BLOOMINGTON — As part of his “Be the Change” project for his fourth-grade class at Broad Ford Elementary School, Owen Bolyard of Swanton is working on recycling Christmas trees.
The 10-year-old lives with his parents, Scott and Laura Bolyard, and four siblings, Luke, Weston, Savannah and Leah, on a small farm in Swanton.
When his mother asked him about his plans for the year-long Be the Change project, he said, “Mom, I want to help disabled individuals and Wounded Warriors to be able to get outdoors.”
The family worked with Bill Donnellan, Senior Ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Jennings Randolph Lake, to put a plan in place.
In November, Jennings Randolph hosted the 16th-annual Bill Nesbit Memorial People with Disabilities/Wounded Veteran Hunt. Bolyard was able to participate in this event along with multiple other volunteer organizations.
He assisted hunters into their blinds, delivered meals and gear to hunters, had the opportunity to sit with a quadriplegic hunter and spot out a buck for him, drag deer out of the woods for hunters and even field dressed a few himself with support.
“This volunteer event was a wonderful experience for Owen,” his mother said. “The friendships and camaraderie between the hunters, guides, and support staff, which had all volunteered their time, created a lasting impact which he will never forget.”
For the month of December, Bolyard started a campaign in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the lake.
“Recycle your Christmas Tree to Help the Environment” will accept donations of natural Christmas trees and cinder blocks to be recycled to use as fish structures and benefit overall fish habitat in Jennings Randolph Lake.
Donations will be accepted from Jan. 1-31 at the following locations:
• Jennings Randolph Lake- Howell Run Boat Launch
• Town of Kitzmiller
• Town of Keyser, W.Va.
• Town of Westernport
Bolyard will also have a drop off location at his home at 624 Pine Hill Road in Swanton and pick-up can also be arranged by contacting Laura Bolyard at 240-321-5385.
Donors are asked to remember to remove all decorations including tinsel, ornaments, lights and garland prior to drop-off. Artificial trees will not be accepted.
Tractor Supply in Keyser, W.Va., is also donating its unsold trees for the project. Bolyard will volunteer in February when the structures are placed in the lake. Members of the Maryland Conservation Corps will assist, as well.
“The trees will be used to create fish habitat and be placed at various locations throughout the lake,” Ranger Francesca Gullion said. “Using recycled Christmas trees is an inexpensive way to create fish habitat. It provides shelter for smaller fish, provides food for them in the form of algae as the wood breaks down and keeps usable Christmas trees out of landfills. By creating these structures, we are helping boost our fish populations and providing fishing benefits for our anglers.”
She noted that the staff at Jennings Randolph Lake thanks Bolyard for choosing to volunteer with them for his Be The Change project.
“He has been a tremendous help in helping us achieve our environmental stewardship goals,” Gullion said. “By having Owen assist us with this project, he is teaching other youth about how recycling can have such a positive impact on the environment. We look forward to having him volunteer with us for more projects in the future.”
For additional information about these events, contact the park office at 304-355-2346 for visit the Facebook page.
Bolyard is a member of North Glade 4-H Club and raises Boer goats, Hampshire sheep, turkeys, Mini-Rex rabbits and Berkshire pigs.
He enjoys farming, hunting, fishing, being outdoors and helping others. He aspires to be a DNR officer or wildlife biologist and live on a farm which includes an apple orchard.
“Ever since he has been a toddler he has either had a fishing pole in his hand or has been out in the woods in a hunting blind,” Bolyard’s mother said. “He loves being outdoors, is passionate about preserving our natural resources for future generations, promoting sustainable Willie habitats, and getting people outdoors.”