For the last eight years, Job Point’s YouthBuild has teamed up with Missouri River Relief to host “Stewardship on the River,” the highlight of fall for many of our students.
Photo courtesy of Missouri River Relief.
This year, we were joined once again by AmeriCorps YouthBuild members from St. Joseph and Cape Girardeau. The cool early morning weather belied by the scorching sun that waited to warm the afternoon on this beautiful fall day of learning, personal growth, fellowship and of course, stewardship.
Students divided into groups. The first half focused on river cleanup. After thorough safety training, volunteers donned life jackets and boarded their boats. They worked their way along the banks of the river, sifting through sandbars and trudging through brush collecting trash.
The second group was divided again with some learning how to fish through our Catfishing Gear Library. For many students, this was their first time on a boat, up close and personal with the Missouri River. For others, it was a dream come true – getting to spend the day at the river.
The third group arranged themselves along the shore at Cooper’s Landing to experience a different way of enjoying the river: through reflection, observation and watercolor. For those who don’t have an artistic flair (that they acknowledge, at least), it was a lesson in pushing through ego, letting their guard down and allowing creativity to flow. They all walked away with a little bit of peace and a piece of art to show for it.
Participants walked away with new friends, a better sense of themselves, and an appreciation of the power and beauty of the Missouri River, the state’s most vital natural resource.
Thank you to all the volunteers who came together with Missouri River Relief and Job Point to help make this day possible. Coordinating activities and food for so many staff and students is no small feat. We are grateful for this partnership and the new experiences and exposure to career opportunities it creates.
