Illinois EPA and Scouts team up for annual Lincoln Trail Hike

SPRINGFIELD --- Over 1,000 area Boy Scouts spent Saturday April 29 taking part in the annual Lincoln Trail Hike, so named because hikers retrace the steps of a young Abraham Lincoln as he journeyed from New Salem to Springfield to practice law.  The Lincoln Trail is a part of the weekend activities of the 61^st Annual Lincoln Pilgrimage hosted by the Abraham Lincoln Council Boy Scouts of America.  This is the 12^th year the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has teamed with the Council for the event. 

 

Hikers began their trek at 6 a.m. at the New Salem State Park and will finish their 20-mile hike at Stuart Park in Springfield.  Scouts are able to walk the path Lincoln walked, along the scenic roadway through Sangamon and Menard Counties.  All the while, hikers collect trash along the trail.  Governor Rod R. Blagojevich proclaimed April 29, 2006 as Lincoln Trail Hike Day, and Scouts are presented with the governor's proclamation at noon the Salisbury rest stop.

 

"The Agency supports this event because it encourages environmental stewardship among all the participants," said Illinois EPA Bureau of Land Bureau Chief Bill Child.

 

Employees from the Agency volunteer their time to staff rest stations along the trail route that provide drinks, restrooms, trash collection bags and other support for the hikers.  Upon completing the hike, scouts will receive a "Leave No Trace" patch from the Agency in recognition of their efforts.

 

"We are delighted at the volunteers and support from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency," said Pilgrimage Committee Chairman Martin Green.  "The tenants of scouting have always been to teach scouts to be good stewards of our natural resources.  The Illinois EPA's participation emphasizes the importance of our environment and provides our hikers an opportunity to clean up our country roadways as they hike the trail."

 

"The event has been a very successful partnership between the Illinois EPA along with the Abraham Lincoln Council and hikers in past years," said Child.  "It has also been popular with the residents along the trail, who get their roadway cleaned."

 

Waste Management Inc., of Springfield, also donates services each year, providing disposal for the trash that is collected.  Proceeds from the recyclable aluminum will be returned to the area Boy Scouts Council.  Amateur radio operators from the Sangamon Valley Radio Club provide communications support for the day.

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