10,000 Hands Report - 2016
ACAP Saint John and its community outreach initiatives have become an established vehicle by which community stakeholders can participate in hands-on improvements to their local environment. The efficiency of this program lies in its ability to maintain a strong partnership with the City of Saint John for logistic support, the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund for financial support, and in ACAP Saint John’s ability to maintain an established, growing and dedicated network of volunteers and experts. Through direct engagement, in-field and in-class education programs, tree planting and outdoor activities, citizens develop a sense of understanding and ownership of their environment and are more likely to support other initiatives that promote good stewardship and sustainable development.
ACAP Saint John and its community outreach initiatives have become an established vehicle by which community stakeholders can participate in hands-on improvements to their local environment. The efficiency of this program lies in its ability to maintain a strong partnership with the City of Saint John for logistic support, the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund for financial support, and in ACAP Saint John’s ability to maintain an established, growing and dedicated network of volunteers and experts. Through direct engagement, in-field and in-class education programs, tree planting and outdoor activities, citizens develop a sense of understanding and ownership of their environment and are more likely to support other initiatives that promote good stewardship and sustainable development.
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Discussion<br />
The Green Network continues to prove itself to be an effective and efficient model for leveraging<br />
human and organizational resources within Greater Saint John in fostering community-wide<br />
environmental stewardship. The program continues to facilitate volunteers by enabling interested<br />
parties to conduct a cleanup of their choosing or participate in one that has been organized by another<br />
entity. This year, a new approach was also introduced through the Port City Pickup contest that<br />
encouraged individuals to participate in environmental stewardship while doing other outdoor<br />
activities.<br />
The Green Network, which requires a dedicated project coordinator to assist community groups, is also<br />
reliant upon a mutually beneficial relationship with the staff of the City of Saint John. City staff are able<br />
to pickup and dispose of the garbage collected and benefit by outsourcing some administration<br />
associated with dealing with public inquiries on conducting cleanups. The provision of bags and gloves<br />
to ACAP Saint John by the City and the physical collection of the garbage at select times and locations<br />
provided by the ACAP Saint John Green Network coordinator occurs at far less costs than would<br />
otherwise be incurred if Municipal Operations were to manage cleanups internally. Overall, the Green<br />
Network has proven itself to be an efficient, cost-effective and established vehicle for conducting<br />
annual volunteer-based green space cleanups in Greater Saint John.<br />
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