Naperville teen volunteers at arboretum's Children's Garden

Among the kids enjoying outdoor activities in the Morton Arboretum's Children's Garden, visitors may spot red-shirted teens leading games, discussing animal specimens or presenting puppet theater.

They're called The Macgyvers.

Angus Buchanan, 15, of Naperville, is one of them.

Buchanan joined the arboretum's Children's Garden Youth Volunteers in 2006 when the program was in its infancy. Of the original 44 junior and senior high student educators, he's one of only a few who have stayed the entire time, said Sherry Grane, Children's Garden program coordinator.

"He's always willing to do whatever we need him to do that day," she said.

His dedication recently made him the 2008 winner of the Naperville Youth Service Award presented at a ceremony at city hall. The Naperville North High School sophomore was cited for having put in 116 hours of service.

Buchanan said his motivation for getting involved in the Macgyvers was simple.

"The program sounded like a lot of fun," he said. "I enjoy being outside and doing activities outside."

Buchanan said his job is to make children more aware of what is in the garden around them.

"One of the activities kids really enjoy is skull matching," he said, explaining that participants match pelts and skulls with pictures of the animals to which they belong.

Except for the dead of winter, Buchanan said he puts in one weekend shift a month of four hours at time.

Grande said Buchanan pitches in with the physical work of gardening as needed, and often trains new Macgyvers or supervises a shift.

"He shows some great leadership qualities," she said.