Students embrace Project B-Town

EAST COUNTY — Fifteen-year-old Lizzie Reynolds could have been away on summer vacation, lounging by the pool or working a summer job.

Instead, she sat under the pavilion at Lakewood Ranch’s Central Park community with a paintbrush in hand, her eyes focused on the face of 5-year-old Jacob Branson.

She leaned back for a good look before putting a final touch on the baseball she was painting on his cheek Wednesday, June 27.

“It’s a creative, fun way to serve the community, and you get to be with your friends,” said Reynolds, a participant in Woodland The Community Church’s Project B-Town, a weeklong overnight camp that incorporates community service with games, outings, church services and other festivities.

More than 100 local middle- and high-school students participated in the fifth annual camp, which ran June 25 to June 29.

“It’s a full-fledged camp — just at church,” said Aaron Sherrell, student pastor for Woodland’s high school ministry.

Participating students spent at least three hours each day participating in service projects throughout the community, whether hosting a food drive outside Walmart, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity or hosting a family fun “Art in the Park” at park locations throughout Manatee County.

“We want to help our community and be a light in our community,” Sherrell said of why Woodland incorporates community outreach into the camp. “Our whole goal is to get the students to be an asset to the community.”

“It’s definitely a whole lot of fun,” said 12-year-old Noah Frantz, who helped clean up a park as one of his community service projects. “It makes you feel good. You know you are helping.”
Montana Modderman, 15, agreed.

“It’s been a really good experience,” she said. “It’s really fun, especially helping other people, and you are doing it with people you love, your friends. That’s awesome.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].