Hurley School seniors clean up Saxon Harbor park

SAXON, Wis. - Thirty-five Hurley K-12 School seniors helped clean up the Saxon Harbor park Thursday as part of a service learning project.

It is a graduation requirement for the students, and according to Greg Massoglia, a mathematics teacher at the school, the students have been working at Saxon Harbor for the past four years.

Massoglia and Dean Kolpin, a physical education teacher, are also both members of the Saxon Harbor Boating Club, and thought the club could use extra help.

"The kids also use this park a lot in the summer, so they take ownership of it," Massoglia said. "Also the club and the school have a great partnership, so it worked well."

Originally, seniors were supposed to perform the clean-up this past spring, however wet conditions made the project impossible.

"They are doing it now as seniors, but we are planning to have this year's juniors, along with middle school students, out here again this spring," Massoglia said.

Students helped move picnic tables to have them repaired, raked leaves, cleaned out fire pits in the campgrounds and picked up debris from a storm earlier in September.

"We also had students pick up trash along County A as part of the Adopt a Highway program," Massoglia said.

In addition to the students, boating club members also helped in the clean-up.

"The club really appreciates all the work the kids do," Massoglia said.

"The majority of the kids are enthusiastic about helping and enjoy the project. They are more than happy to help," Massoglia added.

Editor's note: For more information on service learning, call the Hurley School District at 715-561-4900.