St. Bernard Parish 4-H Club members descended on Torres Park in Chalmette, Louisiana, to assist in the Re-Build, Re-Pair, Re-Boot of the St. Bernard Parish Community Playground April 9-13, 2008. The playground received extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina where it was submerged in approximately 22 feet of water for 2 weeks as the water receded. It was covered in storm debris and mud. After the storm, the playground was surrounded by FEMA trailers where parish government employees lived as they rebuilt St. Bernard. In January 2008, just as the trailers were being removed from the park, the playground sustained a fire set by an arsonist. About one-third of the playground was destroyed.
Just as in 2003 when the 12,000-square-foot playground was built, the community rallied to restore the it for the youth of St. Bernard Parish to enjoy. The 4-H Club members were part of a large group of nearly 1,500 volunteers who worked for five days to rebuild the playground.
4-H Jr. Leaders pledged a minimum of 100 hours to rebuilding the playground. Thirty-two Jr. Leaders and younger club members volunteered 228 hours to rebuild the playground. 4-H Jr. Leaders began preparing for the playground rebuild by participating in the Playground Design Day in January. Club members also helped recruit volunteers by hosting a sign-up table at the unveiling of the new playground design. Jr. Leaders also helped by participating in the volunteer call-a-thon. Jr. Leaders responded to emails from volunteers as well as calling volunteers to schedule when they could work on the playground. Jr. Leaders also organized the workday schedules.
During the playground build days, Jr. Leader Club members spread rock and mulch, rolled out felt liner, painted, sanded, routed, drilled and hammered all week to help make the playground build a success. 4-H Club members from Chalmette High School, Chalmette 8th Grade Club, Trist Middle School and Lynn Oaks participated with their clubs during the week. Jr. Leader Club members took on leadership roles directing other 4-H Club members in specific tasks. When asked why she had spent 16 hours helping rebuild the playground, Jr. Leader Club Vice President Mary Beth Tamor replied she "enjoyed restoring a part of St. Bernard that had been destroyed so that younger children could have a safe, fun environment to play and be kids."
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard] | [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard]
[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, St. Bernard] |