URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Some students in Central Illinois did their part to keep a park clean in Urbana Saturday.
The park district’s FRESH Crew Volunteer Days encourages students from 6th-12th grades to volunteer and keep parks healthy. Saturday morning, they were out at Crystal Lake Park, picking up trash in the Saline Branch Drainage Ditch.
Champaign Co. organizations supporting community through Scott Bennett Family Resources Day
Organizers said it not only helps the environment but also the students through responsibility and friendship.
“And what it means to us is getting these teens to be able to have an outlet to go out, enjoy nature, be a part of their community,” said Connor Ross with the Urbana Park District. “They get to feel responsible for taking care of the parks that they get to enjoy as people that live around the area. They get to feel a sense of ownership, and also they get to make new friendships and new mentorships with the people that work here.”
He also said the program has been helping parks stay clean for the past five years and is continuing to grow.
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