Timucuan Parks Foundation is Extending its Self-Guided Volunteer Events through the Holiday Season

Students can earn community service hours from now through Jan. 5 by collecting litter at a park

Timucuan Parks Foundation is offering students a chance to earn community service hours during the holiday season. From now through Jan. 5, students can visit a local park or preserve, clean up litter and earn two hours of community service. Participants will also have the chance to win Mayday’s Handcrafted Ice Creams gift cards and one of three Hydro Flask water bottles that will be awarded at the end of the program.

Visit timucuanparks.org/parks/ and pick a national, state, or city preservation park for the cleanup event. Students will need to spend one and a half to two hours picking up litter from around the park and document the work with a photo. They must then submit the picture and complete the online parks cleanup form. Pictures can be before and after photos, selfies, pictures of the group working and a final one with the filled trash bags. Participants should upload photos and the location to social media and use #tpfcleanup or tag @timucuanparks. Photos can also be sent directly to [email protected].

TPF suggests going with a family member or friend, wearing a mask, and following social distancing guidelines. Volunteers should bring three to four large trash bags, protective gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, water and a snack. The online form and more details about what to bring and what to wear can be found at https://www.timucuanparks.org/self-guided/. For more information, email [email protected] or call (904) 463-1799.

TPF wrapped up its Fall 2020 self-guided volunteer cleanup events in early December. There were 42 student participants from 16 local schools who visited and helped clean 14 of Jacksonville’s preservation parks. TPF would like to thank all of these young environmental stewards.