In this guest post, Amelia Votava reflects about how Judy Grey, a volunteer steward with the Forest Preserve District, not only helped to mentor her understanding about a woodland's native plant community but also impart other important life lessons.
BY AMELIA VOTAVA, SCOUT, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
One of the rarest and most prestigious awards in Scouts Boy Scouts of America is the Distinguished Conservation Service Award. Much like an Eagle Scout project, the DCSA is awarded to Scouts who complete two long-term conservation-based research projects, in addition to completing several other conservation-related merit badges. I embarked on my journey to earn this award last September 2023.
My first project was to improve habitat for pollinators, specifically monarch butterflies, with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The Forest Preserve District fortuitously put me in contact with Judy Grey, a volunteer steward and one of the most inspiring women I have ever met. Judy is my advisor for this project, which is in Parson’s Grove at Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton.
Judy has been the steward of this area for almost 30 years, so she was the ideal match. I could tell her knowledge of plants was extensive from the first moment I spoke to her; the more I worked alongside her, the more I had the benefit of learning about her life.
Volunteer steward Judy Grey and Scout Amelia Votava (left to right) meet at the Forest Preserve District's headquarters at Danada Forest Preserve.
She grew up in Downers Grove, which used to be full of corn fields, and was raised by an independent woman who loved plants and would teach young Judy plant identification. Spending hours running through fields and picking blackberries, Judy gained an appreciation for the outdoors.
Judy broke the stereotypes and pursued a career in computer programming, eventually rising to the level of managing an IT group at a financial institution. Upon retirement, she began taking classes at the Morton Arboretum, signing up for whatever piqued her interest. In the 1990s, she took a course that changed her life: A plant i.d. class. There she met a DuPage steward and learned about stewardship and decided that is her passion.
Volunteer steward Grey, Scout Votava, mother Margaret Votava, and volunteer co-steward Mary Pieters (left to right) enjoy a recent workday at Danada Forest Preserve.
The more I learned about her, the more I recognized the similarities between us. We both grew up under the influence of strong mothers who are engaged in the outdoors and are passionate about Mother Nature. Our love for nature is shared; however, our one big difference is timing. I am fortunate enough to grow up when women are allowed into Scouts BSA, which opened more opportunities to indulge and explore my interests.
This project has taught me leadership as well as provided real life conservation experience. The pollinator project started in a 30 x 30-foot area with many invasive plants, primarily buckthorn. We removed the invasive species and covered the stumps in black bags that prevent sunlight from reaching the stump so it will be unable to regrow. This is an alternative to using herbicides to kill the unwanted plants.
Scout Votava is joined by her father to help cover invasive buckthorn stumps with a garbage bag.
We planted over 40 native poke milkweed plants. The success of the project was mixed. Poke milkweed is a delicate plant.
Poke milkweed © Gerry Bishop/Shutterstock
The original plantings did not take, so we planted supplemental ones this summer, which are thriving.
Scout Votava organized volunteers to help plant poke milkweed at a workday at Danada.
The buckthorn bag technique looks promising with 50% of the stumps being totally eradicated and only small side shoots from the rest.
To eradicate invasive plant growth and regeneration, a buckthorn stump was covered with a garbage bag (left, top and bottom) and yielded small side shoots (right).
I am indebted for the help that was provided me by Forest Preserve District staff Mary Andrusyk and Cindy Hedges and volunteer Judy Grey for this project. It has been wonderful working with such a dedicated community to make the world a better place.
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
