Into The Streets: 390 New Washington College Students To Participate In Day Of Service On Mid-Shore

Chestertown, MD, August 19, 2002 — On Saturday, August 24, 2002, Washington College will sponsor its fourth annual "Into the Streets" program. During this day of service, 390 students new to the Washington College community will perform volunteer work throughout the Mid-Shore. The day will begin with an on-campus gathering of all of the students before they head off in 20 groups of 15-30 student volunteers, each led by a peer mentor.

"'Into the Streets' is a great way in which to introduce our new students to the Eastern Shore community, and we hope that it will also help to give them a sense of responsibility for the needs of communities in which they will eventually reside," said Vicky Sawyer, Associate Director of Career Development and Overseer of Service Learning at Washington College.

Students will participate in a variety of human services, community and environmental projects at locations on the Mid-Shore. Sites include but are not limited to Adkins Arboretum at Tuckahoe State Park, Camp Fairlee Manor, Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Kent Association for Riding Therapy, Kent Center, Millington Wildlife Center, Community Food Pantry, and Chesapeake Fields Institute.

The "Into the Streets" Day of Service was started by 2002 graduate Washington College Gia Grier as a student 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.