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​Balloons Over the National Parks: A Creative and Eco-Friendly Approach

11/16/2023

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Environmental awareness should be so important to us right now and it’s crucial to recognize both the beauty and the potential hazards of seemingly harmless objects like balloons. While balloons are often associated with joy and celebration, they can pose serious threats to wildlife and the environment. However, in an inspiring project named "Balloons Over the National Parks," students are proving that creativity and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand, challenging the status quo with biodegradable, eco-friendly balloon designs.

The Problem with Traditional Balloons Traditional balloons, often made from latex or mylar, are not easily recyclable and can take years to decompose. When released into the environment, they can travel vast distances, eventually landing in natural habitats, including our precious National Parks. Here, they pose a threat to wildlife, who may mistake them for food, leading to injury or death. Additionally, the strings and ribbons attached to balloons can entangle animals and birds, causing harm.

An Innovative Solution: Balloons Over the National Parks Inspired by the books "Balloons Over Broadway" by Melissa Sweet and "The Camping Trip that Changed America" by Barb Rosenstock, students embarked on a project that blends creativity, nature, and environmental responsibility. This initiative simulates a mini parade where students design and construct balloons and floats representing National Parks. The catch? All materials used are recyclable, highlighting the importance of conservation.

Goals and Activities
  • Fostering Creativity and Environmental Awareness: Using recyclable materials, students focus on designing innovative balloons that represent the beauty and uniqueness of National Parks.
  • Enhancing Research and Presentation Skills: Students delve into the history and ecological significance of these parks, later presenting their findings in an engaging manner.
  • Promoting Recycling and Conservation Understanding: The project underscores the importance of preserving our natural environments and the role recycling plays in this endeavor.

A Responsible Approach With the understanding that traditional balloons can be harmful, students are committed to keeping their designs indoors for display. These future entrepreneurs are ready to offer their sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable balloon concepts to interested parties, ensuring an environmentally friendly approach.
​
The Impact Through this project, students not only unleash their creativity but also gain a deeper appreciation for environmental conservation. The initiative allows them to connect with nature’s wonders, understand the historical significance of National Parks, and realize the impact of sustainable practices. By blending art, education, and environmentalism, "Balloons Over the National Parks" sets a precedent for future projects where innovation meets ecological responsibility.
Conclusion "Balloons Over the National Parks" is more than just a project; it's a movement towards a greener, more conscious future. It demonstrates how we can enjoy the beauty and fun of balloons without compromising the health of our planet and its inhabitants. This initiative stands as a testament to the power of young minds in leading the way towards a more sustainable world.
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  • Home
    • About Expeditions
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Our Sponsors
    • Events Calendar
    • For The Parks
    • In the News
    • Support Us
    • Contact Us
    • Impact Stories
  • Our Services
  • Educators
    • Our Books >
      • Adventures of Marvin & Huck:
      • Lila & Toby: Into the Wild
      • Educational & Meaningful
      • Book Connections
    • Our Kits >
      • Family Outdoor Discovery Box
      • ParkQuest Engineering Kits
    • Expeditions in Education BLOG
    • Experience the Parks >
      • Experience Pullman >
        • Experience Pullman Blog
    • Great Lakes Odyssey >
      • Getting Started with GLO
      • Great Lakes Odyssey Travel Blog
      • Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
      • Voyageurs National Park
    • Math in Nature
    • Nature Pages
    • Preserve the Parks PBL >
      • Addressing Environmental Resilience in Puerto Rico
      • Protecting the Puerto Rican Harlequin Butterfly
      • Creating Sustainable Communities Inspired by Pullman
      • Combating the Green Crab Invasion in Acadia National Park
      • Enhancing Sustainable Trails at Big Cypress National Preserve​
      • Exploring the Green River's Impact on Water Purity and Cave Preservation
      • Protecting Crater Lake's Endemic Newts
      • Restoring Native Trees at the Lincoln Boyhood Home
      • Restoring the Elwha River
    • Backpack the Parks!
    • Park Pioneers
    • Ready to Go Lessons
  • National Parks Expedition Challenge
    • Expedition Challenge Full List
    • Acadia to Bryce >
      • Acadia National Park
      • Alcatraz Island
      • Amache National Historic Site
      • Amistad National Recreation Area
      • Arches National Park
      • Assateague Island National Seashore
      • Badlands National Park
      • ​Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
      • Big Bend National Park
      • Big Cypress National Preserve
      • Biscayne National Park
      • Black Canyon of the Gunnison
      • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Cabrillo to Dry Tortugas >
      • Cabrillo National Monument
      • Cape Cod (ONE) National Seashore
      • Cape Cod (TWO) National Seashore
      • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
      • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
      • César E. Chávez National Monument
      • Chaco Culture National Historical Park
      • Channel Islands National Park
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Cumberland Island National Seashore
      • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
      • Dayton Aviation National Heritage Historical Park
      • Death Valley National Park
      • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
      • Denali National Park
      • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Eleanor to Fort Pulaski >
      • El Malpais National Monument
      • El Morro National Monument
      • Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Everglades National Park
      • FDR Memorial
      • First State National Historical Park
      • Flight 93 Memorial Park
      • Ford's Theatre
      • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
      • Fort Monroe National Monument
      • Fort Pulaski National Monument
    • Gateway to Hot Springs >
      • Gateway Arch National Park
      • Gettysburg National Military Park
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Grand Teton National Park
      • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
      • Haleakala National Park
      • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
      • Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
      • Homestead National Historical Park
      • Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site
      • Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
      • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana to Lincoln Memorial >
      • Indiana Dunes National Park
      • Isle Royale National Park
      • Jewel Cave National Monument
      • Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
      • Joshua Tree National Park
      • Kenai Fjords and Alaska Coastal Parks
      • Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
      • Keweenaw National Historical Park
      • Lava Beds National Monument
      • Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
      • Lincoln Home National Historic Site
      • Lincoln Memorial
    • Maggie to Pullman >
      • Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
      • Mammoth Cave National Park
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
      • Mesa Verde National Park
      • Natchez Trace Parkway
      • New River Gorge and Preserve National Park
      • Niobrara National Scenic River
      • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
      • Olympic National Park
      • Palo Alto Battlefield
      • Pearl Harbor National Memorial
      • Petroglyph National Monument
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
      • Pinnacles National Park
      • Pipestone National Monument
      • Pullman National Monument
    • Redwood to Zion >
      • Redwood National and State Parks
      • Rocky Mountain National Park
      • Saguaro National Park
      • San Antonio Missions NHP
      • San Juan National Historic Site
      • Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
      • Shenadoah National Park
      • Tidal Basin-NAMA
      • Tumacácori National Historical Park
      • Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site
      • Vicksburg National Military Park
      • Voyageurs National Park
      • Waco Mammoth National Monument
      • Wright Brothers Memorial
      • Yosemite National Park
      • Zion National Park
  • STEAM in the PARK
  • Crossing America