Environmental protection begins with education.
The Native Plant Stewardship Program teaches community volunteers about the region's native plants and plant communities, and teaches how to apply this knowledge to protect and restore natural ecosystems. Volunteers learn the importance of native plants to the natural environment and to our quality of life. The Program offers training in native plant identification, ecology, restoration, and public outreach. Experts in botany, restoration, wetlands, landscaping, and natural resources volunteer their time to train the stewards through lectures, field trips, and workshops. Other communities around the country have used the Program as a model for similar programs and it has received national attention.