This past week, Blue Jays were able to participate in Elizabethtown College’s yearly Into the Streets event hosted by the Office of Student Activities (OSA). Students traveled around the local community to volunteer in Etown, Mount Joy and Lancaster.
As part of Into the Streets this year, I ended up at a quaint estate in Lancaster known as the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum. Initially, I was skeptical of the work we were assigned: pruning and weeding the grounds. However, I quickly began to enjoy spending time outside and working towards a common goal with friends. Volunteering is a productive way to make a difference in one’s community. Beyond this, it is also a good way to discover new places and activities, as well as meet new people.
The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum is a beautiful spot to walk, take a historical tour and do some local sightseeing. It is also a fascinating spot to learn some of Lancaster’s history, including background about former president James Buchanan, who lived on the grounds. His old estate, known as Wheatland, is still open to the public. The immense home was built in 1828. Those interested in its history can tour the inside of the home and see Buchanan’s old belongings as well as items that date back to the pre-Civil War era…