Division 22 Kiwanis and Students clean up at Greenwell State Park
by Glynnis Schmidt, (301) 737-6311, bwsges@yahoo.com

On Sunday, October 5, 2008 the Kiwanis Club of St. Mary’s County sponsored their 4th Annual Volunteer Clean-Up Day at Greenwell State Park. Kiwanis members from four local clubs were joined by students from the Key Clubs at Great Mills High School, St. Mary’s Ryken High School, and Northern High School, and the CKI Club from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

There were approximately 60 volunteers who put in 240 service hours performing various tasks for the park. Volunteers helped with trail maintenance, pulling weeds, raking leaves, picking up trash, and other tasks. Students from Key Clubs at St. Mary’s Ryken & Northern High School focused on raking and weeding around the Historic Rosedale Manor House and surrounding areas such as the chapel and gift shop. Volunteers from Great Mills High School worked on most of the park trails, picking up trash and trimming back branches. CKI students from St. Mary’s College focused on weeding and maintaining the rose garden, which is a popular site for weddings at Greenwell. Kiwanis members from various clubs worked at the Clubhouse and the Francis Knott Lodge.

This event is an annual favorite with students from Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs. It provides an opportunity for hands-on service and with so many students working at one time, the resulting changes at the park are obvious.

The volunteers are provided a picnic lunch after the clean-up and always have fun socializing after the work is completed. Here are some of the responses from students who participated:

"My group and I worked around the garden by the canteen and the gift shop. I liked lending a helping hand and making a beautiful place, even more beautiful. It is really important for the beauty of the past to be preserved for future generations to enjoy and being able to be a part of that is an amazing gift. It is really good bonding for the Key Club members, we get Student Service Learning hours while learning more about the people that we are working with. We also learn to work as team and cooperate with one another." - Danielle Wilkin, Great Mills High School

"Our group was assigned to clean and trim [branches hanging] on the trails at the park. By the time we got to our last trail we were all exhausted. As we pressed down the steep rocky hill, we were met by the Patuxent River. We stopped in our tracks. Some even took out their phones to take pictures. It was just so beautiful. Untouched by humans. The sun shown on the water so that it glistened, clearly reflecting every detail of the trees and sky above it. Sounds of birds singing and the wind chiming formed in symphony. Truly nature at her purest." - Judia Holton, Great Mills High School

"This was my first time helping with the clean up and it was great to see so many Key Clubbers, CKI'ers and Kiwanians working together to meet one goal. It was also a great way for Key Clubbers to get involved with their district project, "Green is Key"." - Caitlin Zibreg, Northern High School, Division 22 Key Club Lieutenant Governor

The Kiwanis Club of St. Mary’s County sponsored this event with cooperation from the Greenwell Foundation, which is a non-profit organization providing numerous programs and facilities at Greenwell State Park. Activities include summer camp, horseback riding lessons, kayaking, nature programs, and a therapeutic riding program for individuals with developmental, physical, or emotional challenges.