Into the Streets: 360 Incoming Freshmen to Volunteer throughout Mid-shore Community, August 22

Chestertown, MD, August 8, 2003 — Washington College will hold its fifth annual "Into the Streets" day of community service August 22, 2003. The incoming freshman class-360 students in all-will volunteer its time and efforts at 18 sites on the Mid-Shore. The day will begin at 9 a.m. with an on-campus pep rally before the students head "Into the Streets."
"This has been a very successful program over the last five years," said Vicky Sawyer, Associate Director of Career Development and Overseer of Service Learning at Washington College. "Through it, our new students are introduced to a sense of connection with the Eastern Shore community in which they will reside. It's a practical way to teach citizenship and to encourage civic responsibility."
Students will assist in a variety of human service, community and environmental projects for various organizations on the Mid-Shore, including the Adkins Arboretum at Tuckahoe State Park, Camp Fairlee Manor Recreation & Education Center, the Chesapeake Environmental Center, the Chestertown Cemetery, the Community Food Pantry at Christ Methodist Church, Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Kent Family Center, Echo Hill Outdoor School, Kent County Parks and Recreation, Magnolia Hall Nursing Home, and the Pickering Creek Audubon Center.
The "Into the Streets" day of service was started by Washington College alumni Gia Grier '02 and Kathryn Preen '00. After attending the 1999 Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) Conference as students, they worked with Sawyer to develop and increase service learning programs on and off campus. "Into the Streets" specifically was created to provide incoming freshman and transfer students a day to experience the variety of Mid-Shore organizations 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." For more information on "Into the Streets," or if you represent a community organization seeking student volunteers, contact Vicky Sawyer at 410-778-7892.

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.

Over 400 New Students to Participate in Day of Service

Chestertown, MD, August 14, 2001 — Over 400 new Washington College students will participate in the third annual "Into the Streets Day of Service" on Thursday, August 23, 2001. Students will perform volunteer work throughout the Mid-Shore community. The day will begin with a morning pep rally in the campus' MarthaWashington Square before each group of 20 students heads off with a peer mentor for a day of community service.

"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.