One-Street at a Time: COC Trash Clean-Up
On the 15th of November last week, the Conestoga Outdoors Club (COC) organized and successfully executed their bi-annual trash clean up.
Under the advisement of the Environmental Department of Millersville University, the Campus Outreach Club (COC) successfully conducted their Fall trash cleanup. Numerous student volunteers covered most of the campus, including key areas like the Student Memorial Center, Bio Preservation area, Cooper Field, and the pond. Various on-campus organizations and classes also contributed, spreading out in large groups to tackle major areas, while smaller groups focused on more obscure spots like the dorm surroundings. The cleanup was well-organized, with club officers guiding the volunteer groups. Looking ahead, the COC plans a larger-scale cleanup in 2025, aiming to engage more volunteers and cover additional areas. Let’s take a dive into how they handled this clean up!
Recruitment
The collation of student volunteers this year was comprised of a variety of different organizations. Including fraternities, clubs, sports teams and even different classes assisting in the job. Most of these groups were contacted by members of COC or through COC’s Instagram profile. Filling out a form that got numerous sign ups, even with many general students getting involved. While successful in their recruiting efforts, they seek to get even more students involved. Thus, with plans of making and outside student committee to help reach out for more volunteers.
Student Volunteer helping at the clean-up (Taken by Max Vigue)
Clean Up Plan
COC came in prepared, with a map that highlighted the different areas that were covered. With the goal in mind of being able to extract the most amount of trash possible. Although the group assignment was more relaxed, it ran smoothly. Quickly directing people into their groups, and almost immediate dispatchment. For Spring clean-up in 2025, they aim to move into the Wellness and Brookewood areas. With even larger groups to cover more ground and surpass the results of their fall operation.
“We plan on getting a group together to put together a bigger event. Having a committee to gather sponsorships, donors, and other community groups. Working together to give back to the community” Dakota Baxter, COC’s Environmental Coordinator
Timeline
Millersville Students picking up trash nearby Wubah’s house (Photo taken by Max Vigue)
Benefits of a Clean Campus
According to carlsonbuilding.com, the benefits of a clean environment for college campuses 9are numerous. A clean environment on college campuses has a myriad of benefits, ranging from health to academic performance, and even mental well-being. Here is a breakdown of those benefits:
- Reduced Illnesses: Cleaner surroundings mean fewer germs and allergens, leading to less sickness and absenteeism
- Mental Health: A clean, organized environment can reduce stress and anxiety, making students feel more at ease
- Focus and Concentration: A tidy space promotes better concentration and study habits, leading to improved academic performance.
- Inspiration and Creativity: Clean and aesthetically pleasing environments can spark creativity and motivation
- Sense of Pride: Students and faculty are more likely to take pride in their campus, fostering a stronger community spirit
- Respect for Property: Cleaner environments encourage respect and care for campus property, reducing vandalism and maintenance costs
- Eco-Friendly Practices: Promotes recycling and sustainable practices, which can reduce the campus’s carbon footprint
- Green Spaces: Well-maintained outdoor areas provide places for relaxation and recreation, enhancing the overall campus experience
Profiles
Dakota Baxter, Environmental Coordinator: As the Environmental Coordinator, Dakota Baxter has played a significant role in setting up these clean-up operations. Helping organizing recruitment efforts, setting up the trail routes, as well as putting groups together. Along with putting together the numbers for the results of each clean up. Beyond the role, Dakota envisions a legacy, aiming to build upon their previous results and to inspire care environmental well-being of campus for years to come. Dakota’s commitment to sustainability and community collaboration reflects COC’s mission to protect natural spaces and foster a culture of care for the environment. For the betterment of Millersville’s campus.
Founder of the Trash Clean Up, Domnick Lorenzo: Former COC alumni Domnick Lorenzo was one of the key founders in the tradition of the trash clean up. Once the president of the club, Domnick believed that the trash clean up would not only become a much-needed tradition for the club. But set the standard for what their club should be about, and how they could benefit the campus at large. As Environmental Coordinator Dakota Baxter stated “He saw the trash clean ups as a way to bring the club and the community together for a good cause. He foresaw this as something not simply for the betterment of Millersville, but also as something that would become a staple of COC. For years even after he was long gone”.
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Fraternities for Green: Despite only making up two of the groups that came to assist with the clean up, they were the largest groups. Who helped cover the bigger areas of the operation, covering sections such as the Bio Preserve, The Parking Lot, and around the Pond. Chapters from Phi Delta Theta (Phi Del) and Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) came to help. With TKE bringing around twenty brothers to the clean-up, and Phi bringing most of their chapter. Despite being Greek Life, public service and giving back to the community is important to these chapters. Helping them maintain the values they were founded on and giving their new guys a chance at service hours.
Brothers of TKE helping clean up outside of Hash. (Taken by Max Vigue)
Beyond the Fall: As Dakota mentioned earlier, COC is looking to put together a committee for the spring clean from student leaders in the community. Along with expanding into Brookewood and Wellness, they are hoping to garner more attention from the Lancaster area at large. With the plans include bringing in former COC and other Millersville alumni, sponsorships, even more student orgs, and up the scale of the operation. While the clean-ups have always resulted in a degree of success, they aim to put together the largest operation in the history of their club. As Spring clean ups are usually their biggest events, this one would set the precedent for all future clean ups.
Behind the Scenes Video:
Sources
Carlson Building. (n.d.). The importance of campus cleaning for colleges. Retrieved from https://carlsonbuilding.com/importance-campus-cleaning-college-experience/
COC Instagram
Dakota Baxter