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GRAND ISLAND -- Close to 100 little hands dug the soil and nestled young wildflowers into the ground.  Some of the children are already making plans to return next year.

"I'm excited to see what they look like," said participant Emilie Rake.

Forty-eight kids from the Life of Lake Superior Youth program spent their afternoon helping with the Grand Island restoration project, reintroducing native plants to Grand Island's landscape.  It's all part of an effort organizers believe will bring native wildlife back to the region.

"We're trying to provide a habitat for them because there's just a lack of habitat for them, especially around the Lake Superior region,” said Plant Ecologist Deb LeBlanc. 

But this wasn't the only year the youth program has lent a hand.  Last year the volunteers planted close to 4,500 wildflowers, and this year they're hoping to plant 5,000 wildflowers.  It's a big part of attracting monarch butterflies to Grand Island. 

Some working with Hiawatha National Forest already have witnessed the fruits of their labor.

"We were planting them one day right over there, and as we were planting them, this monarch came by and was landing on them and laying eggs underneath each leaf,” said Hiawatha National Forest employee Tyler Phillips.  “Just flying around as soon as we put them into the ground; it was so cool."

Next outing, the Life of Lake Superior Youth program will be kayaking at Sand Point.