a. What challenges did you overcome throughout this action project? How did you go about
overcoming these challenges?
During my action project, I faced a few small challenges. One challenge was the weather because it had been raining a lot, and that could have made the clean-up harder. To overcome this, I planned ahead by bringing a jacket and umbrella so I could still go even if it rained a little. Another challenge was scheduling a time because my mom was busy. Since I needed her to drive me to the river, we worked together to find a time that fit both of our schedules. I also had trouble remembering to plan my next clean-up, so I decided that setting reminders on my phone would help me stay organized. By planning ahead and being flexible, I was able to complete my clean-up successfully.
b. How did this action change the way you think?
This action changed the way I think about nature and the environment. While cleaning up near the river, I realized how much garbage can end up in natural places and how easy it is to ignore it. It also made me realize how much I take nature for granted. When I learned that many different animals live around the Coquitlam River, including animals like minks that I had never heard of before, it made me care more about protecting the environment. Now I understand that even small actions, like picking up garbage, can help protect wildlife and keep natural spaces clean.
c. How did this investigation/action impact your future decisions?
This project will impact my future decisions by making me more aware of how I deal with my garbage. After seeing how much trash ends up near the river, I realized how important it is to always put garbage in the proper place. Because of this, I will make sure that I always throw my garbage in a garbage can or recycling bin instead of leaving it somewhere it could end up in nature. I will also pay more attention to keeping natural areas clean when I visit them. This project showed me that small actions can make a difference, and I want to do my part to help protect the environment.
d. What impact will this investigation/action have on others locally and/or globally?
My action mostly impacts my local community. By picking up garbage near the river, I helped prevent trash from going into the water or being eaten by animals. If people see someone cleaning up trash, it might encourage them to do the same. Even though my action was small, many small actions together can create a bigger change. Globally, protecting rivers and natural environments helps protect wildlife and ecosystems. Clean rivers are also important for people who rely on them for water and food. This shows that small actions in local communities can still contribute to a larger global effort to protect the environment.
