Adopt-a-Road participants volunteer for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and work to clean roadsides that border and bisect refuge land. This fall, during the months of September, October and November, 20 individuals volunteered their time and cleaned approximately 14 miles of refuge roads! Sherburne NWR would like to recognize all of the Adopt-a-Road volunteers, including the Trinity Lutheran Church, 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. This fall came with several challenges including road construction and plenty of precipitation. Our volunteer’s dedication, commitment and flexibility shined through this season as they overcame obstacles. Throughout these three months, litter from the refuge filled an 8-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 our visitors and volunteers about the responsibility of land stewardship. Each time a volunteer is spotted walking down a roadside, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to care for the land and the effort that is required to preserve our 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 our dedicated Adopt-a-Road volunteers to keep our roadsides and habitats clean and wildlife friendly. The refuge would also like to thank Ace Solid Waste for donating a dumpster for our Adopt-a-Road program to use during the three month clean-up.