"Into the Streets is a great way to introduce our new students to the Eastern Shore community," said Vicky Sawyer, Associate Director of Career Development and overseer of service learning at Washington College. "There is no better way for new students to experience ways in which their talents and time can have a positive effect on the lives of others."
Students will participate in a variety of human services and environmental projects on the Shore, including a house restoration in Crumpton, the Kent Center's field day for special needs adults and children, trail maintenance at Adkins Arboretum in Tuckahoe State Park, and animal care at the Humane Society of Kent County. Student groups also will volunteer at Echo Hill Outdoor School, Camp Fairlee Manor, Eastern Neck Island, the Horsehead Wetlands Center, the Kent Association for Riding Therapy, Magnolia Hall, the Millington Wildlife Center, Pickering Creek, and Wye Island.
The Into the Streets Day of Service was started by Washington College student Gia Grier '02 after she attended the 1999 Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) Conference. With new ideas inspired by COOL, she worked with Sawyer to develop and increase service learning programs on and off campus for Washington College students. Into the Streets was created specifically to provide incoming freshman and transfer students a day to experience the variety of social and service organizations on the Shore that welcome student volunteers.
"Into the Streets provides our incoming students their first foray into their new community," said Sawyer. "It is a way to find kindred spirits and friends and encourage student initiative and community involvement. Through formal programs such as this, we have seen student participation in service learning increase on our campus over the past several years." For more information on Into the Streets, or if you represent a community organization seeking student volunteers, contact Vicky Sawyer at 410-778-7892.
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