GREENE – In an event cut short by the arrival of rain and thunder after an hour of work, 50 sophomores from Leavitt Area High School were able to collect more than 25 bags of trash from the Hooper Pond Preserve on May 11.

The Stewardship Day, a partnership between the school, the Androscoggin Land Trust and the Greene Conservation Commission, involved cleaning up the Hooper Pond Preserve and town of Greene boat launch/picnic area. The trust owns 195 acres in the conservation area, with a portion of the pond’s western shore owned and managed by the town.

In recognition of Earth Day, the stewardship event was previously scheduled for April, but postponed due to a heavy snowstorm.

“The students were great. They worked hard and didn’t want to quit even when it started to rain,” said Mike Auger, trust director of land protection and stewardship. “The Androscoggin Land Trust is committed to involving the community in land conservation and stewardship efforts, and this is one example of that. We are delighted that Leavitt Area High School students and administration wanted to work with us, and we hope to partner with them again, as well as with other schools in our region,” said Jonathan LaBonte, trust president.

The trust is a membership-supported conservation organization dedicated to protecting the natural areas, landscapes and outdoor experience along the central Androscoggin River corridor. Visit www.androscogginlandtrust.org for more information.