WLGOS

Fourteen students accompanied “Ol’ Mr. Ready” to the farm, City Roots, for a couple of hours of community service work.  Their assignment was to disassemble the tomato trellises, weed, and spread a little mulch.

 Mr. Ready says that "Students need to be patient with the offers as the bus only carries 14 at a time.   We will be performing community service work every Friday throughout the cycle and taking various field trips.  Those taken on field trips will be those who have shown an interest in the career that we will be researching.  If you have any ideas, I’m all ears.  I will take those field trips at times agreed upon by me and our host." 

This particular group worked well and their contribution to City Roots was greatly appreciated. 

Pictures are in Picasa and video is in Capzles.  

Mr. Gaines and Mr. Freedman took 6 cadets to the field for the first paintball game. Students with NO writeups will have first call for the games. Another group will go soon, so, keep checking back. 

 Pictures are in Picasa and video is in Capzles.

On Friday, August 13, 2010, a number of cadets accompanied Mr. Ready to the Animal Mission of the Midlands. During our last cycle, our cadets were visited by Mr. Jim Sonefeld (president of the Animal Mission) and Ms. Marli Drum (Shelter Director) to share with us the plight of our unwanted pets.  The numbers they put before us were overwhelming and heartbreaking.  We wanted to do our part to help.

 The Animal Mission, located at the Columbia Humane Shelter, is built atop a former city dump.  Over time, glass has made its’ way to the surface and made the Barnyard Petting Area inaccessible to the general public.  Additionally, the goats had attacked many of the trees, eating away at the bark and killing them.  Trees and limbs have fallen all over the yard and made something of an obstacle course, definitely not an inviting home.  Armed with gloves and buckets, we started what will be an ongoing battle to clean up the barnyard.  We began picking up the glass and moving debris to the fenceline.  In doing so, we have devised a strategy to better attack the enemy and will add to our gloves and buckets, new tools in the form of rakes and a shop made sifting tray.

Mr. Gaines wants to join us on our next foray as we found several old medicine bottles, soft drink bottles, and figurines.  For those not in the know, he’s a junkie for anything that may sell at the flea market or on ebay.  Wish us well on this project.  It will be rewarding to do something for the Animal Mission of the Midlands who do so much for our unwanted and unloved friends.

Video is in Capzles and pictures are in Picasa. 

 City Roots is Columbia’s first in-town sustainable community farm.  Our goal was to assist in clean-up and maintenance in preparation for the 1^st Annual Tasty Tomato Festival to be held on Sunday, August 8^th, 2010.  Despite the heat and humidity, the cadets gave a Herculean effort to ensure the farm would be presentable for Sunday’s guests.  Under the leadership of Mr. Eric McClam and Mr. Ben Dubard we weeded rows, spread mulch, prepared dirt for sprouts, and performed general maintenance duties throughout the morning hours.  Our work was followed by a tour of the greenhouse, bee hive, chicken coup, and packaging barn by Mr. G.  We look forward to taking another group out for community service activities at City Roots and other deserving partners.

 These cadets worked hard and also had some fun. Please check out the pictures in Picasa and the video  in Capzles.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Fourteen Cadets enjoyed providing public service to the community by walking along the banks of one section of Riverfront Park.  It was a pleasant day for a change and Cadets enjoyed the river walk AND seeing the result of their work.

These outings are not all work. cadets enjoyed a picnic lunch at Earlwood Park and then some football.  

The Cadets who went on this outing had earned the right. There will be other community service projects and outings... Watch for them.

 Pictures have been posted to Picasa and video os in Capzles.