I’m 77 years old and I don’t walk well, but I was able to volunteer over the summer with SLELO PRISM assisting their EAB biocontrol monitoring project at the Oswego Rice Creek Field Station. I learned about biocontrol as a method to naturally control invasive species. Having no prior experience, I was taught how to identify three parasitoid wasps and examined specimens under a microscope; I later learned that some of the specimens I found ended up being the target biocontrol wasps! Robert Smith and Megan Shaw made my experience easy and fun. They provided guidance and answered any questions that myself or other volunteers had. I’m planning to volunteer for this project again next year. My advice for anyone considering volunteering with SLELO is that you’re never too old to do good for our community!

~SLELO volunteer, Robert Foster

Sign up to become a SLELO volunteer!