Forest Park Cleanup / Meet & Greet

We are so excited to see you in Forest Park for the Trash & Trails program run by Forest Park Forever. With all we do to support the Children's Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica, it is important to us to also take action to protect the nature in our own backyard. We will be together from 8:30 am to about 12:00 pm. This event is family and pet friendly! Please feel free to bring additional friends and family (even if they have not signed up through United Way). We are looking forward to meeting you all and chatting about the rainforest, education, and conservation work.

Hilary from Forest Park Forever will be waiting for our group at the Visitor Center, 5595 Grand Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112 at 9:00 am. Her desk is located just east of the info desk in the Voyager Room. However, if you intend to join us early for coffee and bagels (provided by our friends at Kitchen House Coffee in Tower Grove East), please meet us at 8:30 am. We will be set up with coffee and bagels just inside the visitor center. While we recognize mask requirements have changed recently, we highly encourage you to wear a mask indoors when not eating or drinking for the health and safety of our group, Forest Park staff, and our extended community.

Hilary will provide us all with gloves, outline of some rules, trash grabbers, and trash bags. At this point we will separate into smaller groups of about 10 participants and spread out to work in different areas. There will be a Friends of the Rainforest staff or Board member in each group, so feel free to ask them any questions about our organization and the work we do to protect, expand, and educate people about the rainforest in Costa Rica and beyond.

FAQ:

What gear do I need? It may be rainy for the first part of our morning, so I'd encourage you to wear your most water-friendly clothing. Closed toed shoes are a must- rubber boots or other water-friendly shoes that you are comfortable standing and walking in for a few hours. Temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s with wind expected, so dress in warm layers. Bring a water bottle and any snacks you and your friends and family may need throughout the morning. Trash grabbers, gloves, and bags will be provided. Please bring whatever additional gear you need to be comfortable for the duration of our outdoor work time.

Where is the bathroom from our worksites? The comfort station near the boathouse, the boathouse, and the visitor center will all be close to your Trash pickup location.

Can dogs come? Dogs can join in on the fun, but non-service dogs are not allowed inside buildings. They must also be on a leash according to park rules.

How can I get involved with Friends of the Rainforest? Check out our website for information on our education programs and how to book a lesson for your school or learning community, as well as resources for homeschooling families. Check out upcoming events on our website, follow our social media accounts linked below, and find more volunteer opportunities on United Way.  Donations help to fund land acquisition and protection to expand the rainforest in Costa Rica, and help fund rainforest education locally and in Costa Rica.

We are looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow! If you have any questions about this event, please respond directly to this email, or call 314-941-1257. Unless I need to communicate further updates about this event, you will not receive additional emails from us unless you'd like to opt in to stay connected. Please respond to this email if you'd like to opt into emails about education programs, events, and rainforest-related news.