For My Club, My Community, My Country and My World!
Submitted by Connie Gerow, 4-H Tribal Mentoring Coordinator
Equipped with wheelbarrows, rakes, gloves, paint and paintbrushes, the 4-H Mighty Shamrocks from the Salmon River Central Tribal Mentoring program elected to spruce up Rainbow Park in Fort Covington, New York. As a part of Global Youth Service days (April 26-28), sixteen 4-H Members arrived at the park at 10am on Saturday, April 27th and met Connie Gerow, the site coordinator for the Mentoring program, to survey the park and create a plan of action for spring-cleaning.
As the saying goes, “many hands make light work” clearly reflects the tasks that were about to be completed. An area of the park about 50’x 50’ which contained the “barbeque grills” was divided among several people to rake out the dead grass and leaves. In addition, the lawn area beside the pavilion where several small tree limbs had fallen was picked up and raked. Working together, the children filled the wheelbarrows and wheeled the lawn debris to the back of the park. The paved driveway leading to the storage building was swept to remove the remaining fragments left from raking. The Fort Covington Fire Department provided the brooms.
Upon completing the raking portion of the project, it was time for a well needed break and refreshments. Donated by Twin Leaf store in Fort Covington, hot dogs were grilled by one of the mothers, Mrs. Shannen Ostroski. In addition, paper plates, chips, chocolate milk and water were donated for the lunch by Twin Leaf.
After a lunch break, the group decided that the Merry-Go-Round and one picnic table was in need of a fresh paint job. Paintbrushes were donated by Smith Lumber in Fort Covington. The following 4-H members painted the Merry-Go-Round, yellow, blue and purple: Erica Benedict, Kirsten Davis, Marlana Doolittle, Braxtyn Dumas, Ellie Kenyon, Starr Ostroski and Mackenzie Taylor. Whereas, Casey McMahon and Dylan Fisher painted the dreary picnic table a bright orange. In addition, a faded replica of Barney that adorned a sheet of plywood attached to a climbing apparatus was restored by Adriana Reardon, Diondra Dyer and Destiny Boudrieau. Chad Clement, Leah Sisson, Dominic and Sam Taylor (a non-member) rounded out the remainder of the 4-H Mighty Shamrock workforce.
Four hours later with the help of many hands, Rainbow Park in Fort Covington, was one step closer for children, families or groups to come and play at the park.
The 4-H Pledge – I pledge my head for clearer thinking, my heart for greater loyalty, my hands for larger service and my health for better living for my club, my community, my country and my world - reflects the goals that each of the 4-H children achieved by participating in a joint Global Youth Service project. .
For more information, about 4-H and other Franklin County Cornell Cooperative Extension programs, one may call the office at 518.483.7403.
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