Saturday of Service Sends New Students into Community

Annual event benefits area parks
9/20/2011

More than 300 incoming ESF students along with their orientation leaders went off campus Aug. 27 for the eighth annual Saturday of Service coordinated by the Office of Student Activities.

"We are extremely excited about this event, because it directly benefits area residents as well as setting an example right away of the importance of public service and helping our students make an early connection with the community," said Liz Mix, ESF's community service and service-learning coordinator.

Also, this project allows the college to continue community partnerships with Syracuse City Parks and Recreation, Onondaga County Parks and New York State Parks. The projects included:

Syracuse City Parks: brush and debris cleanup in Thornden, Lincoln, Schiller, Onondaga and Elmwood parks

Onondaga County Parks: general cleanup and maintenance at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery

New York State Parks: invasive species removal and trail maintenance at Green Lakes State Park, Chittenango Falls and Clark Reservation

Onondaga Creek: creek and creekside cleanup along Onondaga Creek with the Creek Rats

Plus, for the first time, Cornell Cooperative Extension's CommuniTree Stewards worked with students at Onondaga Park.

Before departing for their specific sites, Steve Harris, the city arborist, spoke to the students about the role of parks in the community and how the students' volunteerism impacts the entire community.