Invasive Management Workdays

Workdays to remove invasive plants from the parks and woodlands and to restore native plants in these areas. The IMA program involves volunteer site leaders who organize workdays during which other volunteers (including students seeking community service hours) help in this effort. Invasive Management workdays are posted on the FCPA Website Calendar. Check the site for workdays coming up in the next few weeks (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks).

Important points about workdays

• Royal Lake Park and the neighboring park system where we work has multiple entrances. Check the specific workday notification for the exact park entrance where we will meet. 
• IMA workdays are a “go” rain or shine; delayed or canceled if there is lightning. Winter months are some of the best times to work outdoors—cool weather, no biting bugs, and evergreen targets are easily found, such as English ivy, Japanese holly, Chinese Pachysandra, periwinkle, and winter creeper. However, workdays are canceled if the ground is frozen or too much snow covers the target species.
• Prepare in advance to need to wash off any poison ivy oils when you return home with a prodcut such as Tecnu. 
• Arrive on time. Some of the work sites are far from the meeting spot and you will likely not find us once we leave to work. You may leave early if you cannot stay the whole time.
• If you are a student and need credit hours, you must arrive a little early or exactly on time to earn your full service hours.

What to bring

• Dress for the weather and working in woods. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy boots. Regardless of the temperature, shorts or sandals are unacceptable at IMA work sites. Wear a wide brim hat and have a poncho in case of rain. 
• Bring comfortable, heavy leather work gloves. Gloves purchased from hardware stores are usually adequate. 
• Do not wear perfumes, colognes, or smelly aftershaves. These smells attract biting insects, which we want to keep away!
• All tools will be provided. To help reduce waste, you are encouraged to bring a reusable bottle for water.