Introduction: This project was a policy change to benefit the environment. We decided to create a compost bathroom and set up a lunch area on the hill near Fireman's Fund in Novato. We came up with a plan to implement this with a reasonable cost, and give a purpose to a useless hill. The purpose of this project was to teach us about positive policy changes, and elements of biology.
Content: First, we researched information on our topic, and organized into a slideshow. Then, we revised the powerpoint, and created a proposal to present to the City of Novato, in hopes of gaining permission to carry out our plan. Contents such as climate, soil conditions, abiotic factors, main species of the area, food web, carrying capacity, and biodiversity, are all peices in Ecology, the unit this project is under. These concepts played a role in our future predictions, and why we made them, and the project as a whole, because they are all factors that need to be taken under consideration while planning out a policy change.
Presentation:
Content: First, we researched information on our topic, and organized into a slideshow. Then, we revised the powerpoint, and created a proposal to present to the City of Novato, in hopes of gaining permission to carry out our plan. Contents such as climate, soil conditions, abiotic factors, main species of the area, food web, carrying capacity, and biodiversity, are all peices in Ecology, the unit this project is under. These concepts played a role in our future predictions, and why we made them, and the project as a whole, because they are all factors that need to be taken under consideration while planning out a policy change.
Presentation:
Proposal:
To better Novato in the future, we would take the hill next to the old Fireman’s Fund building, and turn it into a trail. We would place a few picnic tables for people to stop while they’re hiking to eat and rest, as well as a bathroom.
We would like to create and maintain a trail on the top of the hill. This would improve soil conditions, provide a lunch area and preserve the unused hill.
The total cost would only be around 700 dollars, with cushion money, made up of the four picnic tables ($98.00 a peice), bike racks ($29.84 a piece), and a compost bathroom that is buildable for 200 dollars.
Once receiving approval from the city of Novato, we would raise a group of volunteers or community service seekers, and begin to define a trail and main tain overgrown shrubs. Next we would assemble and place the tables and bike racks. Finally we would build and put the bathrooms on the hill. FInally we would open the trail to the public and have a regular volunteer group to maintain the trail.
The maintaining of the compost restroom would include waste disposal and sometimes replacements, depending how long the trail is in place. The trail will have to be re-defined a few times a year, and this will include weeding and shrub maintenence.
Our goal of the trail is to promote a healthy lifestyle while creating a use for an unused hill. This will bring our town together and have a positive impact on our environment.
To achieve this, we will one: gain permission to alter the hill, two: purchase all necessary supplies, three: gather a group of volunteers, community service speakers, four: construct and place materials, and finally open it to the public.
Overall, this site would have a positive impact on our environment, encourage volunteers to help out in their community, be fairly inexpensive, and be another beautiful place in Novato.
Reflection: This project was very fun, but had a few ups and downs. I thought I was productive and has good work ethic, as well as cooperation. One positive was the amount of time that we were given. It made me feel less pressed and stressed for time, knowing the deadline was farther ahead. For example when I felt stressed, I would remember there were still 5 work days and could calm down. However this was also a negative because I ended up having extra time toward the end where I felt we were finished that I did not know what to do with. This was a waste of classtime that could've been used in future projects. Another negative was the work ethic of my group as a whole, because I felt as if I did a lot more of the work, where as we should've worked together more, and all have an equal amount of work to do. This could have been fixed if I was more assertive with what we needed to do, and insisted they did their work. Another positive was the growth in my leadership skills, since i took the lead in this project. I was able to try and share ideas, such as pricing and trail maintence, more and speak up. Overall, it was a fun project and I learned a lot.
To better Novato in the future, we would take the hill next to the old Fireman’s Fund building, and turn it into a trail. We would place a few picnic tables for people to stop while they’re hiking to eat and rest, as well as a bathroom.
We would like to create and maintain a trail on the top of the hill. This would improve soil conditions, provide a lunch area and preserve the unused hill.
The total cost would only be around 700 dollars, with cushion money, made up of the four picnic tables ($98.00 a peice), bike racks ($29.84 a piece), and a compost bathroom that is buildable for 200 dollars.
Once receiving approval from the city of Novato, we would raise a group of volunteers or community service seekers, and begin to define a trail and main tain overgrown shrubs. Next we would assemble and place the tables and bike racks. Finally we would build and put the bathrooms on the hill. FInally we would open the trail to the public and have a regular volunteer group to maintain the trail.
The maintaining of the compost restroom would include waste disposal and sometimes replacements, depending how long the trail is in place. The trail will have to be re-defined a few times a year, and this will include weeding and shrub maintenence.
Our goal of the trail is to promote a healthy lifestyle while creating a use for an unused hill. This will bring our town together and have a positive impact on our environment.
To achieve this, we will one: gain permission to alter the hill, two: purchase all necessary supplies, three: gather a group of volunteers, community service speakers, four: construct and place materials, and finally open it to the public.
Overall, this site would have a positive impact on our environment, encourage volunteers to help out in their community, be fairly inexpensive, and be another beautiful place in Novato.
Reflection: This project was very fun, but had a few ups and downs. I thought I was productive and has good work ethic, as well as cooperation. One positive was the amount of time that we were given. It made me feel less pressed and stressed for time, knowing the deadline was farther ahead. For example when I felt stressed, I would remember there were still 5 work days and could calm down. However this was also a negative because I ended up having extra time toward the end where I felt we were finished that I did not know what to do with. This was a waste of classtime that could've been used in future projects. Another negative was the work ethic of my group as a whole, because I felt as if I did a lot more of the work, where as we should've worked together more, and all have an equal amount of work to do. This could have been fixed if I was more assertive with what we needed to do, and insisted they did their work. Another positive was the growth in my leadership skills, since i took the lead in this project. I was able to try and share ideas, such as pricing and trail maintence, more and speak up. Overall, it was a fun project and I learned a lot.