Around 60 Menomonie Middle School students were joined by 14 students from Summit Academy for a workday to celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day was established by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 to educate and demonstrate support for environmental protection.Officially Earth Day is set for April 22nd each year, and is now observed around the world.

Because of school schedules and the weather, the Menomonie students headed to Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area and the Red Cedar State Trail on May 9th. At each location, teams of students, accompanied by their teachers and members of the Menomonie Optimist Club, which organized the event, tackled cleaning up trash and pulling garlic mustard. Garlic mustard is an invasive and aggressive species.

A generous grant from Don and Nola Schley covered the costs of busing students and some food costs. Generous donations also came from JimmyJohns (sandwiches), Menomonie Market Food Co-op (fruit) and Premium Waters (water bottles).

The Schleys were also generous donors for the oak savanna restoration project at Hoffman Hills. The Menomonie Optimist Club, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, planted over 800 oak trees over several years, and have continued maintenance projects for the oak savanna. The area is named in honor of Don and Nola Schley.

At the end of their work project, students enjoyed a dish of Culvers frozen custard, courtesy of the Menomonie Culvers.

David Williams is a Menomonie resident and retired UW-Stout administrator.