Students, staff and community volunteers gathered at a Santa Clarita restoration site on May 17 for a Wildland Weed Warriors event aimed at removing invasive weeds, watering native plants and helping restore the local ecosystem.
Throughout the event, volunteers were spread across the site with tools and buckets, pulling out invasive plants such as mustard, thistle and tecolote. While some volunteers cleared weeds, others watered native plants to support wildlife, improving biodiversity and reducing fire risks in the area.
The work was part of a larger restoration effort to bring the land back to a healthier native habitat. Event organizer Mary Herr explained that the project originally began with the goal of converting the area from “non-native weedy grassland into chaparral slash coastal sage scrub.” Since then, the mission has expanded beyond simply removing weeds.
For Herr, restoring native plants is closely tied to protecting the entire food chain. She pointed to the connection between native plants, insects, birds and reptiles as one reason biodiversity matters. “Insects are really important to us, because if you don’t have insects eating the plants, then you don’t have the birds eating insects, lizards,” Herr explained.
The event also gave volunteers a closer look at how much planning goes into environmental restoration. Water had to be transported to the site, tools had to be prepared and volunteers had to learn which plants should be removed and which should be protected. Herr described watering as one of the project’s biggest challenges, especially because plants need consistent care after they are placed in the ground. “We’ve been able to find a solution for everything that we have had a problem with,” Herr noted. As volunteers worked, staff members helped guide participants and explain the purpose behind the tasks. Staff member Michelle Macaluso emphasized that having experienced staff present allows newer or less consistent volunteers to understand what needs to be done, including which weeds to pull and which plants to leave alone.
The event was especially meaningful for student volunteers, many of whom were stepping away from their usual routines of school, phones and technology. Macaluso described the experience as a chance for students to spend time outdoors and become more aware of the land around them. “I think this is an experience that most students don’t have access to on a regular basis,” Macaluso shared. “So this takes them away from all of that and helps them just kind of be and participate in nature.”
One of the clearest signs of progress comes from the wildlife already beginning to return. Staff member Slack Rogers recalled finding monarch butterfly caterpillars on milkweed that had been planted at the site. Since monarch butterflies rely on milkweed for survival and reproduction, the discovery showed volunteers that their work was having a visible effect. “That means we’re helping this species survive,” Rogers remarked.
Beyond the environmental impact, the event also became a space for students and community members to build skills and relationships. Bennett Topper, who began as a volunteer and is gradually becoming more involved with staff responsibilities, described learning communication and problem-solving skills through the project, especially when volunteers had to figure out how to manage water access and plant care. Other volunteers connected the work to their own interests and goals. Josephine Tejeda, a College of the Canyons student majoring in public health, joined because of her interest in conservation and environmental health. For her, the event offered something different from a classroom setting.
“Compared to sitting in class and learning about biology, coming out here and seeing the actual environment and how things work, and ecosystems, is cooler for visual learners,” Tejeda reflected.
Younger volunteers also gained a better understanding of how ecosystems function. Avah Balouch, an elementary school student preparing to attend Rancho Pico, learned that native plants attract insects, which in turn support birds and other wildlife. “Getting more native plants helps attract insects, which helps attract birds, so it’s like a circle of life,” Avah observed.
Several volunteers came through scouting groups and local service opportunities. Ava Balouch, a volunteer connected with Scouting America, described the event as one small way to help preserve the beauty of Santa Clarita and other natural spaces. “Every little step that we can take that can help it happen, we would do that,” Balouch expressed.
Although volunteers made progress during the event, organizers made clear that restoration is ongoing work. Invasive weeds often return each year, meaning the area must be maintained repeatedly before native plants can fully take hold. “Weeding is not a one-and-done type activity,” Macaluso explained. “It’s an endless process.”
By the end of the event, success was measured less by a specific number of volunteers and more by the condition of the land.“Success is if we end up with a lot of dead mustard plants, and all the plants have been watered,” Herr stated. “And everybody has had a good time.”
Community members and students interested in future Wildland Weed Warriors events can contact [email protected] or look for opportunities through the City of Santa Clarita Volunteers Website.
