Staying busy and leaving a positive legacy
Meyer, 71, volunteers with the Senior Environment Corps because he wants to keep raising awareness about environmental issues — and stay busy.
“The horrible lure of retirement is to do nothing,” he said. “That’s no good because you just end up vegetating at home, watching daytime TV, and I don’t want to do that.”
The more than dozen volunteers keep active. Some wade into streams to collect water samples, while others test samples in the lab. Some teach kids how to identify aquatic critters and others do research.
Meyer and Schogel say there’s a role for everyone, and the group is always looking for new members.
“If they’re breathing, we want them,” Schogel joked.
Schogel, 85, has been involved with the group for close to three decades. The retired social worker sees it as another way to leave a positive legacy.
“I’m not a wealthy fellow, and I don’t have any money to leave behind to any groups or even my family,” he said. “But I can leave a better world and hopefully inspire people to do something in the future.”
The group meets monthly at a senior center in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood called the Center in the Park.
Eleanor Lundy-Wade, 74, retired from a career as a health inspector and educator. She thought her “biggest” activity at the center would be playing Scrabble, but was excited when she found out about the Senior Environment Corps.
“I said, ‘They’re seniors that love and do the environment?’” she said. “‘I want to be one of them.’”