Hurley students help clean up Saxon Harbor

SAXON, Wis. — Middle and high school students from the Hurley K-12 School participated in a service learning project at Saxon Harbor Friday.

Juniors and seventh-grade students helped clean up the park and beach by raking leaves, picking up garbage, cleaning fire pits and more.

“I am so thankful that they are here, especially this year, with everything being so late,” Kathy Koski, Saxon Harbor Boating Club member, said. “We really appreciate it.”

According to high school English teacher Shannon Dahlbacka, the school would like to have 70 percent of the students between seventh and 12th grades participate in a service learning project.

“The kids are really having fun with it,” Dahlbacka said. “In today’s digital age, it’s important for these kids to care about where they spend their time.”

Students helped clean the park last year, and Dahlbacka hopes to continue the project in the future.

“It works great for the juniors because they are learning about transcendentalism and how we relate to nature,” Dahlbacka said. “So it fits in well with that, plus it’s fun to see the different dynamic in the age groups, like between the seventh graders and the juniors. We hope to do this every year.”

As for the students, they don’t seem to mind the work.

“I love it,” junior Mariah Aspinwall said. “It’s to help the park, and I love giving a helping hand. I would recommend other students participate, as well.”