JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
September 25, is National Public Lands Day. 48 volunteers worked together to improve the Nature Trail on JBLE-Eustis by adding rest areas and fixing parts of the trail that become muddy during seasons with more rain.
The Fort Eustis Nature trail is the only nature trail on post and starts and ends adjacent to the Jacobs Center.
“This trail provides opportunities for soldiers and civilians to get exercise outdoors, increase morale and wellness, and learn about native plants and native peoples,” said James Carr, Wildlife Biologist, Natural Resources Branch, 733rd Civil Engineering Squadron.
Carr applied for a grant through the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), and received the 2021 National Public Lands Day, Department of Defense Legacy Resource Award in the amount of $5,325.
“With the help from NEEF we are able to not only repair the trail, but also improve it by creating pollinator habitats, planting native vegetation, and providing learning opportunities about native plants and their use by native peoples,” Carr said.
The goal of this volunteer day is that military members, families and civilians, will be able to use the trail to learn more about nature and the environment while spending time together outdoors.