4 Ways You Can Do Your Part on World Conservation Day

Did you know that parks and public lands serve an essential role in preserving natural resources and wildlife habitats, and protecting clean water and clean air? They also provide open space for current and future generations. Parks provide an essential connection for Americans of all ages and abilities to the life enhancing benefits of nature and the outdoors.

On July 28, Prince William County Parks and Recreation is proud to recognize World Nature Conservation Day, a day which highlights that the foundation for a healthy society is a healthy environment, and also helps raise awareness about the importance of protecting our natural resources.

Wondering how you can do your part? Below are four easy ways you can contribute to protecting our natural resources, and the land and beautiful park spaces that surround them.

Dispose of Trash Properly When Visiting Our Parks
When visiting our parks, please remember to dispose of your trash properly in the appropriate disposal bins, always recycling when you can. If you’re going on a hike it’s always good to be prepared with a bag to bring any trash you’ve created back out with you in case you can’t find a trash bin. When hiking, you should also stay on established trails to reduce “travel damage” which occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond recovery. 

In spring of 2021, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism joined as community partners with the organization Leave No Trace, a nonprofit organization with the mission of ensuring a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. Leave No Trace teaches seven principles that educate people on how to essentially leave no trace at parks and help preserve them. Click here to learn more about how you can “Leave No Trace” when visiting our parks.

Don't Disturb or Feed Wildlife
Did you know that animals also play a role in conservation? Animals help plants reproduce by carrying pollen from plant-to-plant and by spreading seeds. Animals that eat insects and small mammals help reduce damage by caterpillars, rabbits, and other plant-eaters. So while it can be tempting to feed the birds and other wildlife it can actually be harmful to this natural cycle. We absolutely encourage “wildlife watching” but please do so responsibly. Click here to learn more about the wildlife in our parks and hear some tips from our park rangers.

Shop Locally for Produce, Food and Goods at Our Farmers Market
If you’re not growing your own produce then visiting our farmers market is the next best thing! Our market is a producer-only market, meaning all products must be grown or made by the seller. This is great news for both our buyers and our sellers as consumers have access to locally-grown produce, meats and plants, as well as other goods created by local vendors.

Our Dale City Farmers Market is open Sundays year-round, rain or shine, December-March from 10 am – 1 pm, and April-November from 8 am – 1 pm. Every week our farmers market staff, volunteers, vendors and amazing customers come out to make sure that our farmers market continues to serve as a hub for local food and connection in our community.

Bring a Reusable Water Bottle With You When Visiting Our Facilities and Parks
If you’re spending the day at one of our parks or recreation and fitness centers we encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle with you, rather than bringing a plastic water bottle. Unfortunately, the majority of U.S. plastic waste just ends up in a landfill. Most of our facilities offer water fountains where you can refill your water bottle.

We encourage you to do your part in helping keep our parks clean and beautiful, leaving nature just as you found it. Sometimes it’s the smallest acts that can make a big difference. If you’re interested in getting more involved with caring directly for our parks, we encourage you to check out our Adopt-a-Park program.