WC Teens Conquer Invasive Plants in Maydale Park

A group of teens from the Northwood and Wheaton Wellness Centers volunteered with the Maydale Weed Warriors during Identity's Alternative Spring Break 2026. They got to have the sun on their faces and their hands in the dirt while learning about invasive and native plant species at the Maydale Conservation Park in Colesville, Maryland.

Natural Resources Specialist Silvia Nuñez said afterward, “Thank you for an amazing event yesterday! Together we conquered a bunch of invasive plants and planted 386 native plugs from Pope Farm, with our vegetation staff and Maydale Weed Warriors. It was a delight to get to know the students. They all did an amazing job and were so quick to get the plants in the ground. I was moved to hear that for some staff and students it was their first time planting outside of a garden.”

Nuñez says non-native, invasive plants pose a serious threat to the health of Montgomery County parks. The student volunteers not only earned SSL hours needed to graduate but also connected with nature and helped to preserve the park’s ecosystem for the future.  The students also learned how to identify invasive plants in Montgomery County and what to do about them!