Service Day Yields Surprises for Youth Action Council

A boot. A baby doll. A football. These are just some of the “treasures” that Youth Action Council members pulled from Lake Cochituate during their Service Day on December 3, 2011. Participants came together under the direction of Big Heart Little Feet for waterway and trail clean-up at Pegan Cove Park in Natick.

“We want the members of our community-based Youth Action Council (YAC) to experience all aspects of philanthropy, and Service Days are an important component of the program”, says Jennifer Ubaldino, Youth In Philanthropy Coordinator. “In addition to the volunteer experience, these days help students understand more about nonprofit organizations and the work they do. They also learn more about working together to achieve a goal.”

YAC participants picked-up trash, debris and broken glass from a couple of areas, and helped to cut back invasive species that threaten trees.

This Service Day was organized by YAC member Alex Mahoney, a Sherborn sophomore who also participated in the program last year. Volunteering is a priority with the 2011-2012 group, so more trips are expected in the coming months.

Big Heart Little Feet is a program of the Lake Cochituate Watershed Council, one of the Foundation’s environmental grant recipients for 2011. The Youth Action Council is part of the Foundation’s Youth In Philanthropy program designed to empower youth to impact their communities.