The CITGO Clean-Up was hosted October 21, 2017 at 9am at the high school. Volunteers traveled via bus en route to the picnic grove and two other restoration sites in the Lemont quarries to clear invasive species from the natural landscape. CITGO partnered with the Conservation Foundation to make this event possible.

Mr. Collins said, “We left the high school at 9 on buses and bused down to quarries, got tools – eye protection and saw and loppers – and had a quick demonstration on what to take out and what ‘not to do’ from the Conservation foundation.”

There was lots of brush clearing, but anything bigger than a can of soup could be kept. Volunteers performed a variety of activities from cutting down invasive trees, bushes, and other plants and stacked them along the trail. The Conservation Foundation would take the branches and cut them up using a wood chipper.

He also said, “A restoration project for the landscape. [It] used to be a prairie, [but is] now a woodland because the buckthorns are invasive. [The removal of the buckthorns] restores the natural landscape and [makes it more] visually appealing.”

Mr. Collins shared the reason that students should volunteer for this restoration project as it is not only for extra credit, but for the personal benefits of: a good manual labor workout, personal enjoyment, and the rewarding feel to see the patch that used to be filled up with thorns clear.

Mr. Collins said, “Before a student leaves the high school, they should participate in it. It’s rewarding [not only] for Lemont [but also for] the students.”

Along with CITGO volunteer opportunities, there was also a STEM Night hosted November 8 at the Lockport East campus. Bussing was provided for students to this event. Volunteers were sent to work tables.

Demonstrations from workers in the STEM career were performed in front of students, and Argon workers talked about their work. Mr. Collins said this night was, “A great opportunity to expose students to different careers in STEM.”

Other CITGO clean-ups will be available for sign-up when the weather gets warmer. In the future, keep an eye out for Mr. Collin’s emails.