Hahnville High School student Gillian Hebert was thrilled to earn a Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her volunteer efforts with Wetlands Watchers — and was just as pleased, in fact, to do the work that earned her that honor.
“I love what I do,” Hebert said. “Nothing pushed me. Every day when I left camp I was tired, dirty, and sometimes cranky, but always ready for the next day to come. When you love what you do, it doesn’t matter if it makes you tired. Just talking to the children and experiencing things with them was addictive and just enough to get you ready for whatever comes next.”
Twenty-three St. Charles Parish students earned Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, which honor those who volunteer enough hours with the summer Swamp School program and with Wetlands Watchers during the school year. Students received gold pins for doing 100-plus volunteer hours — Hebert among them — while others received silver pins for working more than 75 hours and bronze pins for doing more than 50.
Each student also received a letter from President Barack Obama and a certificate to commemorate their accomplishment.
Barry Guillot, who teaches Earth science at Harry Hurst Middle School and is a coordinator for the Wetlands Watchers program, said the Presidential Volunteer Service Award is an extremely high honor and that each student should exhibit tremendous pride in their accomplishment.
“In my opinion, it’s the most prestigious volunteer service award that a young person can receive,” Guillot said. “The great thing about these young people is I will ask them what they want to do and they will tell me ‘Whatever you need. I am here to help out.’ One of our visitors once told me, ‘It is so amazing what these young people can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to do so.’”
The Wetland Watchers is a school-based service-learning project that involves a core group of 500 seventh and eighth grade students in a variety of service activities to improve their local habitat and community. Students lead field trips, host community events, and speak to over 60,000 people a year through outreach events. The students work with experts to test water and soil quality, identify plants, grow and plant trees and pick up trash, among other endeavors.
During the St. Charles Parish Swamp School program, about 35 to 40 students volunteer as counselors to assist senior counselors in facilitating activities, teaching skills such as cast netting and canoeing, and helping to meet the needs of the 200+ campers involved. During the school year, about 300 students volunteer in some way for a variety of events including Science Night presentations, weekend events at Wetland Watchers Park, outreach events, Litter collection
events, and any other activities that become available.There are different requirements for certain age groups to earn a service award. For the 11 – 15 year old age group, over a twelve month period students must volunteer between 50 – 74 hours to receive a Bronze Award, 75 – 99 hours to receive a Silver Award, and over 100 hours to receive a Gold Award.
Between Swamp School and Wetland Watchers, over 300 students from nine different schools volunteered during the last 12 months. In some cases, students can choose an assignment, but in most they are assigned to a specific task.
Hahnville’s Caroline Genius said it was a natural pursuitfor her.
“I always loved doing volunteer work, and I got to work with animals and children while also teaching,” she said. “I regularly volunteer at science nights and other events, along with Swamp School.
“I was very excited and honored (to earn the award) … I was very happy to learn that my work was being recognized, even though I did not intend it to be.”
Guillot noted that Wetlands Watchers Service-Learning programs have been in place for nearly 20 years. He has been one of those behind the program for the duration of that run and he said he maintains the same excitement about the good things being done for the cause as he did in the very beginning.
“It’s because every year, we have so many new students involved with volunteering as well as a whole new crowd of kids to present to,” Guillot said. “It is always exciting to see the faces of both volunteers and the crowd we are presenting to light up with wonder and awe.”
Those receiving the awards included Hebert, Genius, Ben Adabie, Dylan Guillot, Hunter Tracy, Isabella Distefano, Jolie Allen, Sophia Distefano and Victoria Bourg of Hahnville High School; Andrew Turner, Cameron Picolo, Emaje Vinnett, Erriael Chapman, Geena Hyorth, Jordan Callahan, Justin Mata, Laisha Harris, Lanie Fincher, Mia Tabora, Stehpanie Ruiz and William Baker of Destrehan High School; and Tori Luann Johnson of J.B. Martin Middle School.
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