Special Project Weed Warrior Events
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
SPECIAL EVENTS
ONGOING EVENTS
Special Project Weed Warrior events help citizens learn about and work on invasive plants in their parks without making the commitment to become full-fledged Certified Weed Warriors. Events are supervised by a Natural Resources Stewardship staff member or a trained Certified Weed Warrior Supervisor. They take place throughout the year — on weekends and weekdays — in small and large parks throughout the County.
Come out and help us! Find out if you enjoy more intensive non-native invasive work. We will give you a brief orientation at each worksite and then let you get to work.
Search Volunteer Listings
Are you interested in joining in a Special Project Weed Warrior project for a day? Click here to search the current individual Volunteer Services Office listings.
Do you have a group that would like to join in the effort? We may be able to accommodate you. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information and to register.
What You Need to Know
- No experience is necessary. We will train you on-site
- The minimum age for most projects is 14
- Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- We are Student Service Learning (SSL) approved
- Wear clothes that are good for working in the out-of-doors
- Bring gloves, pruners, and water - we will have extras on-site if you don't have them
- We work rain or shine, however, thunderstorms do cancel the project
Special Events
Naughty or Knotty Norwood?
Saturday, June 8, 10:00AM-12:00NOON
Join weed warriors and remove invasive vines and non-native plants. Bring gloves or clippers or use ours. Wear long sleeves, long pants and closed toe shoes. Meet at the end of Willett Parkway where the Little Falls Hiker/Biker Trail starts up the hill. Pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours. Students under 14 years must be accompanied by responsible adult. If you are going to be late, please contact Sarah at stormwater@LFWA.org for exact location in park or find the group by heading up the hill. We will be working at the end of the soccer field at the west side of the park. We are usually there, rain, snow or shine, but please email Sarah if you have any doubts. Weather policy: cancelled if pouring rain. A message will be posted on the LFWA list serv or website by 9:00 that morning if there is a cancellation.
Willard Park - Weed Warrior Training
Tuesday, June 18, 8:00AM - 10:00NOON
Certified Weed Warriors & Weed Warrior's in training, come join us for a workday at Willard Park. This neighborhood gem is being revitalized with the careful removal of several different invasive species. We'll cover identification of bamboo, knowtweed, honeysuckle and more, while focusing on the English ivy. This workday is for current Certified Weed Warriors and Weed Warriors participating in training. Parking is limited, so you'll recieve further instructions upon registration. You must register with Meghan by 17 June at mcp-weedwarriors@montgomeryparks.org.
Ongoing Events
To help fight the battle against invasive plants, we are looking for you to lend a helping hand! Join us for one of several invasive plant pull projects in a number of different M-NCPPC parklands. With the help of your muscle power, and hand tools, we will manually remove non-native vines and shrubs and save the mature trees and other native plants that the invasive plants are strangling and out competing. Your help during one of these projects could make a difference for years to come! Events are listed below and on the Park Events Calendar.
Little Falls Stream Valley Park
Two workdays a month, rain or shine. Year-round most from 8:00AM-10:00 AM
Meet at the gravel parking lot at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and Little Falls Parkway. Work in various locations on different plants in the section of Little Falls below River Road. Join Weed Warrior Supervisor, Lynnwood Andrews, to manually remove the invasive vines from trees, pull garlic mustard or wineberry, or cut and pull other plants depending on the season and the weather. Your work will help preserve mature trees and maintain healthy ecosystems for all native plants. Tools and gloves provided. See the Little Falls Watershed Alliance calendar (www.LFWA.org/events) for a full list of events. Contact Lynnwood with your questions or to let her know you are coming at lynnwoodandrews@mac.com or 301-654-0571. - map
Muddy Branch Greenway Trail System / Blockhouse Point Conservation Park
The next-to-last Saturday of each month, rain or shine. Odd numbered months (1,3,5,7,9,11)- Year-round at 9:00AM-12:00NOON
Join Weed Warrior Supervisor Ken Bawer to manually remove invasive shrubs and vines. The Muddy Branch Weed Warrior Project will be crucial to controlling the spread of non-native invasive (NNI) plants in this stream valley and in one of the most unique parks in the county system. You’ll learn what NNIs are, the problems they create, and then help pull and cut them. You’ll also learn to identify key native plants along the way. SSL hours available for students.
No one under 16 may use tools, no one under 14 may be present without an parent or guardian.
Bring gloves and tools; dress for the outdoors. Meeting locations in the park will vary along the trail, Gaithersburg to Potomac, MD. Please check the Muddy Branch Alliance Web site (www.muddybranch.org) for the next location or contact Ken Bawer at kbawer@msn.com or 240-744-6306 after 8:30AM the morning of the event. - map
Watts Branch
The next-to-last Saturday of each month, rain or shine. Even numbered months (2,4,6,8,10,12)- Year-round at 9:00AM-12:00NOON
Join Weed Warrior Supervisor Ken Bawer to manually remove invasive shrubs and vines from this Montgomery Parks Best Natural Area. Exact location to vary each event based on the greatest need - do register, this park has no formal trail system, so you'll need directions. You’ll learn what NNIs are, the problems they create, and then help pull and cut them. You’ll also learn to identify key native plants along the way. SSL hours available for students. No one under 16 may use tools, no one under 14 may be present without an parent or guardian. Bring gloves and tools; dress for the outdoors. Please check the Watts Branch Watershed Alliance Facebook site (www.facebook.com/WattsBranchWatershedAlliance) for the next location or contact Ken Bawer at kbawer@msn.com or 240-744-6306 after 8:30AM the morning of the event. Cancelled in snow, thunderstorms or heavy rain. - map
Rachel Carson Greenway Trail - Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park
The fourth Saturday of each month, canceled in heavy rain. March - October 10 AM - 12:00 NOON
After a short three years - the Weed Warriors at Burnt Mills Dam in Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park are moving upstream! The fourth Saturday of the month will find Supervisor Larry Hush leading these intrepid mountain goat/volunteers to manually remove invasive vines and other troublesome plants from the spectacular woodlands along Northwest Branch. Come help protect this Montgomery Parks treasure. RSVP to Larry at mcp-weedwarriors@mncppc-mc.org. - map
Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park
Dates, times and meeting locations in the park will vary, rain or shine. Year-round
Check the FOSC website at: http://www.fosc.org/RIPEventSched.htm for the latest schedule.
Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park is home to a large and active friends group called Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC). A number of Weed Warrior Supervisors who are also FOSC members will lead invasive plant removal projects throughout the park. They need your help to strengthen their efforts to preserve the park’s large canopy trees. Please join them. Contact FOSC’s invasive plant project leader Jim Anderson to learn more or inquire about group projects at janderso1@mac.com.
Contact Us
For more information and to register for Weed Warrior events and classes please send an email to our Volunteer Coordinator, Meghan Fellows at : mcp-weedwarriors@mncppc-mc.org | 301-962-1343.
back to top - Last update: May 24, 2013
Montgomery County Department of Parks