Volunteers Making a Difference

University of Kansas volunteers cleaning up hurricane storm surge debris from the Lakeshore Savannah Preserve in Hancock County
 © Rebecca Stowe/TNC

Cleanup After Hurricane Katrina

Students in the Alternative Spring Break program at the University of Kansas traveled to Mississippi to assist staff on The Nature Conservancy's preserves after Hurricane Katrina.  The volunteers worked on a variety of tasks such as debris removal, clearing trails and thinning trees. They also helped clean the beach and conduct an archaeological survey at Deer Island. Despite their varied academic backgrounds ranging from mechanical engineering to International studies, the students all shared an appreciation for the outdoors and wanted to make a difference on the preserves.