In April 2017, ASAS Puget Sound students from Meeker Middle School volunteered at the Danny Woo Community Garden in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Students assisted with soil preparation for Spring planting and learned about the region’s rich cultural history and the impact of community gardening in urban centers. These students joined millions of others around the globe who celebrated Global Youth Service Day (GYSD).

In partnership with Youth Service America (YSA), ASAS Puget Sound’s environmental stewardship project also included a youth-led service-learning activity at Meeker Middle School. Students who volunteered at the Danny Woo Community Garden shared what they learned about soil preparation and urban gardening as they led a gardening project for their peers in the after-school program. Youth leaders worked in groups to prepare soil and plant seeds of their choice in their own biodegradable containers to take home and share with their families.

Global Youth Service Day recognizes the positive impact that young people have on their communities 365 days a year. GYSD is celebrated in more than 135 countries with youth-led service projects and community events. “We know that young people are uniquely suited to help solve problems—if given the opportunity,” said Steven A. Culbertson, CEO and president of YSA and leader of GYSD. “Today’s social and environmental problems are immense; we need youth in the Puget Sound region to be leaders and problem solvers today, not just the leaders of a distant tomorrow.”