Isaac March, 13, puts items he found into a trash sack Wednesday near Clinton Lake. A group of teens picked up trash along the spillway just below the dam at the lake. They were part of the Youth Volunteer Corps through the Roger Hill Volunteer Center.

Youth Volunteer Corps workers carry the trash they picked up along the spillway Wednesday.

Youth volunteer corps coordinator Kaitlin Emig, right, instructs participants in the Summer of Service program Wednesday before they picked up trash along the dam at Clinton Lake. All of the projects that the volunteers will do are aimed at helping the environment.

While many students are enjoying the time for a little relaxation this summer, several youths are spending their free time volunteering.

This summer, about 16 area middle-school students are devoting 100 hours of their summer to volunteer with the Youth Volunteer Corps Summer of Service program.

Logan Cherland, West Junior High student, said he enjoys giving up part of his summer to help the community and make the environment a better place. He said each time he volunteers he learns something new — his most recent experience took place at Clinton Lake.

“I’ve learned a lot of people don’t pick up their trash and fishing lines — if you throw trash into the lake, it all ends up somewhere,” Cherland said.

The program, new this summer, was made possible through a grant that the Roger Hill Volunteer Center received from the national Youth Volunteer Corps of America organization.

Since June 1, the students have completed 386 hours of service. All of the service projects are aimed at helping the environment and involve work with Adopt a Park through the city of Lawrence, trail cleanup at Clinton Lake and Hidden Valley camp, servicing can houses for Cans for the Community, landscaping at Baker Wetlands, gardening and much more.

Coordinator Kaitlin Emig said although developing and planning for the new program has been challenging, the experience is a great opportunity for the students.

“The kids are volunteering every day,” Emig said. “They get a chance to learn about the needs of the community, what they can do to help the environment, and feel they have made a difference.”

Ten of the 16 students will receive a $500 award to be used for post-secondary education once they complete the required 100 hours of service.