On a sunny June day, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center hosted a vibrant Summer of Service Planting Day event for Next Generation Scholars students in Dorchester County. This event marked a significant step in community engagement and environmental safekeeping. The event, part of a broader initiative to revitalize green spaces, drew high school volunteers to unite in their commitment to making a substantial difference while simultaneously earning service-learning hours, a Maryland high school graduation requirement. For students, it is also marked as a significant step due to the importance of pouring good into their communities and providing the opportunity to look back at something they have contributed to positively.
The partnership with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center was pivotal, leveraging the organization’s deep community roots and extensive outreach. Showing how the landscape of the Choptank River region molded her earlier years, this collaboration ensured a well-organized and impactful event, with a focus on beautifying the campus while displaying how the regions environment contributed to Tubman’s legacy. Volunteers were greeted with warm smiles and an array of plants ready to be nestled into their new homes, including eleven Next Generation Scholars students from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School.
Throughout the day, participants worked side by side, sharing gardening tips and stories, fostering a sense of fellowship and purpose. Students were educated about certain plants they were planting, described by park rangers to show their relevance to its surroundings. For example, one plant helped prevent erosion. “Wow, I never knew planting helped the economy this much” one of the NGS students stated after realizing how long of a life the plants had ahead of them and their benefits. Their enthusiasm highlighted the importance of engaging the next generation in environmental activities.
After planting, the students walked around the inside of the center to learn more about Harriet Tubman! After lunch, students could walk through the garden path and look at the potential life their plants await and read some of the informational signs throughout the green-filled walk. The students also viewed a short film that showed Tubman’s life journey and learned new information about her. To conclude the visit, they had the opportunity to walk around the museum and explore exhibits that showcased Harriet’s accomplishments, illustrating the timing and details of various events.
The Summer of Service Planting Day at the Harriet Tubman Center exemplified the power of community partnerships. It showcased how collective efforts could create beautiful spaces and instill a deeper appreciation for the environment in all who participated.
