In late December, members of the Donegal Fish and Conservation Association (DFCA) and Maytown Boy Scout Troop 53 came together to assist the Luke Brubaker family of Mount Joy with an environmental service project. The effort focused on removing protective tubing and stakes from trees and shrubs planted along Donegal Creek and Charles Run in East Donegal Township.

The plantings, which date back about 12 years, were initially part of a project led by Donegal High School's Experiential Education Program (DEEP). Under the guidance of former teacher David Eichler, DEEP students helped plant the trees as seedlings along the waterway.

Eichler, who joined the volunteer effort, expressed his satisfaction at seeing the success of the plantings: "It's very gratifying to see the plantings that my DEEP students performed back then and today seeing the success," he shared. "If those DEEP students could be here today, I'm sure they'd feel the same, too."

The project site is located on land owned by Brubaker Farms LLC, which enrolled in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP offers farmers and landowners incentives to implement conservation practices on environmentally sensitive lands, improving water and land quality. The plantings of trees, shrubs and native grasses help reduce erosion, chemical runoff and sedimentation, benefiting local ecosystems and ultimately protecting the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.

Protective tubes were placed around the young plants to shield them from damage caused by animals, such as deer, rabbits and groundhogs. Typically, after about 10 years, the seedlings have grown enough that they no longer need the protection.

"We've propped back up several tubes over the years, but as farmers, we're too busy to remove several hundred tubes and are extremely appreciative of the Maytown Boy Scouts and members of the DFCA for coming out today," said Tony Brubaker, who operates Brubaker Farms.

In attendance from Maytown Boy Scout Troop 53 were Scoutmaster Brock Ford, Assistant Scoutmaster Tim Ford and Scout Committee Leader Tod Dohl, along with Scouts Tod Dohl Jr., Tom Ford and Ryan Ford.

Ryan Ford, a freshman at Donegal High School and a Second Class Boy Scout, shared his thoughts on the project.

"Over the Christmas break, Dr. Eichler arranged for my Boy Scout Troop 53 and me to help the DFCA remove tree tubes at the Brubaker farm," he said. "The tree tubes were installed about 10 years ago by Donegal High School students in the DEEP class to keep animals from eating the bark off of the saplings. It was interesting to learn about water management in a real-world setting instead of just in a classroom. My hope is like Dr. Eichler's DEEP class from the past, that this activity can occur with a science class I'm in, too."

DFCA members at the event included president Charlie Hower, Dan VanBuskirk, Cody Walker, Matt Meszaros, Brian Cunningham and Eichler.

"It was a great experience for both groups," Hower remarked. "The Brubakers supplied lunch and explained how they farm. They are doing a lot for the environment."

Mike Brubaker also shared additional sustainability efforts at Brubaker Farms. The family has transitioned to no-till farming methods to prevent soil erosion and has incorporated renewable energy practices, such as capturing methane gas from cow manure and using solar panels to generate electricity for nearly 300 homes.

"Conservation and alternative energy is something we've been working on and using for years now," Brubaker shared.