Picket Brigade builds boardwalk at Environmental Learning Center

It was hot, sweaty work, but Picket Brigade volunteers on June 28th were all smiles as they helped to construct George’s Trail, the new boardwalk addition at the Environmental Learning Center’s campus just off the Vero Beach barrier island.

The pathway is named in honor of the late George Bunnell, former resident of Indian River Shores and a passionate supporter and benefactor of the ELC.

The five-foot wide boardwalk takes visitors on a winding trail through lush mangroves and is scheduled for completion in December.

Volunteers, who were asked to BYOD (bring your own drill), spent the morning installing pickets along the boardwalk’s guardrail. A canoe launch, replacing one damaged in the 2004 hurricanes, and a tree-top platform that will give a bird’s eye view of the ELC campus and surrounding area are also in the works.

Volunteers included ELC board members, supporters and friends, Knights of Columbus volunteers and a couple of father/son duos.

Fifteen year old Kyle Gerber, a Sebastian River High School student, came out to help alongside his father Karl (photo above).

“I first came to the ELC on a school field trip and liked it. I’ve been counseling younger kids at summer camps here about five years,” Kyle said.

Commenting on the support of the volunteers, Bunnell’s daughter Betsy said, “It’s just the way he envisioned it. I don’t think it would work any other way.”