TLC Community Outreach Activity

Clarissa Gibney

On May 10, 2011, a group of TLC students did a community outreach activity by cleaning the surroundings of the Gainesway Pond located along the Tates Creek area. The objective of this activity was to restore the natural status of the pond. We were accompanied by both Ms. Galla and Coach Coles, along with Ms. Pattie Stivender, an Environmental Educator who works for Bluegrass Pride. Bluegrass Pride is an organization that is dedicated to educating Kentuckians about the environment they live in.

At Gainesway Pond, we focused on cleaning up trash and recyclables out of the pond to make it a safer, cleaner, much prettier environment – and to give back to our community. We collected 17.25 pounds of garbage that may have otherwise been left to sit and continue polluting the water. The values that we caught from the activity made a great impact on us, as we became more aware of our environment. Jordan Garner said by cleaning up the pond, he was influenced to want to clean up his room! That goes to show that we wish to be the change we want to see in the world. When we were done, we even got to sit in the shade to have a picnic provided by Mrs. Galla before heading back to TLC.

We are facing a lot of environmental issues that can only be solved one small step at a time. By making an effort to clean up one park, we have made progress towards providing a healthier atmosphere in all of Lexington.

If everyone was inspired to clean up after themselves, and to give back to their neighborhood, the world we live in would be a more beautiful place. We should be the brain, not the cancer of nature. All it takes is a little bit of effort from everyone to protect our environment, which is our only home. Tiffany said this activity did not only teach her to be an environmentalist, but a nature warrior, who is ready to defend Mother Nature at anytime. Justin Talbert ended the day with a smile, saying how great it was to have helped out the community. Students at TLC were proud to have made a difference, and look forward to doing activities like this in the future. We thank the Bluegrass Pride organization, our teachers, and our principal, Mr. Chi, for allowing TLC to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and for providing us multiple opportunities outside of school to learn about ourselves, proving that the environment is the best extension of the classroom, where we can apply our learned life skills every single day.