Some high school students from Chandler Park Academy left the classroom for a hands-on lesson in making a difference.
The teens spent Wednesday morning on Belle Isle for the final phase of a shoreline restoration project on Belle Isle.
"It makes me feel good to help the environment," says 10th grader Krystal McCloud.
Jamie Cross of the Alliance for the Great Lakes says the project started in 2012. There have been phases that focus on naturalizing about 300 feet of shoreline.
"We found that this area had old building materials that were used as erosion control. We decided it would look better as natural shoreline," says Cross.
A team of people spent the morning picking up trash and planting trees.
Cross says, "The idea behind this is to build stewardship in the community and make sure these places are maintained."
The students also learned about fish in the Detroit River, future careers and completed Great Lakes curriculum activities.
Buddy's Pizza presented a $6,000 check to the Alliance of the Great Lakes. The company has a Made in Michigan Great Lakes Pizza Collection, featuring pizzas inspired by and named for the Great Lakes.
A portion of those proceeds from those pizza sales are donated to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, which is committed to protecting and restoring the Great Lakes through education, policy and citizen involvement.
