'It's more of a duty'
Youth from across the country converge on Rutland
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Alex LaPorto of Elon, N.C., helps work on the Pine Hill Park trails in Rutland on Tuesday. Vyto Starinskas / Rutland Herald |
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By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer - Published: July 23, 2009
A mile deep into the woods at Rutland's Pine Hill Park Monday and Tuesday, the sound of pickaxes tapping away at rocks and roots was softened with childish laughter.
Seventy youth from Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina were doing what they knew how to do best — volunteering with no questions asked.
The teens, many of whom never met before this week, hauled dirt, noshed on chocolate and laughed about how they knew all the hard work maintaining one of Rutland's recreational hot spots would surely pay off.
"I feel like it's more of a duty," said 18-year-old Alex Young of Defiance, Ohio.
The out-of-town do-gooders are part of YouthWorks — a Christian-based organization that organizes youth missions in 72 different places through the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico – and have converged on Rutland each of the last three years to make a difference in the lives of ordinary, and not so ordinary, Vermonters.
They spend hours maintaining popular Pine Hill walking and biking trails, effortlessly attempt arts and crafts and conversations with elders triple their age and read to local children when no one else takes the time to.
Started at a Minnesota church in 1994, the mission of the nonprofit YouthWorks is to bring opportunities to whole families and youth in grades seven through 12 to work on humanitarian projects in communities outside of their comfort zone, often far away from home and places they may have never been before, according to the organization.
"While work projects are significant activities during the week, they are just the beginning of what we try to provide for our youth participants," said founder and president Paul Bertelson in a press release about 2009 summer activities.
"We want these students to interact with the communities they serve because there is just as much an opportunity to learn as there is to give."
This year's youth groups shower at White's Pool, sleep in classrooms at the Rutland Area Christian School and spend dozens of hours traveling from their home churches and back in economy vans.
Anna Schrag, 17, also of Defiance, brought her own air bed and money.
"I have a feeling I'm going to like the kids the best," the rookie YouthWorks volunteer said.
The youth sign up with other congregants from their churches.
No denomination is restricted from doing missions.
They raise hundreds of dollars for food and travel by holding bake sales and car washes, according to volunteer Jennifer Gill, 13, of Dayton, Ohio.
"It's seeing the smiles on their faces," Gill said of the people and children her group helps.
Everyone is welcome to do missions and everyone is welcome back, according to group leaders.
Ohio's Lauren Krutsch, 17, said she didn't think twice about doing a second mission.
She had a reward for her family in mind.
"I've never been to Vermont," she said.
"I'm thinking about bringing my parents back here to hike this trail," Gill said moments after she lifted her last pail of dirt over the portion of smooth trail she meticulously groomed throughout the day.
For more information on YouthWorks, go to www.youthworks.com.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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