Welcome to Anchorage’s Adopt-A-Patch program! Anchorage Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Anchorage Soil and Water Conservation District, invites you to Adopt-A-Patch between June and September and help care for our parks and trails by removing invasive plants such as European Bird Cherry, Bird Vetch, and White Sweetclover! This program encourages community members to dedicate a little time each month to removing invasive seedlings from a designated section of a park or trail.
How to Adopt-A-Patch?
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Select a patch to adopt!
Consider choosing a location that is close to home and easy for you to access.
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Apply: Complete and submit an Adoption Application. Once your application is approved, you will be contacted to complete an Adopt-A-Patch leader agreement.
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Orientation: A member of our volunteer coordination team will reach out with an orientation packet and additional details. Before beginning maintenance on their patch, Adopt-A-Patch adopters must first attend an Invasive Plant volunteer event, which takes place every two weeks from late May to September.
Adopt-A-Patch FAQs
What is an invasive plant?
An invasive plant is a non-native species that is likely to cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. Invasive plants often spread rapidly, outcompeting native species, and can disrupt local ecosystems. They thrive because they often grow quickly, make a lot of seeds, and don't have natural predators or diseases.
Who can Adopt-A-Patch?
Everyone is welcome! Volunteers can be community groups, organizations, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations, youth groups, families, or any individual that wants to help lay the smackdown on invasive plants in Anchorage.
- Adopters under 18-years-old need a waiver signed by a parent/guardian and must be accopanied by an adult during weed pulls.
What is the time commitment?
- Adopt-A-Patch runs from June to September
- All adopters must attend a 2 hr Volunteer Project officially starting maintenance on their Patch.
- Volunteers are asked to complete a minimum of four weed pulls per summer (1x/month)
What are the expectations?
- Volunteers are expected to complete a minimum of four weed pulls per summer (1x/month)
- Report Volunteer Efforts: Once you successfully adopt a patch, volunteers are asked to keep track of volunteer contributions via our volunteer coordination platform, POINT. Every hour and bag of invasive weeds removed helps care for our parks and trails, and reporting your time allows us to recognize your efforts and secure grants for future invasive plant removal.
What size weeds may I remove?
Adopt-A-Patch volunteers should focus on pulling seedlings and small saplings (under a 1/2 in diameter). Weeds should be able to fit in a standard black garbage bag. If you come across larger trees that require a saw or loppers for removal, please document them and report to the volunteer coordinator. We utilize chippers and a tree crew to remove larger specimens, ensure trees are removed safely, and move them to an area where they can easily be chipped.
What invasive plants does the Adopt-A-Patch program focus on?
While there are numerous invasive plants in Alaska, this program focuses on plants that are easy to identify and where hand-pulling is an effective measure. The Adopt-A-Patch Program focuses on the following invasives: - European Bird Cherry (Punus Padus)
- Bird Vetch
- White Sweetclover
What are the benefits?
- Supplies: Adopt-a-Patch volunteers will receive supplies upon successfully adopting their patch! Supplies include:
- Volunteer Vest: A vest to recognize you as an approved Parks and Recreation volunteer!
- Garbage Bags: Volunteers will receive plenty of garbage bags for weed collection.
- Trash Pickup: Are you planning a big weed pull? Let us know and we will arrange for our maintenance crew to pick up full bags at the end of your event.
- Helping to Protect our local ecosystem! Did you know that Bird Cherry is toxic to moose and Bird Vetch displaces native plants? By adopting a patch, you're helping combat these invasive species that are negatively impacting Anchorage.
What are the safety guidelines?
- All volunteers must have a completed volunteer waiver. Waivers are valid for one year. Individuals under 18, must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
- Volunteers should not perform any activity outside of their physical capabilities.
- The use of power tools or motorized equipment is prohibited unless pre-authorized by Anchorage Parks and Recreation.