State Honoree

Dallin Bunnell, 14, of Lindon, Utah, a member of the Utah County 4-H and an eighth-grader at Oak Canyon Junior High School, has been working since 2010 to conserve and improve nature areas at Utah Lake State Park. His service projects have included removing invasive vegetation, planting trees, and constructing and maintaining new boardwalks to provide river access for fishermen. As both a 4-Her and a Boy Scout, Dallin knows the importance of giving back to his community. But it was while helping a friend work on an Eagle Scout project at the park that he was exposed to the volunteer opportunities it presented. "I liked that I was able to help him and the state park," he said. Dallin decided he wanted to organize a service project there.

After speaking with the park manager, he decided to start by removing invasive reeds that were clogging trails. He then learned from the park manager that local fishermen were creating unwanted trails through the wetlands to get to the riverbank. Dallin decided he would change that by building a boardwalk and making trash cans to minimize litter. To accomplish the project, he sought donations of equipment and supplies, and then recruited 57 volunteers from 4-H, his scout troop, and a neighborhood church. By the end of the project, the group had built two new boardwalks, cleaned and refinished existing boardwalks, and improved the nature trail. Later, Dallin removed more non-native plant species and placed 10 new fire pits in a campground area. After a fire burned through the nature area last year, Dallin worked to repair damaged boardwalks and planted 100 new trees. "I have become aware of the beauty of our wild places and want to keep them that way," he said.