Air Commandos, Boy Scouts improve base environment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Victoria Sneed
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Airmen worked to clear a new path for the Grace Brown Nature Trail on the Soundside as part of National Public Lands Day here Sept 28.

The trail was rerouted due to the housing development slated to be built in the former family camping area. The project is funded as a part of the National Environmental Education Foundation's grant to improve the environment on federal land. Projects began on the 20th anniversary of NPLD.

"I wrote a proposal for the grant based on projects that improve habitats in [public] areas," said Krystal Walsh, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron natural and cultural resource manager, "We were awarded over $6500 for materials, but the labor must be volunteers and they ask that we start today."

National Public Lands Day began with NEEF in 1994 with 700 volunteers. It has since grown to more than 175,000 volunteers operating at 2,206 sites. It occurs annually on the third Saturday of September. There are work sites in every state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

This is Hurlburt's first year participating as a work site and 10 people volunteered.

"There has to be a balance maintained between mission objectives and cultural conservation," Walsh said. "This is a way to work on conservation without affecting base funds."

Airmen weren't the only volunteers who helped make the new foot path. Boy Scout Troop 509 and the Corvias Military Living office also volunteered.

"We are now part of the Hurlburt community and I felt I should give back," said Julie Cromwell, Corvias housing manager. "Helping the environment helps the base."

This was the first of three projects funded by the grant to improve the natural habitat on base.

The other projects planned include planting trees in the old family camping area, building and placing houses for migratory birds that come through our area, and build an observations point with binoculars near the boardwalk, said Walsh.

Anyone interested in volunteering for upcoming projects can contact Krystal Walsh at (850) 884-7916.