As we explore our world and make tracks, we have to consider the footprints we leave behind. The future of our planet depends on the actions we take now. 

To Three Rivers Park District, this means many things, including:

• Restoring prairies
• Managing wildlife
• Combating invasives
• Planting trees

It also means promoting stewardship. You can help make a difference:

• Be active
• Be curious
• Be aware
• Be engaged
• Be creative
• Be wise
• Be inspired
• Be an environmental steward

About This Blog

The Three Rivers blog will tell the stories of your parks and trails. It will be a medium to share stewardship ideas, information, research, phenology, fun facts, experiences, and more.

The blog will help further our mission to promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. We hope to inspire you to:

• try something new
• enjoy your favorite spots with a different perspective
• make deeper connections with the natural world around you every day

Posts will be published at least weekly on a topic in one of these categories: 

• Arts
• Farm Connections
• History
• Nature Notes
• People of the Parks
• Philanthropy
• Recreation
• Resource Management
• Sustainability
• Podcast follow-up content (the podcast is anticipated to launch in early 2019)

What Is Environmental Stewardship to You?

As you read posts today and in the future, ask yourself: “What does environmental stewardship mean to me?” This definition is different for everyone, and what it means to you today may be different from what it means to you tomorrow.

All the ways to practice environmental stewardship can be overwhelming. Remember: You don’t need to immediately jump head first into every idea. If stewardship is new to you (or even if it isn’t new but it’s still overwhelming), start small. Pick one idea and implement it until it becomes second nature. Then pick another. Little steps today make a big difference for tomorrow.