Spring breakers to volunteer on Beach
The mission of Alternative Spring Break is to engage students in an affordable, weeklong substance free experiential service-learning project that encourages an understanding of pressing social issues. This program is one of hundreds that take place across the nation in both colleges and high schools. All are linked through the national organization Break Away.
We are fortunate that Lee County Parks and Recreation has designated various parks and preserves as destinations of University of Georgia students participating in ASB. These young people focus on environmental awareness and will be doing a weeks worth of mostly hands-on work beginning March 13. While they’ll begin shoreline clean up by kayak, they’ll spend much of their time removing invasive exotic vegetation from Bowditch Point Regional Park, Bunch Beach Preserve, and Matanzas Pass Preserve on Fort Myers Beach. Lakes Regional Park will also be the recipient of their energetic work.
These students are passionate about helping the environment and improving the world we all share. Their hope is that others will recognize the importance of environmental work in communities beyond their own. They also wish to demonstrate that each person giving just a little of their time can help an entire community.
“We spent a few days searching for different locations, different programs to be involved in and some place that would be happy to have us. After a few no’s and not really’s, we finally received a yes from Vicki Little,” said Chelsea Ivy, Fort Myers site leader via email.
“We are very excited about our trip for two major reasons. First, the people we have had the pleasure of planning the trip with have been nothing but absolutely gracious. Vicki Little and Logan McDonald have put in many hours planning and re-planning different and unique projects for us to do each day. Father Bob at St. Hilary’s, where we will be staying, has also been kind enough to lodge our group and provide a couple of meals.”
These alternative spring breakers will be at Matanzas Pass Preserve on Wed. March 16, if you wish to meet them there. Vicki Little has their schedule if you wish to meet them on another day.
-submitted by Lee Parks & Rec staff