Tenderfoot Learning Labs by: Lexie Vincenty
A day for service, leadership & learning On a cool, autumn Saturday in October, students from all four of The Walter Center groups returned to Tenderfoot Learning Labs to volunteer their time and learn more about sustainability within the Ohio Appalachian Region. During the event, the volunteers helped to build an outdoor classroom and prepare the land around Tenderfoot for the winter season. Some volunteers laid a floor for the outdoor classroom area, while others tended to the garden and learned about local agriculture. Other volunteers cleared parts of the forest near the outdoor shower to allow easier access. After their work was completed, Tenderfoot provided homemade dishes for the volunteers incorporating their own locally sourced ingredients. Some of the dishes included tortilla soup, chorizo quesadillas, squash soup, snickerdoodle cookies, apple crisp, and more. Sadie Rudduck, a student in Emerging Leaders, shared her thoughts about the experience, saying: “The Tenderfoot event was a great experience to not only help out local community members, but to learn how to live a sustainable life. My favorite part was getting to bond with my fellow Emerging Leaders while also learning real-life skills!” The Walter Center hopes to continue to grow the partnership with Tenderfoot Learning Lab and thank them for hosting our leadership groups once again. We look forward to returning again next year!
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