Our youngest supporters’ contributions

Part 1 by Erin Davis, Volunteer at Carefree Park
Part 2 by Daniel Crespo-Dubie, Volunteer at Carefree Park
October 20. 2023

Children aged 5 to 10 have rallied behind the mission of Carefree Park in Arizona, crafting artistic posters to support its mission of preserving 48 acres of the Sonoran desert. Their creative efforts emphasize the urgency of conservation and inspire the park’s $7 million fundraising goal, highlighting the hope for a preserved space for future generations.

Part 1:
New very young supporters join the effort

In California, my young daughters and nephews learned about Carefree Park, a nonprofit in Carefree, Arizona, working passionately to preserve the last 48 acres of Sonoran desert. Their deep empathy for the cause was immediate, and it was my daughters who initially came up with the idea to make posters after we discussed the mission. Inspired by our connection to Wendy, a friend and dedicated board member of Carefree Park, we decided to create posters for an upcoming town meeting dedicated to fundraising efforts.

Armed with cactus stencils, paints, and markers, the young girls and boys embarked on a creative journey. The girls painted a breathtaking desert sunset backdrop, while the boys chose vibrant blue and green as a representation of the landscape. With their chosen backgrounds, they added cactus stencils and wrote heartfelt messages urging to save the land. This form of art-driven activism filled them with a sense of pride and purpose, and they eagerly await news on the progress.

Part 2: Our park on the kids’ eyes

We talk often about the importance of saving our open spaces, our desert. About giving our town a park, a park that is easy accessible for all. We tell ourselves that this is a difficult task but an achievable dream should we put our minds and effort on it. Seven million ($7 M) in one year, that is our challenge, our target. And what a legacy for generations to come!

All the above is the real, firm, strong convictions of the ones that started pushing to acquire this land. At time it feels like too tall a mountain to climb. At times we might feel that it is just a dream. Any sense of discouragement went away when saw how a group of kids reacted to hearing about this initiative. They gifted us with their support, happy interpretation of the quest, and their artistic renderings. Here is their gift to us, and their request that we do not give up, that they are waiting for this land to become a park that they and the kids to follow them can visit and enjoy in its today’s pristine state.

Child's Poster Save the Desert

Jesse, 8 years old, 3rd grade

Emma, 5 years old, Kindergarten

Child's poster to Save the Land

Hannah, 8 years old, 3rd grade

Child's poster to Save the Desert

Tyler, 10 years old, 6th grade

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