Gila Ridge students participate in clean-up project at Betty’s Kitchen

Students at Gila Ridge High School participated in the 25th annual National Public Lands Day by completing a five-hour community service project in cleaning up Betty’s Kitchen National Recreational Trail on Saturday.

“I am so proud of our Gila Ridge students’ hard work today ,” said Green Club advisor and Boys Basketball Head Coach Joe Daily. “For the students to not only come out and help, but want to give up their Saturday for such a great cause makes me very proud of the good things we are doing.”

According to the National Environmental Education Foundations website, National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. It is also a “fee-free day” and entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands.

“Students took ownership of the land,” Daily added. “I heard so many of them talking about how we need to do more down the road another day and make this the best area in the wilderness for Yuma residents.”