
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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Environmental Progress - Summer 1997

Litter-less Lincoln Trail Goal of Scouts, Agency

More than 1,400 Scouts and leaders walked the historic trail.

For the third consecutive year, volunteers from the Illinois EPA joined with the Boy Scouts of America on April 26 to merge the Scouts' annual Lincoln Trail Hike with a litter pickup along the historic route. This year, more than 1,400 Scouts and troop leaders walked the trail, picking up debris as they went and leaving the stretch much cleaner than they found it.

Two down, four to go -- Lincoln Trail hikers leave rest stop #2 after a break. Despite a cool and overcast day, more than 1,400 Scouts and troop leaders made the 20 mile walk, cleaning up litter as they went.

Each spring, Scouts from all parts of Illinois hike 20 miles of country roads between Lincoln's New Salem State Park and Springfield, retracing as closely as possible the route often walked by Abraham Lincoln between his New Salem home and the nearby larger community.

This year, 30 Agency volunteers staffed six rest stations along the trail route. They provided drinks, restroom facilities and lots of encouragement to participants who made the trek. Hikers dropped off accumulated litter for collection, and picked up new trash collection bags at the rest stations.

The hikers collected or tagged for pickup approximately 18 cubic yars of refuse including eight tires, a dishwasher, a car battery and a substantial amount of recyclable aluminum.

The Illinois EPA arranges to have the debris properly disposed of, and the aluminum recycled, with proceeds from its sale donated to the local Scout Council.

Hikers who complete the entire route earn a Scout badge, and the Illinois EPA awards each participant a commemorative patch.