Campus Cleanup: Bringing Students Together

On Tuesday, November 11th, 2025, Hampton University’s Park Trust College Ambassadors hosted a stewardship outing. A campus cleanup designed to bring students together around nature and community care. The event began at Hampton’s Marine Point and stretched along the university’s scenic waterfront, which often collects litter washed in from nearby highways.

We welcomed 12 participants from the Brownies Outdoors Club and the SEEDS Club to kick off the afternoon with a lively “find your match” nature-themed icebreaker. Each student received a card with a nature term and had to track down the partner whose word was connected. For example, a bee with a flower, soil with a seed, and so on. The energy was high, helped along by cans of Brew Dr. Clear Mind kombucha that participants enjoyed as they mixed and mingled.

Once matched, partners set out with “trash bingo” sheets, competing to spot items like plastic bottles, styrofoam, and discarded clothing along the shoreline. The first two pairs to complete a bingo walked away with brand new NPT reusable water bottles, but everyone shared the win of contributing to a cleaner campus. By the end of the outing, the group collected around 15 bags of trash, a meaningful boost for local wildlife habitat and the overall health of the waterfront. We chose this location because it blends beauty, accessibility, and need.

The ambassadors hoped to spark a deeper appreciation for the natural spaces students interact with every day while giving them a tangible way to give back. The feedback spoke for itself—participants said the outing felt good, purposeful, and surprisingly fun. As organizers, hearing that enthusiasm was a standout moment of its own, and the sight of students bonding while making a real impact capped the day perfectly.