Paddles, Power Tools & Pulling Weeds: Aiken Gets Down to Earth

Not every day do you see teenagers, corporate execs and environmentalists all wielding loppers, lugging trash bags and sanding canoe paddles in the same field – but that’s precisely what went down at Aiken High School.

"Today was about community and the environment, and how we can bring people together to make both better," said Aaron Parker, Aiken's Agricultural Career Tech Pathway educator. "There was a lot of energy out here, a lot of connection."

Volunteers spent the morning on April 9 clearing invasive species with Groundwork Ohio River Valley, picking up trash, and—perhaps most notably – helping prepare a hand-built canoe as part of the school’s Urban Wilderness Program.

"When we’re steam bending wood, it’s either ash or white oak," explained Trace Dunning, the Urban Wilderness Program director. "The stringers and the gunwales are pine. Any of the darker wood is cherry. Paddles? Poplar." While steam bending wasn't happening on this day, students and volunteers focused on sanding and shaping the paddles to prepare them for later stages.

Nearby, another group of volunteers screwed down metal roofing sheets as part of a long-term barn project led by the Urban Wilderness crew. "We go around to different schools and help teach kids about the environment, building, nature – everything outside," Dunning added. "We want to build connections through the outdoors."

Jennifer Stone, an executive assistant with Kroger who also co-chairs the company’s subcommittee of the Environmentally Conscious Outcomes Associate Resource Group, or ARG, called the day a perfect example of the ARG’s mission in action. 

"We’ve got our team out here because we want to walk the talk," she said. "Our Zero Hunger,  Zero Waste goals are about creating healthier communities. This…this is how we do that."

The Green Team, a youth employment program from Groundwork Ohio River Valley, led the charge against invasive species on the Aiken campus. Through their work, students not only helped restore the land but also gained insight into careers in sustainability and land management.

The day’s efforts build on Aiken’s impressive agricultural and environmental education programs. The school offers pathways in agribusiness, plant science and food systems – all part of Cincinnati Public Schools' broader commitment to career and technical education.

“My favorite part of the Kroger Environmental Day was getting to show off our farm and to share stories about the alpacas,” said Aiken student and Future Farmers of America leader Ellie Schnitzler. “It stood out to me because it showed that we have different experiences and learning opportunities at Aiken than at other schools. Some people think students just sit at desks all day, but we get to learn real-life skills outside the classroom.”

Schnitzler added that the day was also a chance to connect. “Walking and talking with the Kroger employees gave them experiences they might’ve never had. I’ve also made friends from different cultural backgrounds through the Ag program – and I’ve learned how to care for plants, where they come from and even how they taste.”

The event was more than just a cleanup – it was a celebration of what’s possible when a school, a business and a community get their hands dirty together. And if the sawdust-covered students were any indication, they had a blast doing it.

To learn more about Aiken’s agriculture programs, visit https://www.cps-k12.org/our-programs/career-technical-education or check out the Aiken Student Garden on Facebook.