PEA Staff to Aid Exeter Parks and Recreation

In an effort to create more volunteer opportunities for faculty and staff, the Academy will be collaborating with the town of Exeter’s Department of Parks and Recreation (EPR) to host volunteer projects every term this year. For the fall event on Sept. 26, 34 employee volunteers will assist with a lawn renovation of the EPR building.

When Principal William Rawson first arrived on campus last year, the adults of the Academy expressed an interest in giving back to the local community through volunteer opportunities, according to Interim Assistant Director of the Principal’s Office Leigh Drapeau.

Consequently, PEA reached out to the EPR last winter term and worked with the department to launch a regular, long-term service program. In the past, PEA has only hosted single-day events for employees. This initiative sets a precedent for future relationships between the town of Exeter and the Academy. “[In] my time here, we have not had an opportunity to benefit the town in the form of community service in the way that we are about to embark on,” Drapeau said.

With limited resources, EPR is excited to cooperate with PEA. Director of EPR Greg Bisson, emphasized his appreciation for any form of help from the community. “The problem we have is that we only have two maintenance guys for 56 acres of town property,” he said. “As most people don’t know, the Parks and Recreation Department doesn’t have a very big budget, so any kind of community service goes a long way.”

Aware of EPR’s proximity to PEA and desire to improve its outward appearance, Bisson chose landscape renovation for the focus of the partnership. “Removing the outdated landscaping will give us a blank slate for…planting that will improve the overall appearance to the public,” he said. 

Co-led by Senior Manager of Grounds for PEA Ron Johnson and staff horticulturist Bernadette Norton, the renovation will include tasks like shrub removal, raking, sweeping and planting fall mums to beautify the entrance. “Together, we have many years of experience working on landscape projects for municipal parks, school campuses, commercial properties and private residences,” Johnson said. “Our combined knowledge will be helpful for the landscape renovation project at the Exeter Parks and Recreation.”

Administrative Manager, Lee Rollick, who has participated in service projects throughout her life, supports this initiative and looks forward to helping out this Thursday. “I’m a firm believer in ‘many hands make light work,’” she said. “If everyone just tries [volunteering] once and walks away with that satisfying feeling, they will be hooked as well.”

Director of Studies Scott Saltman decided to join Thursday’s project after noting that he did not have any duties on Academy Life Day. Saltman has worked with a PEA-sponsored service project before and believes that the collaboration with EPR will help the school continue opening volunteer opportunities for employees. “We need to keep trying things and figure out what works,” Saltman said.

For Manager of Customer Support Services Donna Archambault, meeting employees from other departments while giving back to the town is a reason she will take part in Thursday’s event. “It’s really about getting involved and being a good member of the community,” Archambault said.

Bisson concluded that the project will foster mutual respect between the town of Exeter and PEA going forward. “This is opening up an opportunity to have a better understanding of each other,” he said.