Teens trade remote controls for rakes

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- The summer is quickly winding down, but for some young people in Bridgeport the past couple of months have been a learning experience of a different kind.

Many teenagers typically spend their summers in front of a television or computer screen, but a handful of teens enjoyed their time away from school in the great outdoors.

For teenagers like Jamiya Williams it's been a summer away from high tech gadgets and dominated by work boots, hedge clippers and rakes. She is one of several young people spending the summer working for the city of Bridgeport's Parks and Recreation Department.

On Tuesday, News 8 found the group removing invasive plants from the banks of the Pequonnock River.

"It taught me about invasive plants and native plants," said Daniel Mendez of Trumbull. "They're like really bad for an ecosystem like this."

"I learned more plant names and which contribute to the environment and which don't," Williams said.

The kids are members of a student conservation group and they're being paid through the federal Youth at Work program. So the city enjoys the fruits of their labor without it affecting the bottom line.

On Monday, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, clearly looking out of place in a long sleeved shirt and tie, dropped by to lend his support.
 
"People come here and fish and we want to make sure the environment is healthy and clean for them and their children and establishing a bank here is a part of it," he said.

In the next few days, after they get finished clearing the land, the group will begin planting species native to the area and good for the ecosystem.

"During my whole summer I helped fix this park and it looks different," Williams said.

About 15 students took part in the program this summer.