Springville boys start park cleaning club to 'help the world'

SPRINGVILLE — While most kids join clubs for soccer, video games or a book fandom, one 10-year-old from Springville decided to make a club that would help the world.

Raylan Jenkins started noticing that there was always trash on the school playground.

"So we started picking up trash, and it made a lot of us really happy, so we turned it into a club," he said.

The Cool Cleaning Crew, or the CCC as he likes to call it, goes from park to park cleaning up trash so people can better enjoy them. So far, the CCC has cleaned three parks and has two more planned before the school year ends.

"We don't do it for the money but for the world," Raylan said.

Raylan's mother, Becca Jenkins, said she picked up Raylan from hanging out with his friend Hank Skinner when he told her they started the CCC.

"They're goofy, crazy boys, so I assumed it was something silly. And then it was the Cool Cleaning Crew, where they'd pick a different park every week to meet up and pick up trash," she said.

After that, Raylan and Hank would not stop asking their moms about creating the club and kept pushing to get flyers made so it could actually happen.

"We wanted to make a club and also help the world. It makes me feel happy to see all the kids helping to clean up the parks," Hank said.

Seeing the kids gather, hold their trash bags and run around the park cleaning is just "the sweetest," Jenkins said. She is so impressed with how passionate her son and his friends are about helping the world at such a young age.

"The first day we met ... it was snowing. There was only five of them, but they were out in the snow, the freezing cold, picking up trash at this park. They are very, very devoted to it," Jenkins said.

Raylan said it was still fun to clean the park even when it was snowing. He said he always has more fun at parks and playgrounds when there isn't trash around, so he wants to make sure the parks are clean for everyone.

"It makes me feel happy because I feel like I'm doing the right thing for everyone," he said. "We're just doing it to help out. We don't want all the glory, we just want to feel good."

Jenkins said seeing her son take charge of the club has affected her, and now she is always on the lookout for trash to throw away in public places.

"Raylan is just a natural-born leader, and he always has been. He could get a group of friends, whether they are younger or older than him, to do pretty much anything, so I think it's really amazing that this is what he's choosing to do with his influence," she said.

Hank's mom, Shaina Skinner, said she is so proud of her son wanting to make a difference. She said Hank has always cared about not littering and picking up trash.

"I was impressed that their plan wasn't just about having fun. They truly wanted to do something that would make a difference," Skinner said. "I am so proud that he and Raylan put this into action, and I hope more kids throughout Springville will join in."

Springville city leaders highlighted the club on social media earlier this week, expressing their appreciation for the children's initiative to beautify their community.

"Their ongoing efforts have already drawn widespread appreciation and stand as a powerful example of civic pride and community stewardship at any age," the city said in a statement.

The Springville City Council and mayor said they are so proud of the young residents stepping up and taking ownership of the community. The city hopes others are inspired by the club's actions to keep public spaces clean, safe and enjoyable.

"These kids are setting an outstanding example," the city statement said. "Their actions reflect the very best of Springville — service, responsibility and care for one another. They are showing us that leadership is not defined by age, but by willingness to act."

Raylan said he plans to continue the club through the summer, as that's when the parks typically have more trash due to higher usage. He hopes more people will join in and help keep our world clean.

"Everything helps. Even just picking up a wrapper from the ground, that helps a lot," Raylan said.

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