Earth Day Trash Bash 2015

On Friday, April 24th the Wink Rockstars will be joining The Bash! The Earth Day Trash Bash that is, with over 1200 volunteers in the Des Moines area to pick-up litter, clear out invasive species, clean up our creeks, plant trees and native species and more. Wink Rockstars will be rolling up their sleeves to clear weeds and small trees at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.

Check us out on Instagram @LookToWink on Friday afternoon for our progress throughout the day. Last year we had some very interesting finds and we’ll be looking to compete again for the Finders Keepers (most unusual piece of trash found) award this year! Finders Keepers items will be tracked at: #trashbash2015 & @desmoinesparks #winkpic #winkrockstars

2014 Wink Rockstars at the Earth Day Trash Bash

Saving the Monarch
The 2015 educational theme of 2015’s Earth Day Trash Bash focuses on the decline of the Monarch butterfly and its loss of habitat. As children we grew up with monarchs flying all around but recently their numbers have declined by 90%! As the saying goes, “Earth Day is everyday!” and Iowa volunteers are encouraged to get involved in conservation projects beyond Earth Week. Whether it is helping collect native milkweed seed, participating in the citizen science monitoring efforts or just planting a backyard butterfly habitat, see the following list of ways to get involved in bringing back the Monarch butterfly from the edge of extinction.

Monarch Butterfly Volunteer Opportunities
Journey North http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Monarch Watch www.monarchwatch.org
Monarch Joint Venture http://www.monarchjointventure.org/
Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge www.fws.gov/refuge/neal_smith
Plant.Grow.Fly http://www.blankparkzoo.com
Project Budburst http://www.budburst.org/
US Army Corps of Engineers, Saylorville Lake http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SaylorvilleLake.aspx