With day 3 of IC officially starting, I’d like to reflect on yesterday, more specifically my leads day activity.

My LEADS Day program was Hands on Orlando: Helping the community. I thought I was going to a food bank, but I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted with a field as I was coming off the bus. The volunteers from Hands on Orlando mentioned that their mission changed after COVID-19, and now it’s to restore nature. 

First, they took us on a tour of the grounds while we walked through the trail we would eventually walk on. At the end of the trail, they split us up into teams, and I was on the team responsible for spreading mulch. One group scooped the mulch and brought it to the trail, and my team was the one who spread the mulch on the trail. The volunteers explained that the mulch helps the weed stop growing on the trail and makes it easier for the trail to be made. 

After we spread the mulch, we took a break, and then we switched teams. My next task was to make a bed for wildflowers. We raked the grass upturned the soil, and then spread the wildflower seeds. However, we didn’t do a very good job, and unfortunately, our volunteer, Kevin, had to fix some of our work. 

Although raking mulch and flower planting was not what I was expecting, I had an enjoyable and meaningful experience. I learned a lot about the nature of the rivers and trails around the state of Florida. The mission of Hands on Orlando was an inspiring one, and I was grateful to be a part of it.