Spring is here, and to help prepare, Lloyd Center staff invited the community to help spruce up the nature reserve on April 7.

Volunteers helped clear branches and rake leaves around the center’s butterfly garden and trails. A group of more than 10 Fall River Cub Scouts stopped by with their parents to clear piles of wood from fallen branches.

Troop leader Rosemary Kosinski said the experience — giving back to the community and going on a hike — are perfect Cub Scout activities.

“It’s great that they get to do the community service and help both the environment and the Lloyd Center,” she said. “We have this saying that we leave the places we visit better than we found them.”

Scout Liam Iverson worked with his peers to remove large branches.

“I like helping the Earth and making sure it’s kept clean,” he said.

Rose Mallick was the youngest volunteer at only 20 months. She used a little hand rake to assist her older sister Pearl in removing leaves from the center’s butterfly garden. Many volunteers stuck around for a hike and meet-and-greet with Koko, the center’s eastern screech owl.

The Lloyd Center’s JoAnn Cornell said it was the first large-scale volunteer event the center has held, and kicked off the center’s spring programming — including hikes and the center's annual meeting.

“People are just ready to get out of the house, so having this event created that opportunity,” Cornell said.

The center’s next big events are for April vacation week, April 17-20. Hands-on activities, experiments, and other programming will be offered. Visit lloydcenter.org for more details.