Hastings High School Environmental Club Gets Award
Volunteer Spirit Award–fromThe Volunteer Center of United Way
Going Green Award
Hastings
High School Environmental
Club
Carly Slater and Leila Quinn, Club Co-Presidents
Over the last 3 years, the Hastings High School
Environmental Club has “adopted” our “Free-A-Tree” invasive vine cutting project
located primarily at Farragut
Avenue and the Saw Mill River Parkway. This site
sandwiches the Saw
Mill River
in-between the Saw Mill River
Parkway and Saw Mill River Road.
There are beautiful sycamore trees and other large trees
that are being strangled by invasive vines. Without the trees shading the
river, the temperature of the river will rise, and the habitat for birds and
animals will be jeopardized. The club has between 15 and 25 students who come out regularly between November and May—usually
once or twice a month, from 9:30 am
to 12:30 pm, and cut and remove vines from
trees. This group has been so steadfast that we have permanently lent them
their own set of hard hats and safety vests. The students all bring their own
tools (loppers and clippers).
This is VERY hard work. The group thrived being outdoors,
being trained by the Westchester County Parks Volunteer Coordinator and a Saw
Mill River Coalition “River RATz” in how to identify, cut and pull out the
vines. Through their club initiative, they decided to join our effort. However,
early on, we were only doing the Farragut site once every 2 months. They asked
if they could independently do the Farragut site every month, or even more. We
worked with them a few more times and then permanently lent them equipment to
continue on their own that first year. In subsequent years, they have elected
new senior presidents and recommitted
to the project. This is now the 3rd year—a very impressive club
program given how many other activities are available at the high school level
and how hard this work is.
Impact:
Well over 150 trees have been “freed” since this Free-A-Tree
project began and the cumulative work the environmental club has done is working
wonders at this location. Trees that have been shrouded in vines are now free. We
have citizens call and remark that the site looks better—and citizens using the
Trailway. Even the NYS DOT has noticed a marked difference. This site is being
targeted for additional restoration work with grants from Westchester Community
Foundation (to supervise and train the volunteers), New York State’s
Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program
(restoration plan, funds for materials) and US EPA (funds for staff
supervision). Without such determined work from critical volunteers groups—such
as the Hastings High School Environmental Club—we would not take on such a
large restoration effort.
While it was mentioned previously, removing invasive vines
is very hard physical work. It is NOT for the reluctant or timid
volunteer—especially pulling out multi-flora rose. These students keep at it
and come back for more! In addition,
the team arrives right at 9:30 am, which on a Saturday for high school
students, is remarkable.
When you see them out there working—give them a big “thank
you.”
