MERRILLVILLE | Participating in what many youth consider an unwanted chore, members of the Izaak Walton Youth Convention gathered to clean up Merrillville's Pruzin Community Park Thursday.

About 50 children from across the country -- ranging in age from 6 to 17 -- walked around the park at 5750 Tyler Place, removing large tree limbs and discarded bottles and cans.

The children are in Merrillville as part of the Izaak Walton League's annual convention at the Radisson on U.S. 30.

While the convention occurs, members of the youth convention head out into the community to take part in various restoration projects.

"We want to give back to the communities," said Yvonne Hayes, chairperson of the youth convention.

Merrillville Parks and Recreation Director Terri Monroe Weems discussed the improvements being completed at the park before the children donned gloves and began working.

A couple of boys looked like they were playing a game of tug of war with the wooded area of the park as they pulled out a large tree limb that broke off of a tree.

The boys also started some playful competition when they brought the tree limb to a dump truck at the park.

"Is that the biggest thing you can find?" the boys yelled to a couple of girls who were pulling out branches not as large as the limb they removed.

The children also took part in workshops at the park following the clean-up, learning about stormwater management and other topics.

They also helped children in Merrillville's summer day camp construct bird feeders.