It has been little more than a year since the Spring Hill RECenter Roots & Shoots Jr. Volunteer Program officially joined Roots & Shoots. Nevertheless, the group in McLean, Virginia, has already completed and submitted Project Reports for seven projects, attended three Washington, D.C.-area Roots & Shoots events, won two service awards, hosted a Roots & Shoots summer camp and racked up a whole bunch of media hits.

The secret to the group's success? Group leader Shawna Levins.

The current director of volunteer services and special events at Fairfax County Park Authority's (FCPA) Spring Hill RECenter, Shawna has taken on youth volunteerism as her own personal quest—and she's doing it through Roots & Shoots.

"We are ensuring a legacy of environmental stewards, so that future generations can follow in the footprints of these trail blazing, young pioneers," Shawna said.
 
The group's 57 members have blazed trail on a variety of projects. They crafted their own Giant Peace Dove Puppet, named "Mazel," and flew it at the D.C. Green Festival. They participated in the Character Counts! program and Make a Difference Day. They collected towels for area animal shelters, conducted invasive plant removal projects and established a "Go Green" educational display at their RECenter.

The group's awards include the 2008 Youth Volunteer Group Award from Volunteer Fairfax and, most recently, the Elly Doyle Youth Park Service Award, which is the highest honor awarded to FCPA volunteers. At the Elly Doyle Awards Ceremony, Dr. Jane made a special video appearance to congratulate the Spring Hill Roots & Shoots members.

"The support of our RECenter staff—especially Park Manager Marcellous Cooper—and our adult volunteer program were paramount to the success of our group," Shawna said.

Not only is Shawna rocking the Roots & Shoots world at Spring Hill RECenter, but she's also helping to spread the Roots & Shoots program throughout northern Virginia. Thanks to her tireless outreach, all seven FCPA RECenters now have a Roots & Shoots group of their own.

"I feel that the hopes for a better future depend upon the education of the youth of today," Shawna said. "The earlier we can impress upon kids that dreams are possible and that every person can make a difference, the better off this world will be."

Shawna knows how important it is to submit Project Reports to the online Project Database. Follow her lead!