Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I have organized and led a community cleanup project. This project serves to beautify a severely neglected labyrinth in my community's public park (Worldwide Labyrinth Locator #1457). This once-garden labyrinth was installed in the Summer of 2004, as a memorial to a respected community resident. Once this garden labyrinth, based on the Chartres labyrinth, was enjoyed by locals and tourists as a reflection and spiritual meditation location. However, over the past several years, this labyrinth has been forgotten and left alone to fall victim to weeds and a decrease in caretakers due to the aging community. Ever since I was younger, I've enjoyed visiting this labyrinth, and I have a passion to bring it back to life and wellness through the beautification of it, this garden brings peace and relaxation to me and I am pleased to help create a healthy place for others to enjoy. The community, along with visiting tourists, will once again have a site to relax, reflect, and remember the beauty of the garden labyrinth, benefiting all who use it, including backdrops for proms, weddings, reunions, other special occasions and to aid in relaxation for overall good health.
As a respected member of my student body and community, I have recruited and inspired my peers and community members of the importance of reviving the beauty of the labyrinth, With encouraging the community residence to join in this project, this has created efforts of a biannual spring/fall garden labyrinth cleanup and the community will enjoy watching this garden flourish to its original beauty. I have also added a Little Free Diverse Library near the seating area. Guests of the park can enjoy all aspects that are offered; relaxing, meditating, reading, studying, and playing. This location will continue to help people in many ways, such as hosting family traditions, creating lifelong memories, and increasing overall mental health. Therefore, creating desire in the community to help put their efforts into the cleaning and upkeep of the garden labyrinth. I will lead efforts to encourage my peers of the necessity to upkeep this as a possible new location for studying art, or even hanging out. This project has taught me several life lessons, even during a national pandemic with many obstacles to overcome. When a project is planned out and executed correctly and safely, the goal can be accomplished. Hard work, dedication, and commitment to create a better environment was my main goal. As Lead Coordinator in a community garden clean up, I led peers and community residence in gardening, weeding and cleaning of a community labyrinth garden. This garden was overgrown and neglected for several years. The Little Free Diverse Library to help promote diversity education within my community.By recreating this beautiful place for all to enjoy, I believe this beautification project will help involve all the community in reducing littering, reusing materials, and recycling waste.