Service Day

Yesterday my POD has a day of service. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Organization organized for us to go to Oakdale Local Elementary School and help construct a trail that will lead the school playground to the woods area behind the school. The main goal of the project is to create an environment that encourages kids to play amongst nature and small wildlife. To give you a visual: behind the school there is about 150 ft of blacktop, and then beyond the blacktop is about 350 ft of fenced-in woods.

As soon as I saw shovels, rakes and hoes in front of our POD van at 8:00 am, I began to get excited. I am not too picky about which projects I end up doing through NCCC, but I definitely want them to be hands-on. We arrived at the site at 9:00 am, and tried to avoid hitting the several hundred children that swarmed the parking lot (successfully). We were briefed on the project right away, but before we could get working we had the pleasure of being entertained by the Kindergartners singing the Thank You Song (so cute!). It really pumped us up and made us all ready to get started.

The path for the trail was already outlined about 4 inches deep, so our job was to pack down the dirt with the middle as the highest point, set the side wood bumpers (if you will), and evenly fill the area with gravel.

Here are some pictures from a POD member's camera... Thanks Laura!

The angle is weird (just tilt you head to the right)

I was really proud that I was able to bring over as many wheel barrels of gravel as I did (a job that mostly the guys did)! But what can you do when your born and raised a champion?! haha I definitely earned my meals today! Every member of my POD was covered in dirt and sweat by the end of the day, which is exactly what I hoped for!

Thank God I wore my boots! Imagine if I had done this to my sneakers?!

Something interesting that my team leader, Maureen spoke about is the process of 'service learning.' Basically what that means is that corps members are challenged to understand and execute every service project with a knowledge of the community around them. By getting to know the culture and customs of community, you can provide them with a more effective and direct services. Speaking to locals usually gives you a good feel of community values. Service learning allows Corps members to understand their project through the eyes of the community. How will you be perceived by community members, and how can you use the knowledge of a communities values to better meet their needs? (Sounds a lot like sociology right??? Love it!)

** How dirty did I really get you ask?: I volunteered to help the 6th graders weed out their gardens. (I know, I can't maintain my own garden but I'll do everyone else's) All weeds and debris were supposed to be thrown in a dumpster near by. When I went to lift the lid a thick stream of hot, brown, garbage water poured right on to my head, down my face and all over my t-shirt. (Not a joke) The smell was atrocious. Luckily we didn't stay at the cite for more than an hour so I was able to tough it out. I took a well deserved shower when I got home (my roommate let me go first, nice right?)

Overall, I had a really awesome, great, fabulous day (other than the garbage water, which is at least a little humorous). I hope to have many more similar projects with such tangible and rewarding end products!

Post again soon!
Love you all!