GPI BLOG
Darrington Students Unite: A Day of Community Service and Connection
Middle school students and teacher take a break to pose for a photo during the 1st Community Day of Service this fall.
On a crisp autumn day in October, ninety middle school students participated in a day of service organized by Glacier Peak Institute (GPI), that brought students together with adult mentors from Darrington Schools, the Town of Darrington, the U.S. Forest Service, Darrington Food Bank, the Darrington Community Center, and GPI itself. The result was a collaborative effort that generated an impressive 200 total service hours across eight different projects.
Serving with Purpose and Pride
At the Darrington Food Bank, teams worked to organize and pack emergency food supplies—a critical task for an organization that supports up to 180 local families each week. At Old School Park, students partnered with the city to rake leaves and remove trash. The Darrington Community Center's parking lot received landscaping attention, while Forest Service volunteers guided students in cleaning up the Beaver Lake Trail. On school grounds, students engaged in environmental stewardship by harvesting a final 20 pounds of food for the food bank before preparing the existing beds for winter, building additional raised garden beds for classes to use next growing season, and planting additional native plant species between the athletic fields and the local archery range.
Students harvest final crops, build new boxes, and winterize the garden located on school grounds.
More Than Manual Labor
Matt Apuzzo, GPI's Outdoor Curriculum Education Manager who oversaw the day, emphasized that the event was about much more than completing tasks. "Our primary goals were to create opportunities for students to connect with adult mentors who can affirm each student's value and contribution," he explained. "We wanted students to learn about their community and take pride in caring for their neighbors and neighborhood."
Research strongly supports this approach. Studies consistently show that students who have at least one adult mentor in their lives are more likely to perform better academically, graduate, and experience long-term success. This day of service was an intentional strategy to foster those crucial intergenerational connections.
A Community Transformed
The collaborative spirit was palpable as adult mentors worked shoulder-to-shoulder with students, demonstrating the power of community engagement. Each project not only improved a specific location but also reinforced the message that every individual, regardless of age, can make a meaningful difference. This event is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with shared purpose and mutual respect.
As Darrington looks to the future, this day of service stands as a shining example of collaboration, youth empowerment, and community pride. If you’d like to learn more about how to get involved in future service projects please reach out to Matt Apuzzo by email at matt.apuzzo@glacierpeakinstitute.org.
Students rake up leaves and collect litter by the Darrington Library and Old School Park.
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