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Happy Hollow Elementary Hosts Arkansas Energy Corps Service Day
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Every year on MLK Day, Americans honor Dr. King through a day of service.
To celebrate this year's day of service, Happy Hollow teacher Kathy Snodgrass and elementary student volunteers worked with local Arkansas Energy Corps members to clear trails, and plant flower bulbs, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, garlic, potatoes, and herbs around the school property.
Volunteers arrived early Monday morning to begin clearing a trail system that extends from the school to a nearby creek. In the past, elementary students have utilized the trails during intersession weeks and summer programs. Energy Corps member Elizabeth Hill has used the trail system for a Nature Explorers intersession class and Happy Hollow instructional aide Mark Hitt has also used the trails during intersession weeks and summer programs for nature walks and training.
"I'm really happy about all the great work we did, as I am going to help out with an intersession next month, and now there is a good trail for us to use to get to the creek (which also got cleaned up during our day!), where we can do some water sampling and look for creek critters," Hill explained.
After a short lunch break, the team divided into groups to accomplish three different tasks. One group planted several tulip and daffodil bulbs around the perimeter of the school. A group planted raspberry and blueberry bushes in front of the fence that boarders the pond on the property. Another group planted herbs, garlic, potatoes, and strawberries in the school garden that neighbors the greenhouse known as the "Experimental Garden Lab." Happy Hollow teacher Kathy Snodgrass helped to guide the plantings around the school. Several Happy Hollow student volunteers also helped plant bulbs and seeds in the garden.
"The garden around the Experimental Garden Lab will be utilized in our cafeteria for fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking. Many of the herbs planted can be a substitute for salt, which definitely will be healthier for our students." Snodgrass said of the garden. "Absolutely the garden and trails are beneficial for our school. Science, geology, math, art, etc. can be explored further by having gardens and trails to different bodies of water made accessible to our students."
On being a part of the Energy Corps, Hill said, "[...] it's being a part of this great community of inspiring people who are doing work that they really believe in, and that is geared toward not just helping others, but helping our planet. It is exciting to know that we truly are doing things that make a positive difference."
The school district and Happy Hollow elementary are very appreciative of the work done by the community volunteers. Students and teachers look forward to utilizing the new trails and continuing to learn and grow in the gardens.
For more information about Arkansas Energy Corps, please visit: http://www.energycorps.org/
This feature story written by FPS Energy Corps member Sammi Jones.