Vineeth Ravishankar, Eagle Scout
Total Volunteer Hours Worked: 102
I led an invasive plant removal project with the Fairfax County Park Authority Invasive Management Area (IMA) program at Lewinsville Park in McLean, Virginia. The Invasive Management Program (IMA), an Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) program, searches for new populations of invasive species so that they can be removed early, and enlists local volunteers to help with invasive removal projects. Invasive plants are brought from other countries and can damage the environment by competing with native plants and removing food sources for some animals and insects. Therefore, they reduce the biodiversity of that environment.
According to the beneficiary, the park has many invasive plants. The location where the plants will be removed is near the park entrance on the left. The project was dedicated to removing invasive plants so the native plants could grow back. This will, in turn, restore the environment as native species will receive food and shelter.
Observations and Challenges
We managed to clear up the area where I decided to remove invasive plants, whether that was the actual plants or the roots. My guidance at the beginning, how to identify specific plants and how to use the tools, was proficient and helped the volunteers to identify what was to be removed and how to do it. One of the challenges was identifying poison ivy and avoiding it, as volunteers frequently went into those areas. Another challenging task was keeping the younger scouts to continue their work and not get distracted, this was especially true near the ends of the project. The scorching heat on last day of the project made it hard for us to work, however, so I ended the project 2 hours early so no one would get heat stroke.
During invasive plants removal, one of the volunteers came in contact with poison ivy, the gloves were replaced and poison ivy wipes were used as a safety measure. All other volunteers were instructed to avoid the area where poison ivy was found.
Changes (from Original Proposal)
My Eagle District Advisor suggested that I assigned delegates to monitor each separate team of volunteers. These teams would each be assigned a plot of land that they were to remove.
Leadership
I demonstrated leadership by showing a presentation at the beginning, guiding the volunteers on what to do and how to use the plants. I also said when it was time for a break for lunch and ultimately decided for whether we would finish early on Sunday. Telling the younger volunteers to stay on track was definitely the hardest part of the leadership for my project. I also had to make a difficult decision on the last day of the project whether or not the teams should end early because of the heat, which I ultimately decided we would.
I liked the feeling of being able to lead others to demonstrate a worthy cause. It also felt good to be the leader of everything that happens and the feeling of guiding others. This builded my confidence to execute tasks. It also improved my communication and organizational skills.
My leadership skills further developed by expanding my mind to a more limitless definition of what a leader is. They don’t just help and guide others; they also inspire and start movements regarding the general welfare of the community.
