A Muddy, Fun, and Delicious Weekend Event- Take Back the Woods

The Scouts demonstrate that being covered with mud cannot stop coolness!

This Saturday’s service project, “Take Back the Woods: Battling Invasive Species” turned out to be a fun and rewarding day for the four scouts who made it to the event. It’s now obvious why the center has a waiting list for attendance at the yearly event.

The event was billed as a battle against invasive species, but it turned out to be much more! We met at the Jennings Environmental Education Center in the morning with expectations of a downpour which never came. After signing in as a group, we were ushered (with hot cocoa or coffee in hand) into a large room where the Jennings director educated us about native plant species, and how invasive (non-native) flora are threating the habitat of not only plants, but the animals which depend on them for survival.

Then it was time to grab our weapons in the war against the ALIENS!

Sam, CJ, Zach, and Logan worked their butts off attempting to recover territory against the alien hordes, and succeeded in not only removing large sections from the park, but in also learning just how good the aliens taste in two different types of bread during the breaks. The only difficulties were the mud, which made it difficult to move around or get leverage for pulling plants, and the moisture level in the air, which Mr. Teodoro complained with giving him a “bad hair day” (what a whiner!).

When all was said and done, the group was happy with their contribution toward a safe and alien (invasive species)-free environment for our helpless native Pennsylvania plant citizens, and it showed!

After hours of battle, the brave warriors returned to the Jennings Center to feast on a lunch catered by the North Country Brewing Company that made it all worthwhile, and they toasted their efforts toward a safer, happier world in the park. And enjoyed the food.

 

Great Links!

Jennings Environmental Education Center (Home page at DCNR)

Jennings EEC Facebook Page

Photo album of the event