While some college students venture south to warm beaches for spring break, others want to give back and have new experiences.An adventurous group ofeleven Sky Meadows State Park helping clean up the campground and developing trails.The students didn’t only gain work experience during their time here; they also learned about some of the natural and cultural history of the park.
Di Xi Wang expressed her gratitude: “Thank you for the awesome trip! It was a great experience for me. I not only gained knowledge on plant diversity and environmental science, but also made good friends with all of you. I will definitely take my parents to the state park next time [we visit Virginia].”
Other participants had this to say:
"The ASB trip was hard work but I had a lot of fun and got to know some awesome people!"
"This was by far one of the best spring breaks of my life. The scenery was breath-taking, the work was fulfilling, and the people were amazing!! It's a great feeling to know that we made such a positive impact on the campground and it's even better to know that everyone had a great time doing it. I loved everything about this trip and can't wait to see what is in store for next year."
"Volunteering at Sky Meadows State Park was a one of a kind experience.The staff was quite exceptional and friendly.They had fun activities planned for us to do, interspersed with the work and service we provided; whether it was rain or shine. Working in the park was a fun and rewarding experience, bringing students together as a team and as friends, towards a common goal of completing assigned tasks that improved aspects of the park.Our stay was a fantastic experience and I would not hesitate to be involved in a similar alternative spring break!"
"Having work and leisure experience with the Michigan State Parks, I was drawn to this trip in interest of visiting another state to experience what Virginia State Parks had to offer. I was blown away by the rich history and beauty of this state and specifically this park.Sky Meadows was a beautiful destination for this alternative spring break. I enjoyed working to help improve the state land and create the vision of those who had dedicated the land.I had an amazing time getting to know some of my fellow Spartans who shared my drive for increasing the greater good throughout the park. I am so fortunate to have such great memories to look back on and be proud of and laugh at in the future!"
"The Alternative Spring Break at Sky Meadows State Park was a wonderful experience. As an avid hiker, it was enriching to design and create the trails leading to the campsites. The best experience was making a site available for handicapped access; I hope this is utilized this summer. It will be a camping experience well worth it. The people at Sky Meadows were also fantastic; they made us feel welcomed and treated us like fellow coworkers, all aligning towards the same goals of creating a great park. I look forward to opportunities to return to Sky Meadows in the future."
The Spartan team worked hard and did a great job. They accomplished quite a bit and contributed a great deal to the experience of future campers to Sky Meadows State Park.The entire park staff would like to say “thank you” to Vanessa, Colleen, Jessalyn, Halle, Chelsy, Miranda, Tyler, Di Xi, Matt, James, and Alex.