He's the voice of youth for an organization devoted to enhancing the natural beauty of Dubuque County.
Nick Kringle brought that youthful voice to Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green nearly two years ago when he created the organization's Web site.
It took the then 12-year-old only two days to build the site.
"This is really important," Kringle said. "I have a great deal of interest in preserving the natural beauty of our country."
That drive fits the spirit of Earth Day, today marking its 39th anniversary.
Kringle's enthusiasm for the environment and his skills with a computer were a pleasant surprise for the older members of the organization.
"We hadn't imagined we would find somebody like him," said Bev Wagner, the green group's secretary. "He's very mature and capable of just taking and going with things."
Kringle, who is the organization's 14-year-old webmaster, has taken the organization's site and added his own youthful spin. He routinely blogs about environmental issues and events on
green meeting today |
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| Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green will meet at 7 p.m. tonight at the Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Anyone interested in becoming a member may attend. |
"It's fun, the stuff he comes up with," said Wagner, Dubuque Metropolitan Solid Waste Agency's education coordinator.
The two environmentalists have become close friends.
"I would say we're mentoring each other," Wagner said. "Nick has taught me as much as I taught him, if not more."
Kringle has attempted to teach his friends and family how a simple task can protect the beauty of Dubuque County.
His advice is simple: "Do one thing to make the environment better or preserve it."
He said it's as easy as picking up litter on the street, printing on both sides of a piece of paper or using cloth grocery bags.
The student hopes more kids will join the organization.
"I want to continue doing this until I can't do it anymore," Kringle said. "I want my grandchildren's grandchildren to have the same beauties and resources that we have today."
