So what did you do for spring break? If you are like me, your perfect spring break vacation would have been sitting on a beach far, far away from Utah, where you can soak up the sun and run away from this dreadful weather.
The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center brought a new and exciting opportunity this past spring break for those students who were up for the challenge. Unlike my idea of spending my vacation at the beach, they had something better in mind. Twenty students from UVU accepted the invitation to do a service project in Potash, Moab, where they would be cleaning up part of Canyonlands National Park and helping to make a trail that will help tourists get better access to the river.
Mike Moon, from the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center was in charge of the project together with students Hollie Odekirk and Natalie McMaster, who organized the project. The students pulled, broke and raked away parts of dead trees, moss and left-overs from the high tide. They also learned about nature, the history of Canyonlands and Arches National Park, and got the scoop on the best outdoor adventures and the best places to eat from the park rangers. The service project took two days to finish, but looking at the end product, the students said that it was worth it and they would do it all over again. “I like that the expedition is a big thing where you can see the difference you are making as you are making it,” Odekirk said.
After the project was done, it was time to have some fun: a two hour horseback ride through Arches. The next day, everyone got up early and hiked up the park’s most famous formation, Delicate Arch. Once at the top, everyone gathered together and shared with the group what that project had meant to them individually. “Describe it in one word,” said Moon. “Incredible.” said one; “Miraculous,” said another; “Togetherness,” said another student and so on. Everyone had something good to say about the project and the team.
The Volunteer and Service-Learning Center has some other expeditions planned for the year. So whether you are looking for some service hours, new friends, or just something to do in your free time; you might just find what you are looking for while doing some service. Remember that what you do for others is the legacy you leave behind.
