Adelphi Student Program At Garden City Bird Sactuary

A busload of Adelphi FCAP students worked at the Bird Sanctuary

Adelphi's Freshmen Community Action Coalition group, under the direction of Dean Hudson -Tomlin spent a day working at the Garden City Bird Sanctuary as part of their week-long program. Over 40 students participated in the Adelphi University program to introduce freshmen students to Adelphi, the local area, and the community services that depend on volunteers. The students spent one day at each of three different community projects. The students volunteered at the Holly Patterson nursing facility in East Meadow, helped clean up and refurbish Kennedy Park in Hempstead, and worked at the community Bird Sanctuary in Garden City. Dean Hudson-Tomlin, Rob Alvey and Barbara Rocco worked with the students and were assisted by recent Adelphi graduates and GCBS Directors Laura Napoli and Joseph Dilallo. Both Laura and Joe were members of Adelphi's Environmental Action Coalition club while students, and were the first "student" directors with the Garden City Bird Sanctuary Board of Directors. Since graduating, they have both been elected full members of the GCBS Board. For the 2008 year, Adelphi students Audrey Goss and Andrew Kryzkowski have been designated student directors.

Freshening up the new "xeriscape" garden at the Bird Sanctuary

The incoming Adelphi FCAP freshmen met each night to discuss their experiences at the three facilities, and they shared meals and had long discussions on aspects of the areas surrounding the campus. At the Bird Sanctuary, the students completed weeding and planting a corner of the Community Tree planting grant area, and helped spread nearly 90 bags of bark chips donated through Troop 56 by John and Mike Lamberti of Bayles Garden Center & Nursery, Inc in Port Washington and the supplier Kathy Perron of Oldcastle Lawn & Garden North in Maine.

At a recognition ceremony and breakfast attended by the students and parents, Dean Hudson-Tomlin, and community guests including Rob Alvey, founder and President of the innovative Bird Sanctuary developed from an active Nassau County storm water basin, student reflections were provided by Adelphi freshmen participants Theresa Eliscar from Hempstead, and Jessie Dresser from Oklahoma. Both students concluded that the program went beyond their expectations, that they love community service and that they had no idea how much they could help the community. The FCAP students were also recipients of the Presidential Citizens Volunteer Service Award, with thanks noted by Diana O'Neill, Executive Director of the Long Island Volunteer Center.

Adelphi freshmen raking and weeding at the Garden City nature preserve

In 2003, President Bush created the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to find ways to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our Nation. The Council brings together leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment, sports, education, government, nonprofits, and the media. The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President's Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service to others. It encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation and inspires others to make volunteering a central part of their lives. The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard - measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

Enthusiastic Adelphi students on the volunteer community service program

Adelphi will also be participating in the planning and running of the second Halloween Fest and Haunted Hike scheduled at the Bird Sanctuary Saturday October 18th. Games, crafts, and a costume contest are scheduled from 4-6pm, and then the escorted "haunted" hikes begin at 6:30. Prepare to be "scared" and learn some of the environmental concerns! You may see Adelphi students and Garden City High School dying from global warming or a Big Footprint stomping carbon dioxide, as well as witches, wizards and ghosts. Tickets are $10 with a discount to $7 for groups of 8 or more. For info or to buy tickets, contact the Bird Sanctuary at 326-1720 or buy them at the Sept 27 Street Fair!

"Adelphi Gothic" any relation to artist Grant Wood is intentional!