MOUNT HOREB, Wis. -- A group of local Cub Scouts hit the trails on Sunday afternoon to help launch the new Friends of Stewart Park restoration program in Mount Horeb.

Members of the Mount Horeb Cub Scouts and their families have to get down and dirty to fight some of Dane County's strongest invasive species. The group grabbed their tools and headed down to Stewart Park, learning along the way just what to go after.

According to Marc Brody, the founder of Environmental Alliance, the invasive species Buckthorn and Honeysuckle are taking over many of the wooded areas in the park.

"It is a continual struggle to return habitat or restore habitat because what we have here today are incredibly strong vigorous invasive plants," Brody said

It's a challenge the Cub Scouts said they're ready to tackle.

It's just fun cutting down stuff and knowing that you're helping other plants," said Cub Scout Nate Brody.

Steve Penne, the committee chair of Pack 62 and the Cub Scouts' leader, said the group's work is more than just a fun day in the park.

"We're hoping the kids learn that when they come, use the parks and be a part of using the parks they need to take care of them and to work towards helping make parks beautiful and help keeping them clean," Penne said.

One look at the brush pile the Scouts created on Sunday and it was apparent they got the message.

"Now, it looks a lot more open and I think the plants will be a lot more happy and be able to live a lot better," said Nate Brody.

The work didn't end on Sunday. The boys will be back next spring to keep up the fight.

The boys' work goes toward Cub Scout advancement as well as a world conservation badge.

The Environmental Alliance will be working with a number of groups, including Dane County parks, to coordinate the Friends of the Stewart Park program.