Sustainability Corner: Volunteering makes a difference
Photo courtesy of Matt Burkhartt
As the semester comes to a close, remember the opportunities that next semester can bring, especially those unrelated to academics.
As the semester comes to a close, remember the opportunities that next semester can bring, especially those unrelated to academics. Whether it be as minute as volunteering for a SUNY Geneseo-sponsored event or taking part in an event outside of the college community, now may be the time for some readers to think about what next they can take part in to better the campus community and the environment as a whole.
On SUNY Geneseo’s campus, the best route to search is through the Department of Student Life, specifically via Student Volunteerism and Community Engagement. Cheyenne DeMarco runs this sub-department and leads many volunteering excursions made available through campus. This sub-department seeks to enrich as many students as possible into the world of volunteerism as they blossom in their adult lives through interaction with various communities.
DeMarco shared their most recent excursion that was shared with the staff and The Lamron, giving some insights into what a volunteer experience may look like, especially during a typical Western New York winter. What follows is a segment of the experience surrounding one of the departments’ final excursions for the Fall 2024 semester to aid volunteers at the One Hundred Acre Nature Park in Rush, NY.
“On Nov. 22, [2024], 18 dedicated students and volunteers braved the drizzly, gray skies to lend a hand at One Hundred Acre Nature Park in Rush, NY, located at 250 Rush-Scottsville Rd. This nature sanctuary is a haven for biodiversity, and the nonprofit's goal is to restore habitats by planting native trees, bushes, and wildflowers to support declining populations of birds and pollinators. The volunteers, guided by the park staff, prepared and planted black cherry trees, contributing significantly to the park’s mission.”
DeMarco continued in a report saying, “Sebastian Romero, a member of Zeta Beta Xi at SUNY Geneseo, reflected on the day: ‘I really enjoyed going to 100 Acre Nature Park! Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, the dedication and enthusiasm of the park staff and volunteer tree planters made the experience truly unique. During the tour, we learned some important ecological facts, then step-by-step, how to plant a tree.’ [and] Ayden Link, SUNY Geneseo Junior, echoed the sentiment…”
DeMarco crescendoed by saying, “These students…deepened their understanding of ecological conservation and displayed the resilience and commitment that nonprofits depend on…. This service trip underscored the importance of teamwork and the tangible impact volunteers can make, even under challenging conditions.”
Though the work may be messy, it sets out to leave a lasting mark on the landscape in which volunteer work is completed. This work is meant to, as SUNY Geneseo’s Student Volunteerism webpage says, “Engag[e] with diverse communities and peer groups [and] is essential for gaining real-world experience. It helps you discover more about yourself—what kind of community you want to be a part of, whose voices you want to uplift, and which issues you are committed to addressing.”
Cheyenne DeMarco can be contacted through their email address cdemarco@geneseo.edu, via phone at 585-245-5893, or through the Student Volunteerism and Community Engagement webpage —which is soon to be updated— for any eager student ready to aid some well-deserving causes coming in the upcoming Spring semester!