Volunteers improve Jennings prairie
BRADY TWP — Dedicated volunteers of all ages participated in Jennings Environmental Education Center’s Prairie Improvement Day on Saturday.
The annual event was attended by more than 50 volunteers, including Boy Scout troops 33 and 860, with the purpose of managing the blazing star prairie’s ecosystem.
Participants were given hedge clippers and led on a short walk to the prairie, where they proceeded to cut down prairie brush.
According to Wil Taylor, center manager at Jennings, prairie improvement must take place in winter, as it is the hibernation period of an endangered snake.
“We’re trying to slow the trees from encroaching into the prairie by cutting saplings and brush. The volunteers are helping us get ahead of what we can’t reach with equipment,” Taylor said. “Because of the endangered snake, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, we have to do work in the winter.”
Boy Scout Troop 33 of Prospect made breakfast sandwiches for volunteers before work began, and Taylor said they’ve been helping for nearly as long as Prairie Improvement Day has been in existence at the center.
“We’ve had this since 2000, 22 years. We’ve only canceled once for a snow storm,” Taylor said. “People really enjoy coming out and helping and we try to make it fun for them.”
Lisa Melton of Butler said she and her husband have been volunteering for 10 years, and enjoy contributing to the eventual growth of the prairie wildflowers.
“The blazing star is what they’re known for, it blooms in late July, early August,” Lisa said. “We like to keep the trails nice.”
Ann Liscuola of Butler said she used to bring her Girl Scout troop to various events at Jennings, including Prairie Improvement Day. Now, it’s become a family outing.
“It’s something fun to do with each other. It’s a family affair,” Liscuola said. “We enjoy coming to the park throughout the year.”
Taylor said volunteers help more often than just the prairie during this event.
“I have a maintenance staff of one-and-a-half. We need the extra hands,” Taylor said. “(Improvement Day) connects the community to a really cool resource, and lots of people like to come back and see the fruit of their work.”
At conclusion of the event, volunteers were served soups from local restaurants, including General Shu’s in Zelienople, Rachel’s Roadhouse in Mercer, the Chop Shop in Butler, Simplified Meals by Ginger in Slippery Rock and County Line Tavern in Fenelton.
Taylor said the day is a success no matter how much land is cleared of brush.
“Success is that we see interest from the public to help. If people have come and have fun and no one gets hurt, that’s a success,” Taylor said. “The real success is getting people out and getting them involved.”
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