DUBLIN, Ohio – Spending a hot summer day cleaning up a nature preserve is not where you would expect to find teenagers, but on Friday, June 18, the Trabue M.L. "Red" Nature Reserve in Dublin, Ohio, was filled with 120 of them. Mormon youths and their leaders from the Columbus Ohio North Stake, including Dublin, Marion, Marysville, Delaware and Worthington areas, participated in this and other service projects Thursday, June 17, to Saturday, June 19.
These youths came together for a three-day youth conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent much of the conference serving.
At the Trabue Nature Reserve, the teenagers tackled waist-high weeds.
"This huge project looked so big at first, then when everyone tackled it together, we accomplished so much!" said Andrea Olsen, of Dublin.
Scott Weber, 17, of Dublin, said, "This is a lot of fun. It is a great experience working together and knowing I'm doing some good out here."
Leaders for the LDS youths contacted the City of Dublin and expressed their desire to help in the community. Workers with the City of Dublin have a huge job keeping up the many nature reserves throughout the city and assigned the youths this weeding project. Most might shirk at the idea of spending the day weeding, but these youths approached the project with an eagerness and commitment to help the environment. Since many of these youths live and attend school in Dublin, the opportunity to make a difference in their community became personal.
Stake Young Women's President Debbie Cluff said, "The youth here today are so great; it is obvious they are really loving the togetherness and making a difference in our environment and community."
The LDS youth rounded out the weekend by writing letters of support to military personnel and making fleece blankets to be donated to LDS Humanitarian Services.
Camy M. Cox is a public relations and a media relations specialist with the Columbus Ohio North Stake.