Noted poet Gary Snyder once wrote “Find your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.”

On April 22, Earth Day, students from Carbon Career & Technical Institute took that charge seriously by participating in a cleanup at Kemmerer Park in Jim Thorpe. The students from the Student Council and SADD/Aevidum organizations participated in the cleanup.

The ideas arose during the month of February for “Career & Technical Education Month.”

Brent Borzak, administrative director, coordinated the event and said, “It was absolutely wonderful that we had our CCTI students out for the cleanup. They did a great job.”

CCTI adopted Jim Thorpe’s Kemmerer Park for cleanup and upgrades, assisting the nonprofit board, led by Jack Sterling, in ensuring a sustainable future at the park.

In addition to the cleanup, CCTI students in the Carpentry Technical area donated a bench with an engraving to the park property.

The students removed many bags filled with leaves and debris from the park.

“I always told the students how much fun you have and how good you feel being part of the solution,” said Becky Schaeffer, adviser for SADD/Aevidum.

Students from National Technical Honor Society and Rotary will be visiting the area again this month to beautify the park with planting flowers for the summer.

Students participating in the cleanup included Jordyn Welsh, Nick Fiorito, Colyn Mertz, Carter Gardner, Autumn Benedict, Samantha Nenscel and Hannah Devonshire.