News

Robins Boy Scouts restore nature trail

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
In addition to being a sprawling industrial complex, Robins is also a sprawling wildlife area, and the Boy Scouts make a significant contribution to enhancing it.

Bob Sargent, Robins natural resources manager, said the Scouts perform many service projects and Eagle Scout projects related to natural resources at Robins.

"It makes such a difference to us," Sargent said. "They do things that are desperately needed."

A significant project completed last week was the restoration of Tree Frog Trail, a nature trail that had been rendered almost unusable by fallen trees and overgrowth. Troop 220 put in 155 hours restoring the trail, said Col. Ozzie Gorbitz, the troop's Scout master.

"They've got it to where people can go all the way around it now," said Gorbitz, as the troop finished up the work.

Adults assisted with chainsaws to clear fallen trees from the trail. The scouts also cleaned up signs along the trail that gave information about plants and wildlife in the area.

The entrance to the half-mile trail is located behind Luna Lake Lodge and is marked with a sign.

Sargent said other projects done by the Scouts from various troops in the area include: placing purple martin boxes with poles on Scout Lake's island, placing artificial reefs in Luna and Scout lakes, building and erecting dozens of housing boxes for numerous species of birds, building a bridge over a drainage ditch on Tree Frog Trail, and cutting down invasive plants on a site where a rare plant lives.

Gorbitz said the volunteer work is a way for the troop to give back to Team Robins members who have given financial donations. The donations have been used to buy a new equipment trailer and new camping equipment.

Troop 220 is the only troop based at Robins. It is open to all boys of Team Robins members, and adult volunteers are also welcome. For more information e-mail RAFBTroop220@yahoo.com