For the second time this summer, the Conservation Committee worked with youth from Operation Fresh Start from June 14-17. Operation Fresh Start (OFS) provides a path forward for disconnected youth in Dane County, ages 16-24, through education, mentoring, and employment training. OFS leads youth to completing their high school degree (after having previously dropped out) and continuing on to higher education and/or self-sustaining employment. Dane County sponsors two OFS crews to work in Dane County parks and easements throughout the year.

Jim Hess led the crew on June 14 &15 on the Kittleson Creek spraying Canada thistles and mechanically removing wild parsnip using parsnip predators. And then Topf Wells led the crew at the Neperud Property inventorying and watering the trees and shrubs that were planted on our last workday (which are doing quite well) and sorted through the materials that will be used for the lunker structures and boom covers on July 23. The weather was hot and muggy, but a lot got accomplished. It was quite the learning experience getting to know these young and motivated people.