Weed Warriors at Presque Isle State Park

Weed warriors assist with the restoration of unique Presque Isle State Park ecosystems by removing non-native plants and reestablishing native plant populations

The Presque Isle Weed Warriors program is designed to coordinate volunteer invasive species removal efforts on the park. Volunteers include community members of all ages including students and youth groups seeking community service hours. Inclusion in this program classifies interested parties as official DCNR ‘Conservation Volunteers.’ Under the direction of site coordinators, called ‘lead stewards,’ volunteers will manually remove designated plants and collect them for proper disposal. Lead stewards will direct field activities and document removal efforts.

Removal and restoration projects at Presque Isle will take place from April through October 2012. Dates and times are flexible. Training will be provided. Additional in-depth training for lead stewards may include: native and invasive plant identification, native plant propagation, and herbicide application methods. Field trips to off-site locations for additional professional development will also be offered to lead stewards. (Download Weed Warrior flyer now!)

 
Possible volunteers include but are not limited to:

• College students seeking experience in resource conservation or park management
• High School students working on a senior project or hoping to earn community service
• Church or School groups seeking an opportunity to volunteer for a good cause
• Concerned Citizens who want to make a difference

 
Become a Lead Steward

Lead stewards coordinate and monitor volunteer groups on Presque Isle State Park while assisting in removal activities. The position of Lead Steward offers supplementary training and/or field trip opportunities. Interested applicants for these positions should indicate relevant experience that makes them a suitable candidate when contacting the Weed Warrior project coordinator.

For more information or to apply, contact:

Matt Pluta, PA Sea Grant volunteer coordinator
Phone: 814.217.9017
Alt Phone: 814.881.2165
E-mail: mjp5147@psu.edu.

This project is funded through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. Project partners include the Regional Science Consortium, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.