The Power of Collaboration

Working collaboratively to improve and protect Dayton’s natural resources, educate the public, and devote ourselves to service are activities we, the River Stewards, have accomplished this semester. 
Alone, I could never move a picnic table (I completely lack the upper body strength).  But with a group of 19 bright minded students, it would be no problem and this is just what my cohort and I did.  The River Stewards took a service trip to SunWatch, an authentic Native American village close to the Great Miami River, and moved 15 very heavy picnic tables in no time flat. Our leader at SunWatch said we worked well as a team and exceeded his expectations.  This exemplifies “the power of collaboration” the Rivers Institute fosters.     
© 2013 Natural Springs Resort
We are a diverse and very cool group of sophomores who, when we work together, can accomplish anything.  Diversity is one of the main reasons we work so well together because we apply interesting perspectives to accomplish our goals.  For instance, it was the engineering majors that figured out the best way to transfer the picnic tables.  With collaboration, little ideas turn into big actions which in turn impact the community.
A set of principles with emphasis on improving our community through sustained ecological initiatives such as education and servant leadership are instilled in every River Steward.   I believe River Stewards, both past and present, employ the perspectives of servant leadership and environmentalism in their everyday life.  We work together to promote and protect the Great Miami River Watershed and its surrounding community.  As we work within the community, we strive to set a positive example and hope that other community leaders will follow by helping to support The Rivers Institute mission to build opportunities for the Dayton Community by viewing our rivers as a key natural resource central to the communal, economic, aesthetic and ecological vitality of the region