Students in the Careerline Tech (CTC) Natural Resources & Outdoor Studies and Construction programs are working together to build and install 28 boot brush stations and a wader wash station at 10 Ottawa County Parks before the summer season.
Cleaning off boots and waders is an easy way for park visitors to help stop the spread of invasive species. It’s unintentional, but often the seeds of these harmful plants get stuck on the bottom of our boots or a snail attaches itself to a wader while fishing. Brushing off or rinsing off before and after you hike and fish significantly decreases the potential spread of these pests.
By offering boot brush and wader wash stations, Ottawa County Parks joins an international campaign called PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks. The campaign’s goal is to protect valuable natural resources while encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors.
While this equipment sounds like a no-brainer, it’s not easy to come by. There isn’t a boot brush station available on the market. That’s what makes the partnership with CTC so successful; students are using their specialized skill to build something that Parks staff would have otherwise had to build, saving the county time and resources. Students found value in working with industry professionals while giving back to the community, especially as it relates to their field of study.
“I use Ottawa County Parks often and when I learned we had the opportunity to help stop the spread of invasive pests, I was excited to help. Being able to use the skills I was taught in this class to give back to the community and help the environment is fun, and I look forward to seeing the boot brush and wader wash stations I helped to build at the parks.” Jared DeWitt, Construction student. (Image: Tristan Holman and Kevin Martinez)
Natural Resource and Outdoor Studies students are using their class time to learn more about invasive species and how they can be good stewards of natural lands in the future. They are charged with assisting with on-site sign installation and also plan to host an advocacy event: Stand Up Against Invasive Species. This event is open to the public and will offer paddle board lessons for a small donation. Visitors can also look forward to fun activities and a guided hike. More info about the event can be found here: miOttawa.org/NRM
The boot brush stations will be installed at Kirk Park, Connor Bayou, Port Sheldon Natural Area, Hiawatha Forest, Hemlock Crossing, Pine Bend, Riley Trails, Grand Ravines, Van Buren Dunes, and Pigeon Creek. The wader station will be installed at Hemlock Crossing. Park visitors can also find a boot brush station at Rosy Mound Natural Area, constructed by Eagle Scout Eric Norton (Troop 37 Spring Lake); a boot brush station at North Ottawa Dunes, constructed by Eagle Scout Collin Prokopec (Troop 37, Spring Lake); and, both a boot brush and wader wash station at Ottawa Sands, constructed by Eagle Scout Aiden Yakemonis (Troop 37, Spring Lake).