COTTONWOOD, ID – The Bureau of Land Management’s Cottonwood Field Office celebrated the 32nd annual National Public Lands Day on Friday, Sept. 19, by teaming up with the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA) and the Clearwater Management Council (CMC) for the annual Clearwater River Cleanup.

According to BLM – Idaho, this year’s cleanup focused on a five-mile stretch of the Clearwater River between Cherry Lane and Gibbs Eddy. Twenty-four cadets from the IDYCA joined BLM staff and community volunteers in the effort. The academy has participated in the cleanup for the past eight years.

Following the work, cadets and volunteers shared a barbecue lunch provided by local businesses, including Marshall’s Meats, Brown-N-Son’s Meat Co., Cloninger’s Marketplace, and iE Solutions Group.

At the close of the event, Latah County Commissioner Jason Stooks, representing the CMC, presented a $400 donation to the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy Foundation in recognition of the cadets’ service.

In total, 45 volunteers contributed more than 400 hours of service during the cleanup.