National and Global Youth Service Day 2007
For the second year, City Gate youth will better their neighborhood and learn about environmental awareness by cleaning the area around a foot bridge located in Oxon Run Park in SE DC.
First, youth and adult advisors will visit the site: a foot bridge that spans a small stream which runs the length of Oxon Run Park. This foot bridge is used by thousands of people each year due to its location, crossing a stream that divides the surrounding neighborhood in half. Many children and youth who live south of this park use the footbridge to cross to Hart Middle and Ballou High School, which are north of the park. Many adults also use this foot bridge because to walk around the park is three extra blocks. Currently, the area around the path and footbridge is heavily littered with trash an abandoned vehicle. Youth will assess and document the condition of the site, determine exactly what and how the site should be cleaned, and how to set up the event base on the site.
Then, youth and adult advisors will meet during the after-school time to learn more about the issues involved in the clean-up, recruit community volunteers and supporters, plan a schedule of events for the two days of the clean-up (April 20-21, 2007), address budgetary and logistical issues associated with the clean-up. Older youth will be assigned to take the lead on different aspects of the project, such as finding a truck to haul larger items of trash away or making sure all participants take proper safety precautions before picking up trash.
On the service date, youth, adult advisors, and other community volunteers will remove trash and other debris from the area around the foot bridge. Teams of youth will be in charge if various aspects of the clean-up, such as collecting and recycling glass and plastic bottles. Adult supervisors will be on hand to make sure everyone is following safety procedures and address any immediate issues. One of the days, a tow vehicle or large truck may be present to assist with the removal of large or heavy items of trash. During the work, we hope to have local community leaders, such as the principles of local schools visit the site. At the end of the second day of cleanup, youth will document the difference they have made, thank community volunteers, and receive certificates for their work.
After the service date, on Monday, April 23, 2007, youth and adult advisors will meet during the after-school program to evaluate the project: both positive and negative aspects of the project will be rated and discussed as well as lessons learned and ideas to apply to next year's National Youth Service Day.