JACKSON – Chilly weather didn’t stop members of the Jackson Pathfinders from cleaning up one of their trails with the help of local scouts.
Pathfinder Chairman Matt McCall reported to The Jackson Times, “we had an amazing turnout…for our Purple Heart trail cleanup project. The weather was great and we had 14 total people show up. Even more impressive was seven of those 14 volunteers comprised of scouts and scout leaders from Jackson’s own Troop 204.”
“Not only did these Scouts learn a valuable lesson about volunteering and giving back to the community, I personally took them on a tour of our newly created Green Loop Trail and gave them a history lesson of the property and the former cranberry bog that the trail encompasses. The scouts were amazing,” he added.
McCall said, scout members, “provided much needed manpower, asked a ton of questions and had a genuine interest in learning about the Bunker Hill Bog. In all, it was a great day. We are always looking to work with local scouts and scouting troops.”
“Not only do the Pathfinders offer monthly community service opportunities, but we also have ample opportunities for scouts to earn their Eagle Scout or Gold Star awards on our trails,” McCall added.
In November 2023, the Pathfinders placed eight “You are here” signs on their newly created Green Loop Trail. The installation of these signs signaled the final step in that trail’s creation. The Green Loop trail is part of the Purple Heart Trail at Bunker Hill Bogs, which is located at 820 East Veterans Highway.
“This property has been historically known as the Bunker Hill Bogs and has been a cranberry bog growing area for over 100 years. In 1871 Edward R. Johnson of Cortland, New York, and his partner Cornelius Hood of Seneca Falls, New York, bought the property and began cranberry production. In 1889 the property was transferred to Charles L. Holman and Nathan French & Co,” McCall said regarding the history of the area.
He added that throughout history, some prominent local families have owned land here, such as Holman, Switlik, and Lipman until the early 1980s when Leisure Technologies Corp. acquired it. In 2001, Jackson Township acquired the property from Westlake Village, LLC and set it aside for open space.”
During the process of clearing the way for the new Green Loop trail, the Pathfinders came across various items that were illegally dumped on the property.
“When we first started working on the creation of this trail, we immediately realized that trash cleanup was going to be needed. We noted debris of all kinds on the trail. There were tires, discarded plastic and glass bottles, roofing shingles, car parts, a rusted motorcycle frame and even pieces of a destroyed toilet bowl,” McCall said.
McCall said during the last several months, the Pathfinders have worked to formulate a cleanup plan. “Once a favorable weather window became available, the February 4 date was set and the Pathfinders sent out an announcement soliciting volunteers to all of our followers via email.”
“On the day of the cleanup, 14 volunteers showed up,” McCall noted, “We had an incredible turnout. During the prior week, Troop 204 Scoutmaster Tim Wendel reached out to Pathfinders Corresponding Secretary Dan Green, and stated that several scouts and parents from his troop had volunteered to assist.”
“The extra manpower that Mr. Wendel and his scouts added was invaluable. In all, thanks to the volunteers, well over 1,000 pounds of trash was removed from the trail and was taken to the township’s recycling center,” McCall added.
“It was a great day for the Pathfinders, our Purple Heart Trail, and the town of Jackson,” noted Pathfinder volunteer Mindy McCall.
Pathfinder April Lippert said, “today was a great day. To have this many volunteers show up and assist with moving this amount of trash off the trail is a great feeling. We filled up three trucks worth of discarded items that will no longer be an eyesore on such a magnificent trail.”
The Jackson Pathfinders would like to thank Troop 204 Scouts Adam Daoust, Tommy Pfremmer and Ethan Cox along with their scout leaders and parents Tim Wendel, George Cox, Greg Pfremmer and Mike Daoust. “Without their help, this cleanup day would not have been as successful,” McCall said.
To learn more about the Jackson Pathfinders and the trails they maintain, visit their Facebook page, “The Jackson Pathfinders” and their website, jacksonpathfinders.org.
