Youth participants gang up on a large white sweet clover, an invasive plant, to pull it from the hard ground. Determined effort and teamwork was sometimes needed with the larger, more firmly-rooted plants. Targeted invasive species included spotted knapweed, white sweet clover, and nodding thistle.

At Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul, about 30 youth and leaders spent a recent morning cutting back plant invaders from the restored prairie. Concurrently, a similar group of 20 youth and leaders were engaged in a similar project up river at Minnehaha Park.

These groups are part of the Summer Stretch program, a coalition of about 70 area churches that engages middle school youth in service projects and fun social activities across the metro area. For the next several weeks, both parks will get a boost of invasive species management from the hard work of the Summer Stretch participants.

Todd Wildenauer of St. Ambrose described how the Summer Stretch program exposes youth to new situations and social issues, while providing an avenue to exercise leadership skills. Wildenauer explained that St. Ambrose has one of the larger youth groups in the Summer Stretch program and that the youth help many organizations over the summer by volunteering their services to many organizations such as the NPS and homeless shelters. It is, he explained, all about helping the youth help others.

Sarah Kuyack, a youth participant from St. Thomas the Apostle, took a break from struggling with a particularly large sweet clover plant. She wiped sweat from her forehead with the cuff of a glove and explained that removing exotic and invasive species would help the environment. She mentioned that on a previous visit her group also pulled invasive species.

The day won't be all work though, Wildenauer grinned. After lunch they'll take the group to a surprise recreation location, such as a waterpark.

Would you like to volunteer? Contact Kathy Swenson, Park Ranger, at 651-293-8424 or by e-mail to discuss volunteer opportunities at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. See opportunities that are available for you or your group to get involved in habitat restoration at our Current Opportunities page.