Mother’s Day Gift for Mother Earth

National Capital Area Council scouts from Powhatan and George Mason districts partnered with the Fairfax County Park Authority Invasive Management Area (IMA) program on 4/29 and on Mother’s Day to remove the highly invasive, non-native plant garlic mustard from Difficult Run Stream Valley Park. On the two days combined, these scouts, scouters and family volunteers pulled over 40 large garbage bags full of garlic mustard. This earned scouts and scouters from Cub Scout Pack 1530 and Troop 1983 in Powhatan District  and Troop 152 in George Mason District the Messengers of Peace award. Scouts documented their project on the Messengers of Peace site and through this video slideshow.

Garlic mustard, a plant native to Europe, spreads quickly in wooded areas of our region, crowding out native plants. IMA has identified it as particularly invasive but also very receptive to hand removal. The fact that it is easy to identify by its small white flowers, heart shaped leaves, and toothpick-like seed pods and easy to remove by simply pulling the stem make it a perfect choice for removal by scouts.

Messengers of Peace is a global initiative designed to inspire millions of young men and women in more than 220 countries and territories to work toward peace. Using state-of-the-art social media, the initiative lets Scouts from around the world share what they’ve done and inspire fellow Scouts to undertake similar efforts in their own communities. The initiative is inspired by the World Scout Committee, administered by the World Scout Bureau, and driven by youth volunteers worldwide.

Mother Earth must certainly be thankful for this generous Mother’s Day gift from all the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, siblings, and parents, especially mothers, who volunteered on 4/29 and on Mother’s Day.