Extending the Porter West Preserve trail

Patricia Denison and Jamie Clark ready to trim brush at Porter West during October’s Preserve a Preserve Day.

On Thursday, October 15, a group of thirteen enthusiastic volunteers spent a perfect autumn morning together improving Sycamore’s Porter West Preserve. We cleared debris and invasive plants, while also forging a new trail to complete a second loop. We took a short break to enjoy lunch together and then continued our work under the blue October skies.

In addition to trail building, we fenced off a sinkhole and took the chainsaw to several trees that had fallen over the trail. Happy hiking to those who visit Porter West Preserve, and many, many thanks to the Preserve-a-Preserve Day volunteers who showed their support for our stewardship program!

Assistant Director John Lawrence gets the crew oriented.

Clearing a new trail at Porter West Preserve.

Volunteer Jie Yan helps clear the trail at Porter West Preserve.

Please join us for our next Preserve a Preserve Day on third Thursday, November 19 at Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve. You can sign up here.

If you’re not already receiving our monthly volunteer e-newsletter, subscribe here to learn about opportunities!

Story and photos by Jaime Sweany, Volunteer and Membership Director