Community Service Reaps the Rewards of Altruism

Community service is an integral part of the Cardigan experience. Students are organically immersed in contributing to the welfare of the Cardigan community through the expectations of dorm jobs and other responsibilities; the emphasis on sportsmanship; and the blood and pulse of our culture which roots itself in “lifting while we climb” and “helping the other fella.”  

And those on the receiving end of the community service are not the only ones to benefit. “Through my school counselor lens,” says School Counselor Trish Hutchinson P’20,’22, “I know through much-documented science that benevolence breeds a plethora of benefits for mental health and well-being. While engaging in community service, the boys help others and also reap the rewards of altruism.”

Below are just a few of the many service projects that occur each year.

Visions

Cardigan has had a relationship with Visions Creative Housing Solutions for many years. Since its inception in 2014, Visions has provided residential options for adults with varying special needs and developmental disabilities. Located in the historic Kluge’s Inn on Sunset Hill, in Enfield, NH, the sprawling, beautiful campus is home to not only many human residents, but also to farm animals and beautiful landscaping. This lends itself to a vast variety of needs for upkeep. In 2020, Ms. Hutchinson collaborated with Sylvia Dow, one of the owners of Visions, organizing consistent community service to Visions through Cardigan’s weekly club programming. Since then, Ms. Hutchinson and a crew of Cardigan boys have visited Visions during spring Thursday Clubs every year. The boys have had the opportunity to rake leaves, wash windows, plant flowers, feed (and occasionally herd) goats, and play games with the residents of Visions. One autumn, they also made homemade applesauce and a family of scarecrows. 

“Sylvia and the residents always make the Cardigan boys feel welcome,” says Ms. Hutchinson, “and it is evident through their smiles that they appreciate all of the hard work and courteous character that the boys bring with them to contribute to the important mission of Visions.”

“I feel so very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the boys and foster this servant leadership through the Visions club program,” continues Ms. Hutchinson. “Knowing that I am providing the boys with an experience that will serve the pioneer program AND promote confidence, stress reduction, and positive emotions for our boys feels like a perfect asset to our club programming.”

Upper Valley Humane Society

During Thursday Clubs, a second group of students routinely volunteer to walk the four-legged residents of The Point. For an hour and a half, the boys walk, play, and entertain the dogs, giving their humans a break and a bit of extra time to attend to their other campus responsibilities. This fall, the dog walking club also gave back to the local community beyond The Point. They began by baking homemade dog treats, using sweet potatoes and oats, to feed to their furry friends at the next club period. Once the treats were in the oven, and with time left over, they recycled old Cardigan t-shirts and fleece blankets, turning them into dog toys. The fleece toys were turned into stuffies and the t-shirts were braided into ropes. All of the toys were then donated to the Upper Valley Humane Society, where Dr. Devon Rinkin P’28, a former Cardigan registrar, is now the veterinarian director. 

Canaan Elementary School

In addition to Thursday Club opportunities, students can also volunteer on Sundays. This fall, Cardigan Mountain School students returned to the Canaan Elementary School community garden for a second round of volunteer work, following their efforts in the spring. During their visit, the group focused on preparing the garden for seeding by weeding the pathways between the raised beds and meticulously tending to each bed. The boys learned the importance of removing rhizomes to ensure that the vegetables can grow freely, showcasing essential gardening skills.

“It was incredibly rewarding to show this new group of students the progress made by their predecessors,” says Assistant Dean of Students Malik Harvey. “On our initial visit last spring, we worked diligently to clear the pathways and weed the beds, laying a strong foundation for future growth. Upon our return this fall, we were thrilled to see that the area we had worked on was nearly ready for planting.” 

Through this volunteer work, explains Mr. Harvey, Cardigan students not only gain hands-on experience in gardening but also develop a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and pride in contributing to their community. These experiences foster a deeper appreciation for nature and for the impact of their efforts, helping them grow into thoughtful, engaged members of society.

Appalachian Mountain Club

Another weekend volunteer opportunity, offered by the outdoor program, was helping with trailwork on Mt. Cardigan, the same mountain on which students begin and end their Cardigan experiences with the Dawn Climb and the Sunset Hike. Working with a volunteer coordinator from the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), students used hand tools to shave the bark off of a log, cut it to length, and place it in a trail to create two water bars that will protect the trail from erosion. Hikers on the trail stopped to admire the work and to thank the students’ for their efforts in maintaining the trail. Though it was challenging work, the students enjoyed getting outside and helping preserve the trails for future generations. 

“I loved this experience; it was a lifetime experience,” says Martin Ma ’25. “If I hadn’t come on the trip, I wouldn’t have had a chance to do this, and it is actually so fun.” The outdoor program hopes to organize additional volunteer opportunities throughout the rest of the year.

North Carolina Flood Victims

Cardigan also supports a National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) through which students take the leading role in planning numerous fundraisers and service opportunities throughout the year, including bake sales and athletic tournaments. Additionally, these same students are also behind the scenes, lifting others up, supporting their brothers, and acting as role models to the younger members of the community. This fall, NJHS members have focused their efforts on raising money for the flood victims in North Carolina. In addition to a dress-down day––during which students made contributions and in return did not have to be in class dress for morning classes––the NJHS also organized a bake sale. So far they have raised $1,648 and hope to reach $2,000 after the bake sale takes place later this week. All funds will be donated to the Red Cross.