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Fremont Middle eighth-graders pull weeds, pack food on their service day

Braving humidity, scratchy branches and the threat of bloodsucking ticks, eighth-graders from Fremont Middle School helped clear invasive plants at a nearby forest preserve Friday as part of an annual community service project.

With pants tucked into boots or long socks to make their legs less attractive to parasitic hitchhikers, the teens used loppers and saws to trim away buckthorn and honeysuckle plants growing at the Ray Lake Forest Preserve near Mundelein, a short drive from the school. The kids also dug into the dirt to yank garlic mustard plants by their roots.

Removing those and other invasive species lets trees and plants native to the oak savanna get enough water, nutrients and sunlight, said Mark Hurley, an environmental educator with the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

Fremont Middle science teacher Jenn Novello accompanied the students and spoke enthusiastically about the third annual service effort.

"It gets them outside and gets them more connected with what is going on in their world," Novello said.

Ray Lake wasn't the only destination for the students Friday. They also packed pouches of easy-to-prepare meals at the Feed My Starving Children center in Libertyville.

Most students aren't exposed to the kind of malnourishment the nonprofit group is battling.

"It opens their eyes a little bit," Novello said.

More than 180 students participated in the activities. Half spent the morning at the Ray Lake and the afternoon at Feed My Starving Children, while the rest had the opposite schedule.

Matthew Pawlowski was in the first group. As he used a saw to cut a thick buckthorn branch, Pawlowski reflected on the good he was doing for the environment.

"I know I'm doing something to help the forest," he said.

The teens' playful chatter could be heard throughout the spacious preserve, along with the chirping of birds and buzzing of insects.

Occasionally, a loud cry of "Timber!" momentarily disrupted the tranquillity, the yell celebrating the successful remover of an botanical invader.

Each group of students spent only an hour or so working at Ray Lake, but Novello insisted their labor matters.

Every year, she said, the preserve looks a little healthier than the year before.

"Little things make a big difference," Novello said.

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