Vermilion Forks Field Naturalists gathered at Swan Lake on Sept. 17, to begin building the foundation for an information kiosk at the 57 hectare wildlife viewing and habitat conservation area.
More than 20 club members, family and friends, including three members of the fire suppression crew, were on hand to provide physical and/or moral support for the job of digging holes and constructing foundation forms.
Committee chair Madelon Schouten gave a short speech at the ground breaking ceremony, emphasizing the club’s appreciation of ongoing financial support from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, whose first grant to the club in 1998 helped to start the process of repairing fencing, removing noxious weeds and building the first bird blind.
“Almost instantly it became a focal point for visitors to the area,” stated Schouten. “We have been so very fortunate to have received our fourth grant,” she stressed, which allows the building of the kiosk, signage for the self-guiding nature trails and continuing maintenance of the area.
The club is equally grateful to see the framework going up so quickly, as fire suppression crew members have built support beams and the roof frame just in the past week.
VFFN extends heartfelt thanks to these fine young men!