St. Andrews State Park staff, in collaboration with Guest Services, recently hosted a successful cleanup event on Shell Island. About 30 volunteers participated, helping to remove an estimated 500 pounds of trash from the shoreline. Guest Services provided transportation to the island, making it easier for everyone to take part. These cleanups are held quarterly by the park and remain open to the public, offering a chance for the community to join in preserving this special destination.

At Guest Services, we are proud to support initiatives like these and encourage our team members to take part. Many of our properties and parks provide opportunities for staff to join volunteer efforts or even host events of their own, helping strengthen community connections and protect the natural environments we are entrusted to serve.

Thank you to all who participated in this event and who continue to make sustainability a priority!

Across the country, Guest Services teams continue to turn sustainability into action, showcasing what it means to care for the land, waterways, and communities we serve. This spring, De Leon Springs State Park in Florida and Giants Ridge in Minnesota have taken that mission to heart, participating in grassroots cleanups that demonstrate the power of local stewardship.

Protecting Florida’s Waterways

On April 5, De Leon Springs State Park participated in the annual St. Johns River Cleanup, an initiative organized by Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division. The event mobilized eight sites across the region, with De Leon Springs serving as one of the central hubs for volunteer activity.

Park staff joined forces with community groups, social organizations, and boaters to tackle pollution along the river’s banks and within the water itself. Volunteers collected tires, plastics, and other debris that had built up over time, reinforcing the park’s role as a steward of the surrounding ecosystem.

The impact of this collective effort was significant:

• 440 volunteers across all locations
• 1,320 collective volunteer hours
• 4,365 pounds of trash removed
• Native trees or shrubs provided to volunteers for at-home planting

Efforts like this help preserve the ecological health of the St. Johns River while encouraging lasting community participation. For De Leon Springs, already known for its natural spring and rich biodiversity, this event underscored a continued commitment to conservation and education.

Roadside Responsibility and Slope-Wide Stewardship

In Minnesota, Giants Ridge has taken a focused, local approach to sustainability through a roadside adoption initiative and annual resort cleanup traditions. In summer 2024, the property officially adopted a 2.6-mile stretch of Giants Ridge Road, committing to biannual cleanups planned and led by the site’s Sustainability Committee.

Since the adoption, the team has completed cleanups in July and September 2024, and again in April 2025. These events brought together volunteers from departments across the resort and members of the ski patrol. The team also organizes an annual Hill Cleanup, clearing debris from ski slopes and base areas to prepare for summer activities.

The initiative has already made a clear impact, with outcomes such as:

• Three road cleanups completed since adoption
• Cross-departmental volunteer teams, including ski patrol
• Plans to adopt an additional 2-mile section of roadway
• Annual Hill Cleanup focused on slope care and grounds readiness

From Florida’s rivers to Minnesota’s ridgelines, Guest Services properties are proving that sustainability is more than a philosophy; it’s a lived value, demonstrated through real work, meaningful partnerships, and a collective effort to protect what matters most.