Volunteer Spotlight: Joshua Walker looks out for nature

Published on June 20, 2024

Just like you might expect from an Eagle Scout, Joshua Walker saw a problem and worked to address it. 

“For my Eagle project, I decided I wanted to help out by removing invasive plant species like privet from the local area,” Walker said. “Privet chokes out all the native plant life and my removing it, it would allow the other plants to grow.”

So last February, that’s the project Walker, a 17-year-old student at Madison Academy, led to improve the appearance near the parking lot at the Indian Creek Greenway near Cummings Research Park. 

The idea was among several pitched by his Eagle Scout adviser, known as a beneficiary, and Walker immediately knew when he heard it that this was what he wanted. Walker spearheaded a group of about 10 people to take out the privet.

“I just thought it would be pretty cool to do something outside and nature-related,” Walker said. 

That sounds just like a Green Team volunteer.

“I feel like it’s very important for people to actually help look out for nature,” he said. “Privet isn’t really native to us and it just grew out of control. I feel like it’s really important to take care of the environment rather than just let it be.”

Walker, a member of Troop 102 in Huntsville, has been scouting since he was six years old. He’s now preparing for his Eagle Scout board of review as the final step to becoming an Eagle Scout. And because of his dedication and volunteerism, the Indian Creek Greenway is now a better and more attractive place.