WHS civics class pitches in on trash pickup

WASILLA — Friday morning, 95 Wasilla High School civics students helped to clean up the Parks Highway in Wasilla. According to Wasilla High civics teacher Anthony Jenson, the effort was the second spring WHS students have undertaken the task.

“In our civics class, we often talk about how, as citizens, we have a responsibility to the community that we live in. We do this as part of the class to help build the habit of volunteering,” Jenson said. He said the goal overall is that students see the importance of volunteering in their community, whether it is picking up trash, volunteering at a school, or helping at the recycling center or food pantry.

Overall, the students collected 55 garbage bags full of trash that had accumulated over the winter. While plastic bags, bottles and fast-food wrappers dominated the pickup, the group discovered much larger items in the mix such as plywood sheets, sleeping bags, signs and even a television.

“We are glad to collaborate with the mayor and the City of Wasilla to help kickoff the Wasilla Cleanup Days. It’s the students’ city as well, and they want to do their part to make it look good.” Jenson said, adding that the area looks improved, but there is still plenty more trash to collect.

The students worked in different areas along the highway such as by Lake Lucille, the Lucille Road-Parks Highway intersection, the Palmer-Wasilla Highway extension, and by the Parks’ Chevron station.

The City of Wasilla will hold its annual spring cleanup starting Monday. It will run throughout the week. Trash bags are available at a number of locations. Things wrap up with a Saturday community picnic at the Menard Center.