Kids Today!

This isn't necessarily a "bog blog" post, but the events occurred in the watershed, so I figured going through the loophole was okay.

I have a tale to tell of two completely different kinds of kids—it will be easy to tell which kind I prefer!

Last week, I had the pleasure of giving a $100 cash award and certificate from the PCWA to George Bader, a senior from Moorestown Friends School, in recognition of his commitment to the environment, demonstrated by his record of community service and volunteerism, and his understanding of environmental issues.

I had worked with George at the Teaberry Run restoration site, and was always impressed with his dedication and maturity. Tonight, I will be giving the same award to Justin Falcone, from Holy Cross High School, based on the same criteria. And there are two more awards to be handed out—one to Moorestown High School and one to Palmyra (can't tell the names yet - it's a surprise!)

Sadly, we had not one single applicant from Cinnaminson or Delran. The four students chosen to receive these awards are reason to think that there is indeed hope for the future, that the lessons we tried to teach were not in vain. They are not just good kids, they are decent human beings.

And then we have the flip side ... While I was out rescuing the Riverton Road turtle on Memorial Day, and then working with the Moorestown Girl Scouts on their project about the environment (for Moorestown's Community Day), one of the little darlings from my neighborhood decided to pay a visit to my property next to the creek, unsupervised.

We have recently had an influx of new families moving in to East Riverton, and they do not seem to have the same "one for all, all for one" attitude that has always been the neighborhood's finest characteristic. This kid proceeded to smash a glass canister that had recently been found next to the creek, broke apart the metal frame that held wind chimes, took two dogwood saplings from the container they were in while waiting to be planted and threw them on the ground (and then tossed the plastic container in the creek), and worst of all, took the tiki torch that was next to the creek to keep the mosquitoes away while we do our creek watching, and tossed it into the creek as well, oil and all.

I have never understoood this kind of vandalism—soaping a window or two, or toilet papering someone's car, maybe—not this kind of destruction! My son had seen the kid as he was leaving, but didn't know about the damage, so he didn't say anything to the kid. After I surveyed the horror, I went around the neighborhood to let people know what had happened, and that I was offering amnesty to the vandal if he came forward and apologized and let me explain the harm he had done, not just the property, but to the wildlife habitat.

One parent asked for a description of the kid my son had seen, and he would identify which of the neighborhood children it was. When I told him, and he realized it was his own son, he immediately clammed up, and wouldn't talk to me anymore. It is now two days later and I haven't gotten an apology, but at least the little brat hasn't done any more damage.

So, my dilemma: Do I call the cops? Do I go back and tell the parents that I know that it was their kid? Do I set a Wily E. Coyote trap for him? What do you think?