Outdoors & Environmental Newsletter | April 2014 | VBgov.com/Parks

5 Simple Ideas for an Upcycled Garden

Tire Flower Planter With the arrival of spring and the danger of frost being low, you're probably starting to get out and spruce up the garden. Here are some crafty ways to upcycle items for your yard:

1. Use an old tire as a flower planter. How-to

2. Turn a wood palette into a vertical garden. How-to

3. Remodeling? Use an old sink as a bird bath. Tile with mosaics to match your garden color scheme. How-to

4. Replacing a roof gutter? Plant flowers or herbs in the old one. How-to

5. Create garden edging from glass bottles by placing them in the ground upside down. How-to

Find more inspiration at upcyclethat.com

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Upcoming Events

4/26 | American Indian Pow Wow

5/3 | Earth Day Celebration

5/17 | K-9 Karnival

Go Meatless for Environmental Education Month

More than a third of all fossil fuels produced in the United States are used in animal agriculture. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it takes more than ten times the fossil fuel input to produce one calorie of animal protein than it does one calorie of plant protein. By saying no to meat just one day a week, you can reduce your carbon impact as much as not driving for five days.

Meatless Monday is an international movement that promotes eating a plant-based diet one day per week to improve your health and the health of the planet.

4 Tips for Going Meat Free:

1. Plan your meals ahead. If you are prepared, you are more likely to stick with it.

2. Recruit friends and family. Sharing meals and ideas will make Meatless Mondays fun for everyone.

3. Try new foods and recipes. A plant-based diet can be just as delicious as an omnivore's, and you can use this as an excuse to go wild and try new things.

4. Use seasonal produce. Not only does food taste better when it is fresh, but it is also better for you.

Find recipes and ways to get involved at meatlessmonday.com

Save the Date for Our 2015 Winter Wildlife Festival

The 2015 Winter Wildlife Festival will be held February 6 - 8 at Great Neck Recreation Center. We've lined up wildlife photographer and author, Kevin Karlson for the keynote session. Kevin is an accomplished birder, professional tour leader and wildlife photographer who has published numerous articles on bird identification and natural history. View his work and full bio at kevinkarlsonphotography.com

Excursions and walk-up workshops will be posted to the event web page as details become available. In the meantime, view photos and event information from this past January's event at VBgov.com/WinterWildlife

Join Us at Mount Trashmore for Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, May 3 | 11 am - 4 pm | Mount Trashmore Park

Expand your commitment to bettering the environment at our Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, May 3 at Mount Trashmore Park (one of the nation's first recycled landfills) from 11 am to 4 pm. You'll enjoy a variety of exhibits, displays and activities that will give you a chance to discover and explore effective and convenient ways to green your lifestyle. #VBEarthDay

AAA Recycling Zone | 10 am - 2 pm

All recycling will take place in Parking Lot 1 at Mount Trashmore Park, located near the YMCA. *Please enter from South Boulevard. Visit the event website for acceptable items.

Electronics Recycling
Document Shredding
Car Battery Round Up
Child Safety Seat Recycling
Rain Barrel & Compost Bin Sales
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
Metals Recycling

Live Music

Performing on the main stage is The Futuros at 11 am and London at 2 pm.

NEW! Green Market

Shop local, green and fair trade vendors.

Dumpster Dive Demonstration | 12 - 3 pm

Are we recycling as much as we can? Project Green Teens will sift through trash and debris in a park dumpster to find items that could have been recycled.

NEW! Trashion Show | 1 pm

Cox High School's Fashion Marketing students will showcase their recycled outfits, creatively designed from newspaper, trash bags, magazines, bubble wrap, cds, old clothing and other items.

Recycling Dumpster Painting

Make your mark! Paint with The Governor's School for the Arts students and raise awareness about conservation.

Children's Activities

Children's crafts will be provided by the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast. A bounce house and other inflatables will also be available.

Reinvigorate Your Run on the Trail

As temperatures start to warm up, consider moving your run from the treadmill to the trail. Trail running is an increasingly popular sport with runners who are looking to change up their routine. Moving to the trail from the treadmill or road can offer many benefits - both mentally and physically. Running on a trail requires runners to use stabilizer muscles in their ankles, hips and core that aren't used as often when running on a smooth surface. Using these muscles increases your stability and helps avoid overuse injuries that are common in runners. Trails also provide a softer surface than a treadmill or road, softening the impact on your joints.

Possibly the best reason to try trail running is that it immerses you in nature. Running through the forest, ducking tree branches, and jumping over roots heightens your senses. Your increased focus allows you to react quickly to the ever-changing trail terrain.

Some Tips for Getting Started:

Start Slow | Trail running uses muscles that haven't been used as much, so expect your body to go through an adjustment period.

Slow Down | Trails have obstacles such as tree roots, rocks, streams and mud. Watching for and maneuvering around these will require you to slow your pace.

Shorten your Stride | Keeping your feet under your hips when landing will prevent your stride from being too long and allow you to react to the terrain quicker.

Avoid Obstacles | When possible, step over rocks and roots. These obstacles can be slick or unstable, increasing your chance of a fall.

Have Fun | Remember running through puddles just for the fun of it? Trail running gives you the chance to return to your childhood and the joy of running.

Want more information on trail running? Visit trailrunnermag.com

Please Note Our Upcoming Facility Closures

Bow Creek Recreation Center is closed for a long-term modernization project.

All Virginia Beach Recreation Centers will be closed on Sunday, April 20 for Easter.

The gym at Bayside Recreation Center will be closed April 21 - May 4 while moveable walls are sanded and repainted.

Don't forget that your membership is good at all Virginia Beach Recreation Centers! If your usual center is closed for maintenance, take the opportunity to visit another center. Use this locator to help you find one!

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If you or your child requires additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services.

We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to email us at fun@VBgov.com.

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.