Students help damaged forest

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The Wildwood Picnic Area, located about five miles into the Angeles National Forest along Big Tujunga Canyon Road, is starting to look like its old self again. A dozen freshly painted picnic benches are neatly positioned in the shade, and thick green vegetation lines Big Tujunga Creek.

The scene here now stands in stark contrast to two years ago, after the popular spot was consumed by the Station fire.

The revitalization is due, in part, to collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service and the Student Conservation Assn., the nonprofit group that taps youth for paid summer jobs to protect and restore national parks.

Last summer, the organization deployed one team of college-age workers and two teams of local high school students to the Angeles National Forest to restore recreational facilities such as picnic areas, campgrounds and trails, said Western Regional Manager Jay Watson.

This summer, a single four-person team focused primarily on removing invasive plants and improving wildlife habitats, according to the Burbank Leader.

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--Megan O’Neil, Times Community News.