Eco-camp Teen Group helps Eradicate Non-native Invasive Plants for Third Year!

By Jackie Haynal on Sep 9, 2011

For the third year, teen volunteers from Eco-Camp helped with invasive plant control on the Wayne NF.

On June, 23 2011, eleven teenagers volunteered to assist Biological Science Technicians, Nick Galentin, Jackie Haynal, Allen Patton, and Ben Reed in the eradication of non-native invasive species along a 1-mile section of the Wildcat Hollow Backpacking Trail. This trail is a part of the North Country Trail National Scenic Trail that runs from New York to North Dakota. The volunteers are part of the Eco-Camp youth program that focuses on sustainability and the environment.

The teens learned about the damaging effects invasive plants cause to the environment as well as natural resource careers. The section of trail they worked on was a great representation of how invasive plants take over. Invasives such as; multi-flora rose, bush honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, autumn olive and privet had taken over and no longer provided adequate space for native species to thrive.

Many of the volunteers are interested in pursuing a career in natural resources and asked numerous questions about courses of study in college. It is possible that a few of those youth represent the next generation of Forest Service employees.

The identification and eradication of non-native species was a rewarding experience for all involved. Mechanical tools were used to chop down and dig up the nasty invaders. Of course, this work was not completed without challenges! The volunteers blasted through a sea of thorny multi-flora rose and barberry without too much trouble, and stayed well hydrated despite the hot temperatures. Everyone was muddy and in good spirits by the end of the day. A few teens even painted their faces with mud to represent their fierce warrior spirit and determination on the front lines in the battle against invasive plants.