On Saturday, September 26th, which is designated National Public Lands Day, 4 groups gathered, with over 2 dozen friends, hikers and participants. The Shawnee National Forest Friends, the U.S. Forest Service personnel, a group from Camp Ondessonk/Vienna high school and 8 members of the River to River Trail Society, worked to clean up the public areas of the Garden of the Gods, one of Southern Illinois’ best known landmarks.  The day was dry, with perfect temperatures. Areas covered included the main parking area, observation trail, including graffiti removal, below the bluffs, the camping area, the Backpackers parking lot and a few of the nearby trails. Over 140 pounds of trash, including bottles, cans, bags, a concrete block and just plain junk was taken out. By the time we were done, the parking area was 2/3 full of vehicles from several states. The trash was a bit easy to find at times, with the dryness the area had been experiencing, so the undercover was not quite as lush and green, which made it easier to see and pick up “older” trash. This has been about the 5th year of this event. The Forest Service provided gloves, buckets, bags, “grabbers’  and the “elephant snot” , which is ‘painted on the graffiti and the Shawnee National Forest Friends provided the battery-operated power washer to remove the various “paintings” 

We ALL “left it better than we found it”. Thanks to ALL for putting in their time and efforts.