Social responsibility and kids...

Kids want to be a part of something. They want to help and if given the chance will choose to volunteer and when given responsibility will rise to the occasion.

I live in Atlantic Canada. After winter the ditches and roads are full of garbage. We may be in an environmental crisis but trust me between the ploughs and the people still throwing trash out their car windows - my road looks disgusting come spring. So, last year we started a clean up day.

It would have been easier in a way to go out with a few garbage bags myself and clean the ditches. No scheduling dramas or organization required. Just garbage bags and gloves. When I considered what we were doing I decided instead to make an event out of the ordeal. On May 1st the dedicated HJC crew will troll the ditches over the agricultural stretch of our road because A: if horses consume the garbage they could become quite ill and B: it's gross to look at. In return we will let the horses out for their first run in their big paddock of the season and have a BBQ.

Regardless to say I had VERY low expectations for attendance.

What kid or teenager was going to request to come to the barn to pick up other people's garbage out of the ditches? Most of the kids didn't even live in the area!

2010 was the second year for our little clean up and once again I was pleasantly surprised. Kids showed up with parents, convincing them that this was something they should do. Not only that we had repeat picker uppers! Concerned and because they were given the opportunity to - dedicated in their work.

We laughed and picked up the icky from the ditches like a team.

Giving kids the chance to give back is so important. To know that they have the power to make a difference no matter what their family situation, is life changing. To share the experience with them breaks down communication barriers and puts both of you on the same level. It builds trust and a very special bond.

I've had deeper conversations with a pitch fork in my hand then any other time of my life!

I hope you give kids the chance to make a difference in their communities. You'd be surprised!