OKEMOS, MICHIGAN - On May 31st, students from Chippewa Middle School came to lend their support in removing invasive plants at Hartrick Park off of Hulett Road from 11 am to 2 pm. There were a 100 students varying from 7th - 8th grade helping around the park, near the playground, the parking lot, and trails within the park. Flowers were also planted by the students to keep the environment balanced and healthy.

Matthew Prinz, a teacher at Chippewa Middle School was the lead for this event and said, “Were trying to teach the kids is a little bit of stewardship, taking care of our community and the environment as well. A lot of them came and some garlic mustard which is an invasive species that’ll take over the natural grasses, natural wild flowers we have in the Township. The more we can pull up, the better, it’s going to help. Also helping the kids understand how to do a little bit of landscaping for future use just for beautification of their own park that they’ll probably be using over the summer. Pulling up some some grasses that have gone into the natural areas, and some of the other weeds and clovers in the mulch bed flower areas as well. Trying to get get them a sense of doing something that will help out the community as well.”