Blandon Troop 183 plants native trees
In late September, Blandon Boy Scout Troop 183 participated in an environmental project, in conjunction with the Kutztown Borough, at North Park along the Sacony Creek in Kutztown.
Troop 183 was represented by 23 scouts, 13 adults, and 3 other youth volunteers and provided six hours of service to the Park. The Troop planted 86 native trees that included oak, box elder, hackberry, winterberry, red maple, dogwood, sycamore and hornbeam in an effort to encourage native wildlife to return to the park.
A large area of land was weeded and invasive species removed in an area where Troop 183 had planted trees and spread mulch last year. To finish off, the Troop completed a project that involved clearing a trail that was about a quarter mile long, which included cutting back invasive trees and weeds growing into the trail and clearing falling trees.
The Troop was supported and assisted by the efforts of Larry Lloyd from Berks Nature in Reading, who helped organize the event, delivered the trees, and helped to plant them. Ryan Zawada, a KU Environmental Science Biology major, helped supervise tree planting and planted trees also. Shireen DeNault, from Kutztown Environmental Advisory Commission, supervised with the weeding and mulching project. Dr. Todd Underwood, a professor of biology at Kutztown University and member of the Borough of Kutztown’s Environmental Advisory Commission, was instrumental in organizing the project. Troop 183 would like to thank Kutztown Borough who paid for the trees.