Local Youth Help Make PrairieFest Go 'Round

For coordinators of Oswego’s annual PrairieFest, it’s no surprise that when they put out the call for volunteers they see a number of the area’s teens and pre-teens sign up.

“By far our biggest response is from the youth in the community,” said Margaret Gienger, superintendent of marketing for the Oswegoland Park District. “They come in and fill out volunteer forms, they register to volunteer online, and they show up. Many come back year after year to help.”

Kristie Blocker Vest, volunteer coordinator for the festival, said about 150 teens will put in single or multiple three-hour shifts during the weekend helping with parking, working the grounds picking up litter and washing tables.

“The young population of our community has always come out to help with enthusiasm and energy,” she said. “Our call for adults should be so successful.”

Teen volunteers Joe Conidi and his sister, Alex, enjoy helping out with PrairieFest.

“I decided to volunteer because I could help out the community while also getting hours that will help with my college resume,” Joe Conidi said. “It's nice to be able to benefit the community while at the same time helping to create a better future for myself.”

When the siblings volunteer at community events, their friends often get involved also, “helping to create a fun environment for us,” Joe Conidi said.

Teen volunteer Kyla Price has always enjoyed helping out where she can in the community and, like in past years, will be volunteering at PrairieFest.

“The community provides a lot for us, so I think that it's always important to give back,” she said.

Price first started volunteering in the nursery at her church when she was in sixth grade.

“It gave me the opportunity to work with kids and teach them new things,” she said. “Since then I have (sought) out more and more opportunities that can help benefit my community.”

Price likes knowing she’s made an impact.

“The thing that I like most about volunteering is the feeling that you get afterwards knowing that you could have possibly made a difference in someone's life or your community,” she said. “Also, when working outside picking up litter or planting flowers, it's nice to look back at your work and see the changes that you've made.”

Another perk to volunteering?

“It's a lot of fun and a good way to meet new people that enjoy volunteering as much as I do,” Price said.

Gienger said the Park District’s coordination of PrairieFest fits the organization’s mission of “creating opportunities for a healthy community.”

“When we see our youth parking cars, washing tables, picking up litter, there is much more going on than just keeping the festival grounds clean and safe,” she said. “Young adults are being given an outlet and appreciation for service. We can’t say we’re growing good citizens. It appears they have already arrived.”

Vest is proud of the youth volunteers.

“These kids believe that every Father’s Day weekend you take a three-hour shift and help throw a party for our town,” she said. “And 10 years from now, they will be working the corn boil booth for the Optimist Club or helping out with the Rotary Duck Race. It is simple to say they are learning community service, but the truth is, they are teaching it. I can only hope that years from now, the community benefiting from these great people will still be us.”

Adult volunteers are still needed to help at the gates and in the beer tents, Vest said. Anyone who is interested should contact her at kvest@oswegolandpd.org.