- Max Trip Size: 10 people
Join Three Rivers Park District’s battle against Oriental Bittersweet, an invasive vine, by participating in an “Invasive Blitz” at Elm Creek Park Reserve on Saturday, February 22!
We are shooting for 10 volunteers to scout the woods as a group. Meet at the Elm Creek Archery Range parking lot (13387 129th Ave N, Dayton, MN 55327) – at 9:00 a.m. The Elm Creek Archery Range is in the northern part of Elm Creek Park Reserve, off 129th Avenue, between Annapolis Lane and Pineview Lane. From 9:00-12:00, we will be snow-shoeing or hiking off-trail on uneven terrain in areas usually off-limits to the public, looking for the brightly-colored red berries of the vine. Bring money if you want to socialize afterward at a place nearby.
Any vines found can be mapped using the smartphone app, EDDMapS Midwest (Great Lakes Early Detection Network). You can download the free app for iOS or Android from the following site: http://www.eddmaps.org/midwest/, however, we should only need a couple of people per group to run the app. A park representative will provide us with a training session when we start.
Dress for the weather and the work (comfortable, sturdy, warm boots or snowshoes with snow pants and layered clothing). Bring something to drink and a snack, if desired. Must be 8 or older to participate. Youths must be accompanied by an adult and must have a permission form filled out. General information and the youth permission form are available on the Three Rivers Parks’ Invasive Species Removal Events website:
https://www.threeriversparks.org/page/invasive-species-removal
Non-members are welcome on all day trips, so bring a friend (sorry, no dogs)! Please let me know if you plan to come, if you do NOT own snowshoes and would need some, and if you are interested in arranging carpooling.
You can read more information about Oriental Bittersweet on the DNR’s web page:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/oriental_bittersweet.html