Our Turkey camp this spring was a perfect example of why nobody comes running up to brag about how wonderful some people are about cleaning their campsites....a week later, no one could tell the grass had even been walked down!!!
When we do it right, and leave it as we found it, no one thinks anyone has ever been there. And that should be our goal, leaving the land so everyone things their shoes (or barefeet in Primitive Tim's case) are the first to tread since the moccasin people were last there. NOBODY says enough about the good things they see done, but EVERYBODY complains about what they see wrong.
So, I see two ways to support your long winded idea:
1) Always thank someone you see doing good, never take it for granted. Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Saying a simple thank you can be immense.
2) Encourage every organization you join to involve themselves in projects like stream cleanups, trail maintenance, brush hogging, etc. Take pictures and post positive articles on your social media. And carry this down to the personal level. Be seen picking up trash when in public areas, make a game of it with your kids or friends.
I was seen on my hands and knees at Mt Rushmore picking up confetti from the gravel beside a trail. A little kid asked what the "Ranger" was doing (I was a resource tech, doing weed surveys and mapping mtn pine beetle intrusion). I looked up and showed the kid what was in my hand. Told the family that a little bit of paper like that would degrade into the soil eventually, but someone might see it and think it was ok to drop a cigarette butt, then the next person would drop the cigarette pack, and so on and on. Someone cracked wise about getting paid a hell of a lot to do so little and with barely contained rage I answered, "It's MY lunchbreak and it's MY monument celebrating the best of MY country." And with the family's help we had it done in minutes.
Thanks for bringing this up, Hugh. It's a subject dear to my heart, if you didn't already know that.
