River. Tree. Park.
Three outdoor professionals share their love of nature by Emily Webb
Atlanta families have a multitude of green spaces and opportunities to explore the outdoors right out our back door. Atlanta Parent spoke to three different nature professionals about how to enjoy the great outdoors and cultivate a love of nature in yourself and your family.
Juliet Cohen
Executive Director at Chattahoochee Riverkeeper From a young age, Cohen enjoyed spending time outdoors. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, surrounded by tropical waters and rainforests, which she loved exploring. “I definitely have always been an outdoorsy person. I grew up in a very outdoorfriendly place, where year-round you could spend time outside,” she says. She knew she wanted to work in water preservation, which made Chattahoochee Riverkeeper an excellent fit. CRK works to ensure there’s enough clean water in the Chattahoochee River. “We protect the Chattahoochee River as a resource. We want to make sure water quality is protected for drinking, irrigation and the processes we need, along with making sure there is enough water for everyone,” she says. You don’t have to work for an organization to make a difference, Cohen says. “There are a lot of things that the everyday person can do that will have a big impact. You don’t have to wait for Earth Day, and you don’t have to worry that you as an individual or family won’t have an impact,” she says. “Things that we do every day – our transportation, our food, our property – can have a pretty big footprint. We have to train ourselves to have green habits.” But volunteering with an organization is a wonderful way to reconnect as a family and with nature. Volunteering helps the earth, but it also shapes your children. “As parents, we have a responsibility to raise well-rounded children and to expose them to all aspects of civic life, including being a community servant. Initially, there might be some hesitancy to do something for the first time, but it’s a great experience that builds community and kindness,” Cohen says. “In today’s world, we’re constantly fighting against negativity from so many angles, whether that’s political, criminal, the pandemic. Doing something as a community builds a lot of goodwill. It doesn’t cost anything except your time, and it has a lasting impact. If you want to raise well-rounded humans, volunteering is one way to do it.”
Things that we do every day – our transportation, our food, our property – can have a pretty big footprint. We have to train ourselves to have green habits. 12 Atlanta Parent April 2021
atlantaparent.com
