Florida students will spend Spring Break in Germantown

Unlike many students heading south for a Spring Break of gone-wild partying, 13 students from the Florida International University will temporarily migrate the opposite direction to volunteer at Awbury Arboretum.

Starting on Monday, the students will volunteer an estimated 40 hours as a part of an alternative break “to address environmental issues and give back to communities that need our help.”

“Our mission for this year is to become more active citizens by encorporating our education and service into making positive changes to the environment through our volunteer work and daily activities while inspiring others to do the same,” the student group said on its fundraising website.

Hands-on work

During the week, the students will assist the land manager with daily tasks like removing invasive plants like Asian Bamboo, laying wood chips and working in the pond.

The students will also be able to do a little sightseeing during their down-time, including a historic tour of Germantown.

Beth Miner, Awbury’s manager of outreach and education, said she hopes that the students will learn a bit about Philadelphia, strengthen their bond with one another and assist them in making decisions about their future.

“Hopefully, they will get to experience some hands-on work in the skills that interest them and that can guide their professional decisions,” Miner said.

NewsWorks will check in with the student volunteers during their visit.