May 17, 2019 – Ottawa County for immediate release
Press contacts: Jessica VanGinhoven, (616) 738-4810

Photos are available for download here. 

Careerline Tech and Ottawa County Parks is partnering to stop the spread of invasive pests – on land and in water

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. The installation of this equipment will culminate in a special event for the community on June 1, 2019.

Invasive species living on land (terrestrial) or in the water (aquatic) create issues for natural areas all across North America. Each species has its own arsenal, but all of them displace (or kill) native species and disrupt ecosystems. They threaten our forests and farms alike, creating ecological and economic damage. 

“Cleaning off our boots and waders is an easy way for park visitors to help stop the spread of invasive species from place to place,” said Melanie Manion, Ottawa County Parks Natural Resources Manager. “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. 

“You may have seen a boot brush when you visited a national park or US Forest Service land and a sign that explains what it is. We are hoping that as more and more people become familiar with this campaign that brushing off boots or cleaning off waders will be second nature, just like spraying bug spray or checking for ticks,” said Manion. “It will just be part of your outdoor preparation.”

While this equipment sounds like a no brainer for all natural areas, it’s not easy to come by. “Right now, there isn’t a boot brush station available on the market. So even if we had the budget to purchase them, we wouldn’t be able to,” said Manion. “That’s what makes the partnership with Careerline Tech Center so amazing. Students are using their specialized skill to build something that we would have otherwise had to build ourselves, saving the county time and resources.”

“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)

CTC construction students used specifications from the PlayCleanGo campaign and materials purchased with money raised by Natural Resources students through special project fundraisers to build the stations during regular class time. “Building the stations provides our talented students with the opportunity to apply their newly-learned skills to a variety of fields outside of home building, while at the same time providing a valuable service for the betterment of the environment and community, said Jon Turner, Construction Instructor at CTC. "This project highlights how Careerline Tech Center gives our students the opportunity to be at the intersection of student learning and real-world experiences." 

Construction paraprofessional Bryan Lacy added, “This project not only gave our students the opportunity to problem solve and use critical thinking in their field, but also the chance to learn about preventing the spread of garlic mustard and other invasive species.” 

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 for the general public on June 1. “This year’s students really wanted to focus on a real-world project dealing with invasive species and also had a passion for aquatic ecosystems. When I approached Ottawa County Parks in search for a project, this seemed like a perfect fit," said Avril Wiers, Natural Resources & Outdoor Studies Instructor. "Not only do students get to work alongside Parks staff, they also get firsthand experience in nature interpretation and trail maintenance work."

Students at CTC found value in working with industry professionals while giving back to the community, especially as it relates to their field of study. "Partnering with Ottawa County Parks gives us an opportunity to connect with people working in natural resources and a chance to make a real difference in our community by helping to stop the spread of invasive species," said JT Thonus, a Natural Resources student.

“This project is important not just because of the positive impact it has on our environment but because it gives us an opportunity to organize a widespread community service project, make connections, and practice being professional,” said Jordan Zych, Natural Resources student.

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. Installation will take the week after Memorial Day and will be complete in time for the June 1 Stand Up Against Invasive Species event at Hemlock Crossing.

Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/392384108014891/

Stand Up Against Invasive Species Event Poster