BLM and Boy Scout Troop to clean-up public lands for Earth Day
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MONTE VISTA, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management’s San Luis Valley Field Office is excited to host Boy Scout Troop 286 for a service project to beautify public lands near the San Luis Valley Landfill. Nearly 10 Scouts ranging in ages from 10 to 17 will be camping out and cleaning up the area from April 19 through April 21, coinciding with Earth Day.
Also helping with the project are the San Luis Valley Regional Solid Waste Authority, Brown’s Septic Service, Rio Grande National Forest, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Waste Management. Together, the groups will gather and remove trash that has blown from loads headed for the landfill as well as litter that has been dumped on public lands along County Road 44.
“It means a great deal to the BLM that a group like the Boy Scouts is willing to volunteer for us on Earth Day weekend and help clean up our public lands,” said Angie Krall, Heritage Program Manager for the SLVFO and the Rio Grande National Forest.
The timing of the clean-up also coincides with the Boy Scout’s national Good Deed Week.
“All Scouts are required to do service work for the community as part of their advancement work,” said Doug Steward, Troop 286 Scoutmaster. “We schedule several service projects throughout the community and region every year. This project is only one of them.”
Steward has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for nearly 40 years. His expertise in backcountry wilderness camping, hiking and backpacking coupled with his drive to serve his community keep him working on projects like this.
“Everyone should be involved in making our community a better place,” said Steward. “I choose to do that by serving in the Boy Scouts of America – they have the best youth activity program going.”
The BLM will supply tools, gloves and other support for the Scouts. Waste Management is donating a dumpster, and Brown’s Septic Service will be donating a toilet facility for the weekend. The San Luis Valley Landfill will supply a location for the Scouts to legally dump the collected trash.
For more information about the project, please contact Doug Steward atDougS@monte.k12.co.us or 719-580-1268.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.