Students Head South for Winter Service
Brian Roewe
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: News
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One trip took students back to New Orleans for the fourth time since Hurricane Katrina, while 12 students ventured into unchartered territories on Rockhurst's first service trip to the Bahamas.
While many service trips center on assisting those in need, the trip to the Bahamas focused on environmental aid. One major focus of the trip involved removing several invasive species from the shore of Andros, the largest island in the Bahamas. Species such as Scaevola and Australian pines harm native plant life, negatively impacting a vulnerable ecosystem.
"We also blazed a trail through the forest by cutting down tress by hand with just machetes," said sophomore Alex Clark. "I was actually surprised at how much work a small group like ours could get done."
The trail they made, affectionately nicknamed the H.K. Rockhurst Trail, traversed through a dense forest to a blue hole, a natural wonder native to the Bahamas.
"I felt like we accomplished something with the trail [to the blue hole]. It was awesome going back through and actually seeing it, knowing we put it there," explained Jennie Nguyen.
Eco-service means a lot to the tropical islands as the economy of the Bahamas revolves primarily around tourism. Though resorts offer rest and relaxation in comfortable surroundings, they often overlook the impact of developing, especially on an island chain which acts as the pH regulator of the world's oceans.
Freshaman Leslie Maguire summed up her experience: "I went to the Bahamas, a beautiful vacation spot, and instead of lying on the beach, I helped bring an island back to its natural beauty, for others to enjoy."
While the Bahamas group forged new trails, the New Orleans group continued the ongoing rebuilding process, at times in unseasonably cool temperatures. Students teamed up with Operation Helping Hands, an organization which rebuilds houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
"We painted the outside of a couple of houses that were flooded by Hurricane Katrina," explained senior Chris Shaver. "The work we did made the houses and the neighborhood look much nicer, giving the homeowners a renewed sense of pride in their homes."
"As we worked, community members randomly walked up to us and said, 'We love you, thank you so much. All of us we really love you.' That made me feel like we made an impact," recalled Edward Doyle.
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