On July 19, ATC interns participated in the United Way Intern Day of Action. The event featured interns from companies across the Milwaukee and Waukesha area who teamed up to lend their hands to causes in the community. Twelve ATC interns were assigned a volunteer activity at Waukesha County Park System’s Minooka Park.
The interns’ project was located in an area of the park where staff are trying to restore trees, which Park Foreman Aaron Hernandez said were lost to emerald ash borer. EABs are “an invasive, wood-boring beetle that kills ash trees by eating the tissues under the bark,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. To combat damage to trees as a result of EABs, Minooka Park has planted pine tree saplings in native prairie restoration areas. ATC interns were tasked with spreading mulch around the trees to protect the saplings.
Minooka Park, a farm until the mid-1900s, is 579 acres and features old growth forest areas which are home to many varieties of birds and native species. Though it was a warm day in Waukesha, with temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, our interns were happy to give their time to Minooka Park and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. Thank you to those who participated for demonstrating how we care for our community and happy National Intern Day to the leaders of tomorrow!