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Young workers help restore field


Young workers help restore field


Tim Susorney, 16, of Marquette digs up Canadian wild rye that he will transplant on a field behind Olson Library on Northern Michigan University's campus. Susorney is employed through a program by Michigan Works that helps young adults find short-term jobs in their future career fields. (Journal photo by Miriam Moeller)

By MIRIAM MOELLER, Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — John Childers, 18, of Big Bay likes to work hands-on and outside. When he heard of a Michigan Works program that helps area youth find jobs that fit their career interests, he signed up.
 
Since mid-June Childers and other youth who wanted to work outdoors have been restoring landscapes throughout Marquette county. The project is the result of an effort by Michigan Works and the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership. Most of the young adults were recruited through the Michigan Works Outreach Program that helps find jobs for kids who want to get a taste of their desired career path.

“It gives them a little taste and exposure to what that career would look like,” said Joe Esbrook, director of business development for Michigan Works.

Their most recent project was restoring native plants on the hill north of Northern Michigan University’s Olson Library.

“They get to learn about the native plant species that were here pre-settlement,” said Tom Myers, field supervisor.

Myers and his crew worked together with Ron Sundell, director of NMU’s environmental science program, who oversees the native plants project.

Sundell and his students have been growing plants native to the Upper Peninsula in order to transplant them on NMU’s campus.

“This is a training ground to show students how restoration works,” Sundell said.

He added that it is also a public awareness project that he hopes will inspire people to re-introduce native flowers, shrubs and trees to their own properties. He said that once the native plants are planted, they need little maintenance and therefore could save individuals and consequently NMU preservation costs.

Since Sundell generally does not have enough students to support his project in the summers, Myers and his crew stepped in. For the past week or so, they have been helping him transplant wildflowers and grasses, including mature black-eyed susans, Canada wild rye, little blue stem and big blue stem.

“They have been a great help,” Sundell said.

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