KELLOGG — Some Kellogg students took some time out of their summer to help spruce the city up.

Kellogg Middle School’s summer program hosted a week of field trips for the participating students, which culminated in a day of community service where the students helped install new plant boxes on the Hill Street bridge and then planted flowers in the boxes.

Scott Albrethsen, KMS’s After School Program director also runs the summer program and came up with the idea during a meeting at the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“The Hill Street bridge planter project was an idea of mine that came out of a Chamber of Commerce meeting,” Albrethsen said. “Someone mentioned the state of the planter boxes and I thought about how cool of a project it could be for my kids to replace them. I reached out to Sarah Murphy from Sol and Serre Flower Shop in Wallace and Deanne Fitzgerald, the director of the Silver Bee Community Garden to help grow the idea. They were instrumental in developing the soil recipe, planting process, flower order and delivery, and installation day leadership.”

There were 10 boxes on the bridge, and the students replaced and repotted half of them.

Across town at the Community Garden, another group of students went to plant hanging flower boxes, plant plots for folks who needed help due to physical ailments, and paint a bench.

“I think it is an amazing opportunity for kids to do these sorts of projects and to feel the gratification that comes with making a lasting, positive impact on their community,” Albrethsen said. “In addition, they have a blast and learn some new skills in a really hands on way. I think this is the kind of project that the kids will remember for a long time and will get to be proud of every time they drive across the bridge.”

Albrethsen has set a goal for these programs to participate in projects like these each year in hopes that the kids develop a sense of civic pride and to hopefully connect with their community.

The Kellogg Middle School Summer Program is funded through the KMS After School Program through various grants, for more information contact the Kellogg School District at 208-784-1348.