Members of AYLUS Syosset and other Nassau County branches participated in a Stewardship Saturday event, the Friendship Garden Restoration Workshop in Great River, NY. We worked on learning about and removing the various invasive plants that have damaging effects on the local flora and fauna. We worked with shovels in groups to dig up the roots of the invasive yellow iris plant. Some of us also worked to tear down the invasive English ivy too. The Friendship Garden was started in 1976 and its goals have changed as the climate did too. It now serves as an educational program to teach about ecology, conservation and the threat of climate change. The leader, George Kiesel, taught us everything we needed to know about plant identification and why it is important for us to volunteer in events like this.
Members who participated include:
Rachel Zhang (2.5 hours) and Alyssa Huang (3 hours), Ru Xue Jiang (Half Hollows Hills High School East- 2.5 hours). 
