MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) – Students and staff in Manitowoc are joining the fight against invasive species.
A shrub called Autumn Olive, which is prominently found along the Lakeshore, is preventing native vegetation from growing.
Staff at McKinley Academy, a charter school in the Manitowoc Public School District, thought this was a prime opportunity for a hands-on science lesson.
Student Katie Boyer was out Thursday doing her part, joining others in the effort to cut down branches along the Hemlock Trail.
“My hands are cramping up a little bit. It’s not bad. I like it. It gives me something to do,” explains Boyer.
Another student, Julian Thomas, was helping by pruning and piling the cut branches.
“It’s going great. Very fun. It pretty easy, very easy, like no problems at all,” says Thomas.
Autumn Olive was originally planted throughout the region to help control erosion, but the shrubs are starting to take over parts of the school forest and prevent native vegetation from growing, according to naturalists.
“We thought what better way than to come out to the school forest and clean it up of some invasive species,” says Gina Wagner, McKinley Academy Teacher.
The lesson was also partly community service, as another team of students gathered litter and trash along the roads and trails.
“We’re kind of one of the first groups to be out here this year, and just cleaning up the area for the whole summer and the rest of the year,” says Ron Noe, McKinley Academy Teacher.
For Boyer, it turned out to be a pretty fun day.
“I’m glad I can get some community service hours out of it for graduation, but I would have done it either way,” she says.
According to staff, this is the first time they’ve held the team-building project at the School Forest.
