Seeley-Swan High School students work alongside Montana Conservation Corps crew leaders to help put the final touches on the community trail behind the high school.
Project Coordinator Ron Cox works with junior Cora Grube (left) and senior Sally Johnson (right) planting native grass seed along the disturbed areas of the trail.
Students put woody debris on part of the existing trail to try to rehabilitate the area and keep the public from driving on it.
Lana Higgins and Jenna Harnisch-Colby resloping the berm along the trail.
SEELEY LAKE - The Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) sent 11 members of their crew leading staff to Seeley Lake to work on the trail behind Seeley-Swan High School, Nov. 2. Students from English teacher Lori Messenger's classes worked under the guidance of MCC to knock down berms of sod along the trail to make it more aesthetically pleasing, seed the disturbed areas with a native grass mix, grade the back slope coming off the trail and block existing trails to encourage use on the new trail.
MCC Youth Program Coordinator Britney Barnett was excited for the opportunity to give leadership to students as well as get some meaningful work done for the community. She said MCC volunteered their time to work on the trail for the afternoon because, "it is valuable for us to do. It is great to put good resources in great places."
Project Coordinator Ron Cox helped direct the final touches of the project. Cox said the signs for the trail will be posted soon. Information boards will be located at both ends of the trail around the back of the high school as well as a few non-motorized signs in places along the trail to remind users that off-road use is not allowed.
"We want to keep the signage as simple and effective as possible," said Cox. Fewer signs also require less maintenance.
The MCC crew leaders are just finishing up their season. They were working with Seeley Lake Ranger District Trails Supervisor Jake Long for the rest of the week doing various projects for the local district.
Barnett said that coming to Seeley Lake was an opportunity to share about the MCC Expedition Program for youth ages 15-17 years old. Students who are interested in an outdoor, volunteer service experience for one month during the summer are encouraged to apply. For more information about this program visit http://mtcorps.org/join/expedition
"It's about being a part of a community of people," said Barnett. "It is good to be more involved."
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