Bloomsday/Scouts Course Cleanup Opportunity

The Lilac Bloomsday Corporation is proud to have a relationship with the Inland Northwest Council of The Boy Scouts of America.  Every year, the Scouts work with Bloomsday to provide servant leadership to the Spokane Community by returning the Bloomsday Race Course to its pre-race condition.  They do this by following the final finishers and picking up trash that’s been left behind. This annual opportunity can be used as an Eagle Scout Project or it can serve as a service project for one or more scouting units.

BACKGROUND

The Lilac Bloomsday Road Race has been an annual civic event in Spokane for over 40 years.  The entire community comes out to both run and watch the race.  The good will of spectators has brought more and more groups out to provide food items to participants on the course.  While this is not wholly endorsed by Bloomsday, it has become a staple of the race that many Bloomies look forward to.  Such items as ice cream bars, donuts and otter pops are often made available to hungry participants as they navigate the 7.5 mile course.  This annual tradition has created an issue of concern for the Bloomsday Organization.  While there are no ill intentions from the purveyors of these foot items, the course is left littered with wrappers and litter from these food items.

THE SCOUTS

The Scouts have gained a solid reputation with the Bloomsday Board of Directors and home owners on the course for their initiative in taking on the cleanup challenge and returning the course to its original state.  This cleanup task is an ideal Eagle Scout Project, requiring a lot of advanced planning and coordinating of volunteers to ensure that the cleanup event goes off without a hitch.  It can also be taken on by scout units as a service project (the more involved the better).

THE PROCESS

However the scouts take this on, they are not left without guidance.  They will have a liaison, who will provide guidance on the process.  Ideas are welcome and the effort is collaborative.  It is important that the Scouts know that they will have full control of the cleanup process while operating within the Bloomsday guidelines.   The liaison will provide different suggestions based on the number of individuals involved.  The more people involved, that faster the cleanup will be.

THE RETURN

While it is true that a return on this commitment is not a prerequisite of servant leadership, Bloomsday is grateful for our relationship with the Scouts.  The following benefits may be seen:

Eagle Scout Rank.  It is the hope of the Lilac Bloomsday Organization that if this project is taken on by a scout attempting to earn their Eagle Scout Rank, this project will provide a major step in that direction.  Bloomsday will do everything possible to ensure success.
Each volunteer will earn a Bloomsday volunteer shirt.
The top individual in charge of the operation will earn a little extra swag from Bloomsday for taking this project on.
Social Media Kudos.  Bloomsday will be sure to broadcast the great service the Scouts provide.

CONTACT

For more information, contact Bloomsday Liaison Kylie Lemley at kylielemley1996@gmail.com or Bloomsday board member Tom Fuchs at t.fuchs@comcast.net to learn more about this opportunity.