikers loved it.  A horde of junior Plastic Bag Monsters invaded the Garden City Bird Sanctuary's annual Haunted Hikes on October 18 and made a concerted and enthusiastic effort to teach people to respect the environment and stop using disposable plastic bags.  As a reward, the girls earned a Bronze Award from the Girl Scouts.  Troop 1348 continues to grow with the Bird Sanctuary close at heart. Thank you ladies! Encore! Encore!  

An association with the Tanners Pond Environmental Center's bird sanctuary began in May 2012 for Garden City Brownie Troop 1348, under the direction of Kimberley Fetherston and Joanne Aquino. The troop visited the Garden City Bird Sanctuary for an exploratory walk, filled the feeders, and had a tour of the site with GCBS Vice President Liz Bailey.   The girls enjoyed the session and in September returned to add bulbs and plants at the sanctuary's Parente Memorial Garden. 

This year, the Troop again contacted the Bird Sanctuary to ask if there was a project they could work on towards a Girl Scout Bronze Award.  Rob Alvey, founder of the 9-acre community nature center, suggested the girls do a project on the environmental damage associated with disposable plastic bags... including making a 'Plastic Bag Monster' to teach people about the long term ecological damage caused by the non-biodegradable plastics as they accumulate in the waters and woods.  Single-use disposables like water bottles, disposable plastic shopping bags, coffee cups, plastic utensils and take out containers may make our lives more convenient, but are a big waste problem. Over 2,500,000 tons of plastic bottles and jars were disposed of in 2010 around the world.

Unfortunately, plastic is not disposable and the use of these items leads to environmental degradation. After being disposed, plastic containers and water bottles get placed in overflowing landfills, clogged rivers, and our ocean. And while the plastics break down, they do not biodegrade. Instead they break down into fragments that contaminate our natural resources.

The Girl Scout troop liked the idea and Alvey was able to request support from the Garden City Public Library to purchase a documentary film- "Bag It", that focuses on the problem. The film, distributed by New Day Films, premiered in 2010 and has been shown at over 1000 festivals throughout the world. It includes a Plastic Bag Monster, an actor covered in a suit of over 500 plastic bags, as a humorous and attention grabbing demonstration on the size of the disposable plastic bag issue. An accompanying educational program is used for screening at schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations. The troop borrowed the film, and each scout made her own life- size Plastic Bag Monster with the promise they could participate in the Bird Sanctuary's Halloween Haunted Hikes when they were done.

The Bird Sanctuary's Haunted Hikes are a popular event in Garden City. What makes them different from simple fright fests, is that all the themes are environmental horrors- invasive insects and plants, genetically modified organisms (like Killer Corn) and Angry Birds.  There has even been a Plastic Bag Monster on the trails to warn hikers not to use disposable plastic bags.

Troop 1348 came on October 18.  The girls piled out of two cars and invaded the site screaming delightedly, "We want to scare people".  Alvey sent them out onto the trails, accompanied by a 'Daddy' Plastic Bag Monster and warning signs. The Friday night hikers had a special treat, and learned first-hand about the dangers of plastic bags.  Thank you to Troop 1348 for your community service.