Steppin’ Out sign-up open through Friday

Freshman of line camp group 5 participate in a community "Steppin' Out" service project by planting crops in the community garden at St. Luke's Church at 117 East Church Street on July 26, 2012. Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor

Freshman of line camp group 5 participate in a community "Steppin' Out" service project by planting crops in the community garden at St. Luke's Church at 117 East Church Street on July 26, 2012. Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
Freshman of line camp group 5 participate in a community “Steppin’ Out” service project by planting crops in the community garden at St. Luke’s Church at 117 East Church Street on July 26, 2012.
Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
By Kate McGuire
Staff Writer

Steppin’ Out’s annual spring service day is tip-toeing closer.

Registration for both students and organizations to get involved in Steppin’ Out ends Friday.

Students may sign up online at the Steppin’ Out page under Baylor’s Community Engagement and Service.

Students can participate with an organization, a group of friends or individually.

Put on by the Martin House Office of Community Engagement and Service, Steppin’ Out’s final service project this school year will be held April 13.

Steppin’ Out’s mission is to bring both the Waco community and Baylor together by community service opportunities that include awareness, interaction and collaboration, Baylor’s Community Engagement and Service Office said.

Steppin’ Out strives to enhance student involvement in community service and attain community awareness, interaction, and collaboration between Baylor University and the Waco community.
Taiwan, China junior Janice Wong, a member of the Steppin’ Out Steering committee, said Steppin’ Out sent around 2,800 students from more than 70 student organizations to 55 sites during the fall 2012 service day.

Wong said projects usually include painting houses, gardening, yardwork and raking leaves.

Students and organizations are requested to give a description of gender, ability and resources when registering.

After students participate in the morning volunteering activities, the real party begins.

The Block Party is a time where students and the community can interact. It will take place at 2 p.m. the same day at Dewey Park, located at 925 N. 9th St. It includes entertainment, food and Waco children whom students can engage with.

The event is “a campus-wide block party that allows Waco citizens and volunteers the opportunity to get to know one another,” Wong said. “Students may engage with children around Waco.”

Wong said the typical number of students who participate increases from the fall to the spring. She said this is because in the fall, many freshman are still figuring out which organizations to join and they do not know what Steppin’ Out is.

Last spring, 3,000 students and 70-80 student organizations participated. 2013 marks the 27th year for Steppin’ Out at Baylor. It began in 1985.