Blue Thumb Volunteer Spotlight

What inspired you to get involved with Blue Thumb?

Several things inspired me to get involved. I had been looking for ways to volunteer with something that made me feel like I was reciprocating to the earth for the many freely given gifts that support our very lives (like water, no?). There seem to be few such opportunities in Oklahoma but Blue Thumb is one of them, and I do some others, too. Another inspiration was Roberta Pailes, who passed on last year but who had been a mentor and friend to me for years; she had volunteered with Blue Thumb (among many other environmental causes) and in fact monitored the same site I now monitor. Another is Karen Chapman, from whom I inherited the site I monitor, and who still enthusiastically supports Bishop Creek in Norman and gets the word out about water at festivals and other gatherings.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Blue Thumb?

The most enjoyable part about volunteering is having another reason to be outside in another place to enjoy nature, while putting in the effort to caretake the earth. I get to witness the beauty of even the small, overlooked places. Occasionally while monitoring or picking up the endless supply of plastic and trash, I get to see or hear a belted kingfisher fly by heading upstream, find little skunk tracks in the creek bank, or see fish dart through the water or an aquatic insect move among the rocks. It’s also quite enjoyable to interact with festival-goers and kids, interacting with them about our water and the life within it.

How long have you been with the program?

I’ve only been with the program for about a year and a half so far. It’s pretty easy work and doable for me. Kim Shaw is very supportive and keeps us well supplied and in contact despite having a huge area of creeks and volunteers to cover herself.

Is there a memorable moment or lesson from your time with Blue Thumb that stands out?

I feel fortunate to have what seems like a relatively less polluted site than some of the other volunteers I’ve spoken with. Based on the visits we have with people at various fairs and events, the lessons of Native Peoples (“water is life!”), and the collective effort of all the various folks who try to keep our precious waters clean (including Blue Thumb), are invisible to many of the inhabitants of Norman and other parts of Oklahoma who’ve been taught to choose other priorities in their lives. Maybe some will change and choose to reciprocate the gifts of the Earth in their own manner, as I have. Care to join us?

Blue Thumb Volunteer | Nick Czaplewski