Some of the best work U.S. Navy sailors did Thursday wasn’t on the high seas. Instead, teams of sailors from the USS Black Hawk — docked in Natchez through Saturday morning as part of a public relations tour up the Mississippi River — went into the community to volunteer for a variety of causes.

At the Natchez Children’s Home, Chief Patrick Young and Counselor First Class Robert Rodriguez visited with residents who seemed delighted to receive the attention.

&uot;We’re going to shuck corn, and one of them is going to juggle and do (magic) tricks for us,&uot;&160;said Brianna Gautier, 8.

Just moments earlier, Young had placed his Navy cap on Gautier’s head and proclaimed her &uot;chief for the day.&uot;

On Thursday morning, they and other sailors helped spruce up downtown as part of the Natchez Downtown Development Association’s Clean ‘n’ Green project.

In the afternoon, some of them taught water safety to youth at Duncan Park’s pool.

The sailors will do such volunteer projects as every stop on their tour, Rodriguez said.

&uot;It’s an opportunity for us to give back to the community,&uot;&160;Rodriguez said.

&uot;Really, we’re just having fun,&uot; Young added.

Natchez Children’s Home Director Nancy Hungerford said such volunteers are important to non-profit organizations such as hers. &uot;And it’s really good for these youngsters to rub shoulders with people of this caliber,&uot;&160;Hungerford said.

She added that the Navy found out about the Children’s Home through the home’s new Web site and contacted her about the possibility of volunteering during the tour.