Well folks, I can’t believe it’s already been over four weeks since I arrived in Portland. The time has just flown by, and it’s really no mystery as to how or why. Every day at SOLVE is new and different; even though we work with some of the same groups each week, it is never the same. We are either working at a new spot or with a different variation of people. Each day I come to work excited to see what’s in store. Throughout my time here so far, I have seen many of SOLVE’s Green Team groups really become involved in the projects they are working on. I was both completely shocked and pleasantly surprised by this. Why? Because I had never seen large groups of young people working so diligently towards the same common interest.
During middle school and high school, I participated in various workdays similar to the ones I assist here in Portland. Some of the volunteers never seemed interested in the work they were doing. The groups I have worked with at SOLVE are nothing like those past volunteers I have been in contact with. So far, I have worked with people with ages varying from 5 to 50. The five-year-old girl was just as helpful as the 50-year-old.
After every event, I can’t help but smile to myself. It is great to see people coming out to help the environment, a cause that often never gets a second thought. This past weekend, our DukeEngage group took a trip to the Oregon Coast. On Saturday, we volunteered with The Nature Conservancy, offering our services at Tillamook Bay, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get some hands-on experience with Oregon’s ecosystems.
When it came time for our lunch break, I heard many people saying how much they hated Blackberry plants and Morning Glory (two different invasive plant species). They wanted it gone just as much as anyone else! I couldn’t help but laugh; it only took them about two hours to realize how much damage the plants can cause to the surrounding ecosystem.
From my experiences with both my DukeEngage group and various Green Teams at SOLVE, I see that there are a large number of people willing to dedicate their time to restoring the environment. I am hopeful for the future, in that generations to come will know how crucial the restoration process is.
Annie Maass '16
During middle school and high school, I participated in various workdays similar to the ones I assist here in Portland. Some of the volunteers never seemed interested in the work they were doing. The groups I have worked with at SOLVE are nothing like those past volunteers I have been in contact with. So far, I have worked with people with ages varying from 5 to 50. The five-year-old girl was just as helpful as the 50-year-old.
After every event, I can’t help but smile to myself. It is great to see people coming out to help the environment, a cause that often never gets a second thought. This past weekend, our DukeEngage group took a trip to the Oregon Coast. On Saturday, we volunteered with The Nature Conservancy, offering our services at Tillamook Bay, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get some hands-on experience with Oregon’s ecosystems.
When it came time for our lunch break, I heard many people saying how much they hated Blackberry plants and Morning Glory (two different invasive plant species). They wanted it gone just as much as anyone else! I couldn’t help but laugh; it only took them about two hours to realize how much damage the plants can cause to the surrounding ecosystem.
From my experiences with both my DukeEngage group and various Green Teams at SOLVE, I see that there are a large number of people willing to dedicate their time to restoring the environment. I am hopeful for the future, in that generations to come will know how crucial the restoration process is.
Annie Maass '16