Et cetera : NCCC Team Serves in South Dakota State Parks

Bridgette and Louise keep Lake Alvin in Canton, SD clean by removing litter left around the park.

By: Emily Wilmoth

NCCC team Cedar 3 has been serving in Canton, SD for the past 3 weeks, serving with the South Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. They have been removing an invasive tree called buckthorn, a non-native plant to South Dakota that grows at a rapid pace and can take over a forested area and kill all the native plants and trees surrounding it.

Cedar 3 member Bridgette Quintana says “We never knew that a non-native plant could have such an impact on other plants, so we are glad to help get it out of the parks.” So far the team has removed several acres of buckthorn in 5 different state parks and put it through a wood chipper. They have also helped with trash clean up and painting the inside of a warming station.

Since being in South Dakota, the team has also completed one Independent Service Project (ISP), serving at the annual YMCA Boys’ Basketball Tournament. Members helped time and keep score of games.

For the remainder of their time in South Dakota, they will be focusing on trial maintenance and improvement in Newton Hills State Park. They will be installing water bars, closing off man-made trails, and other trail work as well.

Cedar 3 has one more week remaining on this project until they return to Vinton for transition week before they head off to their second project in Willow River, Minnesota.