Volunteers eager to Make a Difference, USFWS (10/23/2010) - Photo Credit: n/a

Children and Nature ... and Yummy Treats, USFWS (10/23/2010) - Photo Credit: n/a

Nearly 350 volunteers participated in Make a Difference Day at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Oct. 23, helping to clean the refuge's 8-mile Wildlife Drive.  School and church groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, neighbors, Friends, and members of several community organizations throughout the county walked the trails picking up waste and sorting it into trash and recycling bags.  A total of over 2.5 tons of waste and trash and 1.25 tons of recyclable material were removed by the end of the day.  Some participants volunteered to weed the native plant garden. The effort of all involved not only benefits the environment, but also serves as a valuable lesson on the dangers of pollution.  Stephen, a Cub Scout from Pack 12 of Galloway Township has participated in the past four cleanups. "It's fun and it helps the environment," he said. "In the fall or winter, I dress warm. In the spring or summer, I bring bug spray.  Last year we got three tires."  The Graziano family found pieces of balloons on strings a Gatorade bottle, a whole turtle shell and an animal's skull.  Members of Boy Scout Troop 634 in Galloway Township also volunteered the past four years, and have "found all kinds of stuff like fishing gear, turtle shells, lighters, lots of plastic bottles, sunglasses and a cooler."  All the volunteers are treated to bagels, donuts, coffee and hot chocolate in the morning, and pizza and drinks when done.  Each volunteer also receives a Make a Difference sweatshirt from Galloway Township's Clean Communities program.