Challenge Academy helping local environment

At-risk youth helping clear Holland Sand Prairie reserve

HOLMEN, Wis, (WKBT) — A group of local at-risk youth spent their Saturday helping our environment.

Teens from the Challenge Academy volunteered at Holland Sand Prairie reserve.  The group cleared out invasive species like red oak to create habitat for nesting birds.

This is the fourth year Mississippi Valley Conservancy has teamed up with the Challenge Academy to get teens involved in helping the environment.  “It provides a sense of community service, it gets these kids outdoors, a lot of them have never been on a nature preserve like this,” said Kathy Frise from the Mississippi Valley Conservancy.

About 40 cadets from the Challenge Academy participated in Saturday’s event.