Thanks to a ‘Love Our Byways’ grant from Toyota, 39 ninth and tenth grade Earth Science and Biology students from Manila High School enjoyed a unique volunteer experience last month. This group enjoyed a field trip to the Sheep Creek Nature Trail Byway site where they were put to work trimming back overgrown vegetation along the popular trail. The nonprofit Intermountain Natural History Association received the grant on behalf of Ashley National Forest so that the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway could receive the $2000 dollar micro-grant, which ended up being the only byway organization recipient in Utah. “We appreciate the opportunity Toyota created for our scenic byway,” says INHA Board Chair Mark Wilson. “It was fun to create an educational service project that will inspire local youth to appreciate the backyard they enjoy on the Ashley National Forest.” The students all received ‘Love Our Byways’ t-shirts as well as work gloves and tools, all funded by the Toyota grant. The field trip mixed in plenty of fun with the volunteer work, including a “prize laden nature quiz”, snack bags and byway field guides to keep.
Photo source: Ashley National Forest Facebook Page
