MILWAUKEE (AP) - Two Milwaukee women are hiking from their hometown to Lake Superior to will raise awareness and funds for conservation.
Julia Robson and Alyssa Armbruster started the Walk to Sustain Our Great Lakes to raise $10,000 for three Great Lakes organizations, Milwaukee Public Radio reported .
Robson came up with the idea for the project last January.
“When we started hearing about proposed cuts to the EPA and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative program, we both really felt it was important to bring attention to all of the positive progress that’s been made to restore and clean up the Great Lakes and a lot of our freshwater systems - rivers and streams,” Robson said.
Robson and Armbruster began the 330-mile (532-kilometer) trek on Aug. 26.
They’re also working with Kenosha-based Rayni Day Productions to produce a documentary. They’ve interviewed researchers, land managers and community members in the Great Lakes area about different environmental issues.
“So the documentary will feature the walk and our journey but also tell a story about the Great Lakes and how they’ve changed since the ’60s and ’70s and what we need to see happen going forward,” Robson said.
Robson said she’s been surprised by the generosity she’s seen throughout the project.
“We can’t tell you how many times we’ve had a couch offered to us. We’ve had people feed us warm meals and take us in when it’s been raining on us,” Robson said.
Robson said the journey taught her how to be a better communicator.
“This project has helped me learn how to better communicate about these things that I find professionally and personally to be so important,” Robson said.
Robson and Armbruster both graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Conservation and Environmental Science program and work at Milwaukee County Parks.
___
Information from: WUWM-FM, https://www.wuwm.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.