(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.)

Adopt-a-Road participants volunteer for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and work to clean roadsides that border and bisect refuge land. This spring, during the months of April, May and June, 67 individuals volunteered their time and cleaned approximately 23 miles of refuge roads. Sherburne Refuge would like to recognize all of the Adopt-a-Road volunteers for their commitment, hard work and willingness to help keep the refuge pristine.

The Adopt-a-Road program is vital to the maintenance of the refuge. Following a hiatus for the spring and fall seasons in 2020, volunteers had a bigger job to complete this spring. The vounteers’ dedication, commitment and flexibility shined through this season as they overcame obstacles. Throughout these three months, litter from the refuge filled an eight-yard capacity dumpster. That’s more than 1400 gallons of trash removed from the refuge. 

Adopt-a-Road is not only a clean-up operation; it works to educate both visitors and volunteers about the responsibility of land stewardship. Each time a volunteer is spotted walking down a roadside, wit’s a reminder of shared responsibility to care for the land and the effort that is required to preserve the refuge. The fact that Adopt-a-Road volunteers not only share this sense of responsibility, but take action to make it better is what makes them so special, valued, and appreciated.

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is so thankful for the efforts of dedicated Adopt-a-Road volunteers to keep roadsides and habitats clean and wildlife friendly. Sherburne Refuge would also like to thank Ace Solid Waste for donating a dumpster for the Adopt-a-Road program to use during the three month clean-up.