This weekend at Samoa Beach PacOut Green Team organized yet another one of their weekly 60-minute cleanups this weekend. Removing trash and restoring the coastline as part of the ever-growing community service opportunities in Humboldt. Arcata High’s Interact club sees steady growth, which draws High Schoolers to community service.
“There are a lot of freshmen who are committed to volunteering who join every year,” Elsa Neukem, a longtime Rotary member, said.
This overwhelming amount of attendance at the club shows a great interest in community service for a multitude of reasons. One being connected to other students.
“It helps you connect with people, I have a lot of friends that wouldn’t have otherwise,” Neukem explained. “It gives you an incentive to go out and connect with the community.”
Beyond making new connections, a major reason people participate in community service is the academic benefits.
“A big part of it is how it helps college applications. A lot of the time, it’s the opportunities that come with it,” Neukem said. Furthermore, beyond making connections and academic benefits. Students report genuine enjoyment in service work. “Honestly, the big thing is that it’s always fun. There’s never a time I’ve been to an event and found it boring, and it’s fulfilling to know you are helping the community.”
The Interact club welcomes new members year-round, and it’s never too late to begin working towards your future or meet new friends. For information about the Interact Club, you can go to room 107 on any Friday. Events are organized and shared in Google Classroom. Pacout Green teams cleanups happen every weekend. You can find more information on their website.
