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Aquarium volunteers removed invasive
weeds and planted native vegetation. |
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| Volunteers of all ages helped out on Earth Day. |
The
Living Planet Aquarium offers a variety of volunteer opportunities
for all ages, including behind-the-scenes support, assisting with
special events, and interacting with visitors. Volunteers also work
in the great outdoors helping to conserve Utah's natural areas. Each Earth Day (April 22nd), the aquarium offers opportunities
for individuals and groups to get involved in caring for our
beautiful planet. This year, the aquarium organized cleanup and
restoration events at four different locations: Hidden Hollow,
Wasatch Hollow, Jordan River Migratory Bird Reserve, and the aquarium
itself.
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Volunteers removed trash from the waterways to
prevent it from doing damage to wildlife downstream. |
At
the Jordan River Migratory Bird Reserve, volunteers weeded out
invasive thistle and planted native willows. Willows help purify the
water, prevent erosion, and provide habitat for Neotropical migratory
songbirds. These birds, such as Western Tanagers and Lazuli
Buntings, live in Mexico, Central America, and South America during
the winter and breed in the United States and Canada during the
summer. The reserve, located between 9800 and 111000 South, is one
of the last remaining habitats along the Jordan River for these
birds. Great Salt Lake Audubon has been working to restore the 120
acres of riparian habitat that make up the reserve. They helped
coordinate the efforts of the aquarium volunteers.
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Western Tanager
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Volunteers
at Hidden Hollow and Wasatch Hollow cleaned up debris from the land
and streams and removed invasive weeds. These non-native plants tend
to grow out of control, choking out native species and displacing the
animals that depend on native vegetation. At the aquarium,
volunteers removed trash from the parking lot and the canal that runs
alongside the property. This not only got rid of the unsightly
refuse, but prevented these items from causing damage to wildlife
further down the waterway. Over the course of three days, 168
aquarium volunteers devoted over 500 hours of service. They planted
230 trees and removed 761 pounds of trash, including a paint can,
shoes, and a picnic table!
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| Volunteers cleaned up the parking area at the aquarium. |
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| Volunteers collected over 700 pounds of trash! |
The
aquarium welcomes new volunteers year-round. If you are interested
in animals, the environment, working with people, getting outside, or
making a difference, check out the opportunities on our website.
