As an environmentalist, I often wonder about the effect that our fun and recreation has on the environment. Therefore, when I heard about paintball, I thought for sure that someone had created a game that would destroy our forests and damage the land! No longer would we have just Smokey the Bear, but we would have to have Paint-y the Bear, as well, to protect our forests. I hated the idea of trees dripping with paint, looking like they had been shot and wounded.

Of course, as it turns out, I had nothing to fear. Paintballs are completely non-toxic, non-caustic, biodegradable, and water-soluble. So, yes, they will temporarily scar a tree with brilliant color, but as soon as it rains, the tree will be as good as new. Besides, most people play paintball in designated paintball parks and arenas