9/11 Remembrance Service Project-Thumb Butte Clean-Up

Saturday, September 11th, 2021 our GEM Environmental Team held our 1st Annual 9/11 Remembrance Service Day Clean Up. We chose to work in the Thumb Butte area of the Prescott National Forest. 

Our work crew consisted of many community volunteers, including 14 members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation Youth Crew! We started our morning at 9a by meeting up with the Forest Service Technician, Mr. Pacer Bryan to go over all safety rules and regulations. 

The Yavapai-Apache Nation Youth Crew, led by GEM's Kassie, Brandon, and Ashley, worked along the White Rock Hiking Trail to cut back brush and perform trail maintenance. While they worked, they were able to educate the young members about different animals, insects, and natural occurrences throughout the forest. The leaders of the Yavapai-Apache Crew were also very educational and provided stories that connected the forest to their culture.

The rest of the GEM Team, and other community volunteers, joined Pacer to clean up trash and repair campsites along the Thumb Butte Road. We collected lots of trash and were able to repair 6 firepits and help close an un-designated road.

To conclude the Service Day, the groups joined together for a discussion about 9/11 and the impact it holds today. After a moment of silence, everyone enjoyed a lunch provided by GEM Environmental. 

GEM Volunteers Joseph and Marlena observing a moment of silence.

"I can't think of a better way to respectfully observe the tragedy our country felt on 9/11/2001, than to come together as a community and work at making it better." - Eric Welsh, Founder and Executive Director of GEM Environmental