Wild Blog

New Orleans Public Lands Day
Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Destroyed.
Did you want to help but not know how?
Did you give but want to do more?
Do you still want to help?
J
oin Sierra Club members from across the country in New Orleans September 28-30 for our Public Lands in Public Hands weekend event in celebration of National Public Lands Day! By working side by side with Louisiana residents on restoration projects, Sierra Club volunteers will advance the clean up of a devastated landscape while supporting the rebuilding efforts of the people of New Orleans -- actively showing them that the Sierra Club remembers and cares about their plight -- and experiencing first hand the remains of storm ravaged communities.

Join us to help restore the environment and communities of New Orleans!

Active Service Projects
#1 Restore Bayou Bienvenu: The Bayou Bienvenu project is a partnership with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, University of Wisconsin and the Environmental Justice program of the Sierra Club. Activities will include trail building and planting.
#2 City Park: City Park is an Olmstead Brothers (Central Park) designed public park within the city of New Orleans. The park was badly hit by the hurricane. Activities will include clearing brush and planting.

Less Active Service Projects (actual will be determined closer to event)
#1 Interview FEMA trailer residents about Formaldehyde complaints
#2 Polish statues in statue garden in City Park
#3 Work with volunteer team doing energy efficiency in the lower ninth ward.

Transportation
Airfare/travel is to be paid by the participants. We will try to arrange pick-ups at the airport, otherwise you will need to take a taxi to the church. Transportation to work sites will be provided. If you drive to New Orleans, there is ample safe on street parking near the church.

Accommodations
Post storm adventure – accommodations aren’t fancy, but they are clean and dry! You will stay in a dormitory in the Carrolton United Methodist Church, a historic church in the Uptown area. Our group is one of thousands to have come for a week or more to donate their time to help New Orleans rebuild. Sleep on air mattresses. Community showers with separate men’s and women’s facilities. Facility is upstairs so need to be comfortable with stairs. Almost like camping indoors. Bring your own sleeping bag, towels, etc. The Sierra Club will be paying the bill. If this is too primitive for you, we can recommend nearby hotels where you can stay at your own expense.

Meals
Breakfast and sack lunch will be provided. Dinners are on your own. The church is within short walking distance to a variety of restaurants and a short cab ride to the French Quarter.

Miscellaneous
Participants need to be over 18 unless accompanied by a parent.
In the event that someone needs medical attention, please note that we will have first aid personnel available but emergency services are not up to par with most cities.
Please watch the weather in advance; it can still be hot at the end of September. Pack accordingly. Also, we retain the right to cancel the event in case of extreme weather such as an oncoming hurricane or tropical storm.

Besides this New Orleans event, the Sierra Club is sponsoring single day events across the country. Participation in a Public Lands in Public Hands event on September 29th is a great opportunity to engage community members in a project that improves their neighborhood or distant public land they care about and educate citizens about the Sierra Club’s actions to protect our public land resources and to stop the public lands giveaways. Want to sponsor an event? Contact Keren Murphy at keren.murphy@sierraclub.org.

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Application Form

Name:
Address
Phone number:
Cell number:
Email address:
Chapter/Group:
How will you travel to New Orleans? Do you need picked up at and/or taken back to the airport or other location?
(Please provide specific flight information when available)If so, on what date and time? Which nights will you spend with us? Which project are you interested in participating in? T-shirt size?

Do you understand that Sierra Club is only providing dormitory style lodging for September 28-30, breakfast and lunch on September 29th and 30th and breakfast on October 1st?
Do you understand that all other expenses, including travel, are your responsibility and are not reimbursable by the Sierra Club?

For additional information, please contact:
Jill Workman, Chair, America’s Wild Legacy Conservation Initiative Committee, at 503/654-8670 or workmanjm@aol.com, or Keren O’Brien Murphy, Conservation Organizer, at keren.murphy@sierraclub.org.
Send the completed application and medical form to: Keren O’Brien Murphy, keren.murphy@sierraclub.org or Sierra Club, 408 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 by September 15, 2007.

Labels: wild legacy

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