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Volunteer lopping multiflora rose
Do you want to help protect native plant and wildlife habitat in your national park?
The Exotic Plant Management Volunteer Program is an opportunity for people of all ages to assist the staff of Cuyahoga Valley National Park in removing exotic, invasive plant infestations. Invasive plant and animal species are the second leading cause for species being listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (habitat loss is #1). Help the Resource Management Division inventory, monitor, and remove exotic plant infestations that threaten native plant & animal habitat.
How do you manage an invasive plant infestation?
Find out by attending a work session in one (or more) of these special areas of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Enthusiastic volunteers are always needed. Help conserve biodiversity in the park by removing invasive plants.
No pre-registration is required (unless otherwise noted). Work sessions are open to people of all ages but children under 16 must have a parent or guardian with them and all volunteers under 18 must have a signed parental approval form in order to participate. All volunteer forms are provided at the beginning of the work session.
Participants should bring drinking water and leather gardening gloves to protect their hands. Long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy boots are recommended due to off-trail terrain and potential poison ivy exposure.
Scheduled group-work sessions will begin again next spring. In the meantime, if you would like to help the park combat non-native, invasive plants, please email Park Plant Ecologist Chris Davis at or call (330) 342-0764, ext. 5.
If you are interested in volunteering at the former site of the Richfield Coliseum on State Route 303, please contact Volunteer Fred Glock at fred_glock@roadrunner.com or (330) 659-3905.
Are you interested in adopting an invasive plant management area?
Volunteer crew leaders lead work sessions in their adopted areas after receiving training in plant identification, use of specialized equipment (i.e. Global Positioning System (GPS) and handheld radios), and plant removal techniques. Several special areas are available for adoption including Octagon, Virginia Kendall, Boston Run, and Double Creek Drop (off Chippewa Road).
Are you a leader of a troop, environmental club, garden club, or a community service organization and want a service project for your group?
Work sessions can be scheduled for a single day or your group can adopt an area for an entire season and see the habitat improve throughout the year.
Please contact the Resource Management Division at (330) 342-0764 for more information.
Visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park's webpage about Invasive Plants.
