“My friends and I come down here all the time but I never really gave it much thought before,” said Tyler. “I just assumed somebody was paid to take care of this area.”

After discussing the importance of community service and gathering the group of four friends, these teens spent several hours on a Saturday morning picking up trash, and clearing leaves, branches, and brush from trails around Prescott field.

The group said they were amazed at how much trash they found around the area, and that they will always pay attention to the trail’s conditions now that they have done the work. Now, Tyler intends to formalize the group, continue doing more community service in the area, and talk to their soccer coach about an ongoing Adopt-A-Trail effort (since they are all from the same team).

“I think it’s important to keep young people involved in the community more because we are the future generation,” says Tyler. “There’s a lot of history and nature here to preserve for everyone to enjoy.”

“We are incredibly proud of these young volunteers,” said Brent West, Executive Director of HPA. “Their dedication to maintaining this accessible trail system shows a deep understanding of community responsibility and environmental stewardship. We encourage other youth groups and community members to follow this example.” The students’ work aligns perfectly with the Alliance’s mission to maintain and improve access to the High Peaks region.

For more information on how to get involved with trail maintenance and other conservation efforts, please highpeaksalliance.org/volunteer.