Campus Connection

UWL ROTC cadets give back to community through ORA trail work

Cadets in the UW-La Crosse Army ROTC Eagle Battalion spent a day giving back to the community this fall. 

In early November, cadets volunteered with Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA) staff to improve trail safety and sustainability on the ORA trail system, a community resource used regularly for ROTC training and land navigation exercises. 

After ORA staff cleared a new trail corridor using heavy equipment, the cadets completed the detailed finishing work by hand. 

“Our cadets were responsible for finishing the work — shaping the trail, creating a gradual cross-slope to reduce erosion, leveling the trail bed, and removing roots and debris,” says LTC Devin R. Bright, professor of military science and chair of the Military Science Department at UWL. “ORA leadership noted that, because of the way the trail was finished, it should not require major maintenance for several years.”

Bright credits the collaboration to an interdisciplinary connection on campus.  

“I have to give a shoutout to Dr. Scott Cooper from the UWL Biology Department, who is currently on the ORA Board,” Bright says. “He’s the one who reached out to us.” 

Beyond trail maintenance, the project served as a hands-on leadership exercise that reinforced the ROTC program’s emphasis on service and teamwork. Cadets worked in small groups, with team leaders responsible for planning and execution on-site. 

“Team leaders had to assess the work site, divide tasks, ensure safe tool use and adapt to changing conditions,” Bright says. “That mirrors the leadership competencies emphasized in ROTC training.” 

The experience allowed cadets to apply classroom and field instruction in a real-world setting while supporting a community asset used by students and local residents alike. 

“This project was important to the Eagle Battalion because it allowed cadets to give back to a community resource we rely on while practicing leadership in a hands-on, service-oriented environment,” Bright says. “It reflects the service mindset and community commitment at the core of the ROTC program.” 

Bright adds that the cadets took pride in the tangible results of their work 

“Our cadets enjoyed the opportunity to make a visible impact, and many expressed pride in leaving behind a trail that will benefit others for years to come,” Bright says. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Dr. Cooper and ORA on future projects.”