Mapleton Cares Day Named Ashland SWCD's Volunteer of the Year

Every spring, a familiar sight unfolds across Ashland County. Busloads of students in matching t-shirts spread out across parks, community organizations, churches, conservation areas, and nonprofit facilities armed with rakes, shovels, paintbrushes, wheelbarrows, and plenty of enthusiasm. What might look like a one-day volunteer project is actually a decade-long tradition of service that continues to make a meaningful impact throughout the county.

In recognition of those efforts, Mapleton Cares Day has been unanimously selected as the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District’s 2026 Volunteer of the Year. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to conservation and community service through volunteer efforts that improve the quality of life and natural resources in Ashland County.

“Each year, this award is designed to recognize individuals and organizations who are committed to making a difference for conservation in Ashland County through their volunteer and community service efforts,” said Ashland SWCD Director Jane Houin. “Mapleton Cares Day is an outstanding example of that commitment. Their students and staff consistently show up ready to work, learn, and serve. They tackle projects with enthusiasm, ask thoughtful questions, and leave every site better than they found it.”

For Ashland SWCD, one of those sites is Hazel Willis Woods, the district’s 40-acre outdoor learning laboratory located near Mifflin. Over the past several years, Mapleton Cares Day volunteers have become some of the woods’ most dependable helpers. Students and staff have planted trees, removed invasive species, constructed habitat fencing designed to protect reptiles and amphibians, and helped establish a pollinator habitat that supports bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

“Many of the projects at Hazel Willis Woods require a lot of hands and a lot of energy,” Houin said. “Mapleton students bring both. Their willingness to jump in and help allows us to accomplish projects that would otherwise take much longer to complete.”

The impact of their work extends far beyond a single day. Trees planted today will provide wildlife habitat and environmental benefits for decades to come. Invasive species removal helps native plants thrive. Pollinator habitats support the insects responsible for pollinating many of the foods and plants people depend upon. Even the habitat fencing helps create safer spaces for wildlife while supporting educational opportunities for future visitors.

While conservation projects have become a meaningful part of Mapleton Cares Day, the event itself was founded on a much broader mission: teaching students the value of community service. The idea originated with Mapleton High School National Honor Society Advisor Kerry Reisinger. Drawing inspiration from a volunteer event she organized during a previous career with a nonprofit organization, Reisinger proposed creating a similar opportunity for Mapleton students.

The first Mapleton Cares Day was held on a Saturday in April 2016. More than 35 students and staff volunteered throughout the community despite giving up part of their weekend to do so. The response was so positive that the event evolved into a building-wide service day held during the school year.

Today, middle school students remain on campus where they tackle beautification and improvement projects such as weeding, mulching, painting, cleaning windows, and polishing trophy cases. Meanwhile, high school students and staff fan out across Ashland County to assist organizations that sign up to serve as volunteer host sites.

Over the years, students have contributed their time and talents to organizations including Ashland County Parks, the Ashland County Historical Society, the Ashland County Fairgrounds, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District, local youth sports leagues, area fire departments, churches, Brethren Care Village, Lutheran Village, The Inn at Ashland Woods, the Ashland Cemetery Association, Associated Charities, and the Ashland County Dog Shelter. This year, the Ashland County Cancer Association was added to the growing list of service partners.

For Reisinger, the success of the program comes down to a simple belief.

“Mapleton is proud to offer students the opportunity to give back to these community groups,” she said. “All citizens are able to give back in some way and our students look forward to helping others on Cares Day.”

The experience leaves a lasting impression on students as well.

“I enjoy Cares Day because I like helping the community and getting to go to all of the parks,” said senior Nevaeh Anderson.

Senior Danika Cross appreciates both the service aspect and the opportunity to spend the day working alongside classmates and staff.

“I enjoy Cares Day because I get to have fun and help the community,” she said.

Fundraising efforts throughout the year help make the event possible. Those efforts provide matching t-shirts for volunteers, creating a sense of unity while making students easily identifiable throughout the community. Sponsors' logos displayed on the shirts serve as a reminder that community service is often a team effort involving schools, businesses, organizations, and residents working toward common goals.

At the end of the day, students gather for a picnic lunch and an opportunity to reflect on their experiences. While they may return to school with a little dirt on their shoes and some sore muscles, they also return with something more valuable: a firsthand understanding of how service can strengthen a community. That lesson is one Ashland SWCD believes deserves recognition.

“Conservation is about more than protecting soil, water, forests, and wildlife,” Houin said. “It's also about cultivating stewardship and encouraging people to take an active role in caring for their communities. Mapleton Cares Day embodies that spirit. Their volunteers have made a lasting impact at Hazel Willis Woods and throughout Ashland County, and we are proud to recognize them as our 2026 Volunteer of the Year.”

Mapleton Cares Day will be recognized during Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Meeting and Conservation Chat, Forest to Flask, on Nov. 5. For Ashland SWCD, the honor celebrates much more than a single day of service. It recognizes ten years of students and staff demonstrating that when people come together to help their neighbors and care for the places they call home, everyone benefits.

This year’s Ashland SWCD Annual Meeting will look different than in years past. White traditional held in August in conjunction with Ashland County Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting, this year’s event will be entirely focused on Ashland SWCD and will be held in conjunction with the district’s November Conservation Chat: Forest to Flask.

The event will feature outstanding conservation activities and cooperator over the last year as well as feature a look at the white oak bourbon crisis including a look at how woodland owners can improve their white oak stands as well as bourbon tasting featuring local distiller Minglewood Distilling. Reservations are required and can be made at foresttoflask.eventbrite.com

Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District works with landowners, farmers, businesses and community partners to protect and improve Ashland County's soil, water and natural resources through education, technical assistance and conservation leadership.