The Dutko brothers have been working hard this spring on a self-guided trail along the forest edge and meadow at the Lawrence Nature Center.
Travis Dutko, a sophmore at Lawrence High School, Joshua Dutko, in 9th grade at the Lawrence Middle School and Zachary Dutko, in the 4th grade at Lawrence Intermediate School, have dug deep to place 20 trail posts behind the nature center located at the southern end of Drexel Avenue. The brothers have volunteered several evenings, weekend days and part of their spring break to create the self-guided trail. The trail was a top priority generated by community members in the Community Conversation held at the nature center in November 2008.
Each post will have a sign identifying a tree at its location. Hikers can simply start the trail behind the nature center near the butterfly garden and take the trail around the perimeter of the meadow. In addition to the self-guided trail, the brothers are designing a self-guided trail brochure and map that will provide more details than listed on each sign.
To help defer the cost of the project, the boys are looking for donations of $10 per tree sign/post. People can send in a tax-deductible $10 donation to the Tree Sign Fund, c/o the Friends of the Lawrence Nature Center, Lawrence Township Recreation Department, 2207 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 or visit the brothers at the Friends of the Lawrence Nature Center table at the upcoming Earth Day Festival to be held at the Lawrence Nature Center on Saturday, April 25, from noon to 4 p.m. For more information on the Earth Day Festival, visit http://www.lawrencenaturecenter.net or call the Recreation Department at 844-7067.

