Excelsior Springs, MO–The Excelsior Springs Klutch, a local 12-and-under baseball team, traded in their cleats for shovels last Friday (4/5/24), volunteering their time to plant trees at Century Bark, the city’s popular dog park.
Coach Rodney Weber, who took the helm of the team a few years back after wanting to get back into coaching and working with youngsters, believes in the importance of instilling life lessons beyond the baseball diamond.
“One of the great things about coaching is that you can teach them a lot of life lessons,” Weber said. “Not only about being a leader for your team but a leader in the community.”
Planting trees at Century Bark aligns perfectly with that philosophy. The Klutch are learning the value of teamwork and giving back to the community that supports them, including those who contribute to their fundraising efforts.
“We’re teaching these kids they should give back to those who helped donate to a lot of our fundraisers and be proud of where you live,” Weber explained. “That’s why we’re out here today.”
The Klutch’s efforts will benefit the park for years, providing shade for pups and their human companions.
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!