Shawn Mortensen’s Post

🐦 Today, on World Sparrow Day, let's reflect on the plight of these little creatures. As their habitats disappear, sparrows are left with no place to call home. It's time to take action to preserve their habitats and ensure their survival. Let's pledge to create spaces where sparrows can thrive once again. #WorldSparrowDay #SaveOurSparrows #HabitatPreservation 🌿🏡

"From the discussions I have had about nature, most people think that nature exists in a sort of chaotic state. While that might be true in some aspects; the random weeds growing on the side of the road, or that one flower that decides to be a slightly different shade than the rest in the garden, I think it it easy to see the organization and intentional structure of the trees and the bees, the flowers and the leaves." ✍ Anna Kerr, Ozark Field Crew Leader/ AmeriCorps Member https://lnkd.in/g3Vunshg #EnvironmentalCareers #ConservationCareers #ServiceYear #CareerExperience #YearOutdoors #ServeOutdoors [Image Description] A large broadleaved tree. Text on the side reads "New Blog Post"

I will be presenting my first Nature Detectives workshop at the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership Community Center Wednesday morning July 17 from 9-945. I will be sharing and asking questions about different types of natural objects found along the American River Parkway: bark, a woidpecker granary, branches, pinecones, oak galls and a branch carved by bees. “Did something chew on this pinecone?” “What is this object and why does it look like this?” “What is important about this pinecone to preserving the animal habitat of the river?” These questions engage curiosity, develop key problem solving and critical thinking skills. These opportunities to learn more about the natural world lead to developing meaningful emotional connections and prepare our children to become the future stewards of the earth.#nature, #detectives, #outdoor, #earth, #stewards, #skills, #problemsolving, #criticalthinking, #curiosity, #imagination, #engagement, #child, #wonder, #discovery

There are two ways to view streetscape trees. On the one hand, the streetscape is a public space, and the trees planted there belong to the entire community and are a valuable public resource, no different than the trees planted in a neighborhood park. In that regard, no resident has a right to damage or remove a public tree, they don’t get a veto over public green space. The other way of looking at this is that a tree planted in a sidewalk tree pit or planting strip in front of someone’s house also impacts those residents. A sound community engagement approach centers the residents of a community and cedes a degree of decision-making to the community. There are valid arguments for both approaches. In my experience, engaging with stakeholders, and getting buy in from the residents who are directly impacted by trees is a better approach. It is far better to engage with stakeholders, and perhaps plant a few less trees, and have buy-in and support from the neighborhood. The trees planted will be wanted and better cared for than those that are arbitrarily planted without community support.

To wrap up #EarthMonth, this weekend I graduated from Forest ReLeaf of Missouri's Tree Stewardship program, which included 12 hours of classroom instruction and 15 hours of volunteer work. Over the past month, I participated in some local volunteer activities, including: 🌳 Planting trees along the Great Rivers Greenway 🌱 Potting tree seedlings at the Forest ReLeaf nursery 🌷 Pulling tulips at the Missouri Botanical Garden 🚮 Picking up trash and removing invasive species with Open Space STL 🧤 Mulching and pruning park trees with STL Neighborhood Foresters The most important thing I learned during this program ... There are some amazing organizations in St. Louis making our city a greener, healthier and more beautiful place to live. If you're like me and at times feel overwhelmed by the immense amount of work needed to safeguard our environment, go out and give a few hours of your time at one of these (or similar) organizations. You'll feel better knowing that you made a lasting and positive impact on your community. That, and say no to mulch volcanoes 😉 (Seriously though, they're awful for trees.) If you're in the St. Louis region, please check out these incredible organizations. #volunteer #arborday #earthday #stlouis #sustainability #community #conservation

Celebrating Bonfire Night in Macclesfield: A Town Planning Perspective 🏙️🎇 As your local town planning consultancy here in Macclesfield, we couldn't help but draw a fascinating connection between Bonfire Night and our work in shaping the community. 🔥🏡 1️⃣ Safety First: Bonfire Night reminds us of the importance of safety in our towns. Just as we plan for safe public events, we also strive for safer roads, sidewalks, and neighbourhoods year-round. 2️⃣ Community Gathering: Bonfire Night brings people together, just like well-designed public spaces and parks. We're here to create spaces where communities can connect and celebrate. 3️⃣ Preserving History: Our historic town has seen its fair share of Bonfire Nights. We work to preserve and celebrate our heritage through heritage preservation and conservation efforts. 4️⃣ Lighting up the Sky: Just as fireworks light up the night sky, our lighting plans for streets and public areas enhance safety and aesthetics in our beloved town. So, as you gear up for Bonfire Night, remember that town planning plays a crucial role in making it a safe, enjoyable, and community-focused celebration. Let's keep Macclesfield vibrant and thriving! 🔥✨ #MacclesfieldTownPlanning #BonfireNight Let's continue building a brighter future for our town, one spark at a time! 🌟🏘️ #MacclesfieldTownPlanning #BonfireNight #CommunitySafety #TownPlanningConnections

This week is Community Garden Week! I love a community garden because while each gardener has a space, all the gardeners work together to provide food and beauty to the community. Each person brings their expertise and their green thumb to benefit everyone. In many ways, your team is like a community gardern. Each person is contributing to the greater good by bringing their unique talents and expertise. No one can do it all. We need each other to accomplish our goals and the goals of our businesses. This week, reflect on what you bring to your team that is unique. What do you contribute that would be absent if you weren't there? What I love about being a #strengthscoach is that I get to help people discover what they bring that is unique and help them develop those super powers to help them in all areas of their lives. If you are struggling to identify your talents or are not quite sure how to develop them, book a discovery call with me to discuss.

Learn more about a recent convening of Indigenous Peoples in Blackfeet territory from our partners Nia Tero.  #IndigenousPeoplesDay

Imagine transforming hidden blemishes of our urban landscapes—those old, forgotten underground tanks—into the heart of community joy. With a bit of expert intervention (shoutout to Tri-State!), these once-unused plots become the backdrop for children's laughter, family picnics, and neighborly chats. This is not just a cleanup; it's a canvas for community masterpieces. Each step from uncovering these hidden tanks to cultivating vibrant green spaces is a testament to creativity and community spirit in action. It’s a story of turning environmental woes into wins, proving that with a little ingenuity, we can craft the communal oases of tomorrow. #UrbanRenewal #GreenSpaces #CommunityBuilding #EnvironmentalInnovation #TriStateSuccess

Discover the heartwarming initiatives of Security Properties Residential's Site Team, including Backpack Giveaway Events, Community Gardens & Beehives, and a Reading Program. 🤩 Head to our website to learn more about these impactful programs! 😊 [Image description: Three photos showing kids walking with backpacks, a community garden, and a set of books. The image caption reads "Site Team Initiatives Backpack Giveaway Events, Community Gardens & Beehives, Reading Program."] #CorporateInitiatives #SecurityPropertiesResidential #SecPropRes #ApartmentLiving #PropertyManagement #MultiFamily