Rather than sitting on the couch playing Xbox or lounging at the beach, eight high school students from the Concord area spent their summer improving the city's green spaces and learning about local environmental issues.

Green Team Concord, founded by Groundwork Concord and run by PlusTime NH, gave students the chance to improve their community and get in touch with nature through hands-on projects all over the city. Next time you're walking by Horseshoe Pond, notice how nice the view is, now that the vistas have been cleared. Or if you take a hike on the city trails at Merrill Park (which I highly recommend!) check out the new bridge and rerouted trail that avoids the swampy lowlands by the pond. The improvements can be seen all over the city and are their own testament to the positive impact our local youth have on our community when given the opportunity.